 The word Losar is a Tibetan word for New Year. LO means year and SAR means new.
The celebration of 'Losar' can be traced back to the pre-Buddhist period in Tibet. During the period when Tibetans practiced the Bon religion, every winter a spiritual ceremony was held, in which people offered large quantities of incense to appease the local spirits, deities and protectors. This religious festival later evolved into an annual Buddhist festival which is believed to have originated during the reign of Pude Gungyal, the ninth King of Tibet. The festival is said to have begun when an old woman named Belma introduced the measurement of time based on the phases of the moon. This festival took place during the flowering of the apricot trees of the Lhokha Yarla Shampo region in autumn and it may have been the first celebration of what has become the traditional farmers' festival. It was during this period that the arts of cultivation, irrigation, refining iron from ore and building bridges were first introduced in Tibet. The ceremonies which were instituted to celebrate these new capabilities can be recognized as precursors of the Losar festival. Later when the rudiments of the science of astrology, based on the five elements, were introduced in Tibet, this farmer's festival became what is now called the Losar or New Year's festival.
Traditionally, the New Years festival falls on the 25th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan calendar the 'Dawa Chuchipha.' Celebrated over a week, it is a feast of thanksgiving. An interesting folk tale explains why the New Year festival falls at the end of Dawa Chuchipha instead of at the end of the twelfth month, as is customary.
Singe Namgyar was an ancient king of Ladakh. He decided to attack Skardo (now in Pakistan). Since the date of his eventual return was uncertain, he chose to celebrate the important festival of Losar before leaving for the battle field, as it was considered obligatory for all family members to be present at the feast. This happened in the 11th month, and the tradition has carried on ever since it falls at the time when the larders are stocked full with grain and meat that is expected to last for the two long snow-bound months of winter, when no work is possible.
In times past and in a smaller extent within the monasteries of today, the celebrations for the Losar begin on the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth month, the day before the Tibetan New Year's Eve. On that day the monasteries do a protector deities' puja (a special kind of ritual) and begin preparations for the Losar celebrations. The custom that day is to make special noodle called 'guthuk' made of nine different ingredients including dried cheese and various grains. Dough balls are given out with various ingredients hidden in them such as chilies, salt, wool, rice and coal. The ingredients one finds hidden in one's dough ball are supposed to be a lighthearted comment on one's character. If a person finds chilies in their dough, it means they are talkative. If white-colored ingredients like salt, wool or rice are inside the dough it is considered a good sign. If a person finds coal in the dough it has much the same meaning as finding coal in one's Christmas stocking; it means you have a 'black heart.'
The last day of the year is a time to clean and prepare for the approaching New Year. In the monasteries it is a day of preparations. The finest decorations are put up and elaborate offerings are made of called 'Lama Losar.' Before the coming of a new year can be celebrated, unfinished business and unhappy memories must be dealt with. And so, on the 29th day of the last month in the old year, there is a festival called Gutor, in which everyone whitewashes and cleans their houses. The last day of the old year is spent preparing for the New Year. People go to monasteries to make offerings and to participate in the ceremonies conducted during the day. Many rituals take place that are designed to chase away any evil spirits. One of these is a play in which the lamas perform masked dances to symbolize the triumph of good over evil. New Year's Eve is called 'Lu Yugpa,' an opportunity to banish evil spirits from the old year and clear the way for starting the new year right.
At dawn on New Year's Day, Tibetans visit monasteries, shrines, and stupas to make offerings. Colorful new prayer flags are hung out over each home and the smell of incense wafts through the villages. Then families venture out to drink the new year's chang (unhopped beer) with friends, to picnic in the parks and meadows, or to watch an archery competition. There is great merriment and revelry as people thank the gods and pay homage to their ancestors for providing abundant food. The festivities are spread over almost a fortnight. During the first four days of the festival, there are a series of private family feasts.
The residents of each township decorate their houses with flour paintings of the sun and the moon. They also make offerings to the moon asking for happiness in life, in the New Year, on New Year's day and in the stars for the future. Lamps lit with mustard oil illuminate the house at night. All the members of a family are expected to stay at home for the New Year celebrations and eat a bread called tab-zan. Made of parched barley dough kneaded in mustard oil, the tab-zan is an essential offering to the family deity.
Devotees journey to the Jokhang temple in Lhasa to donate yak butter that keeps the lamps burning well into the year. At Barkor Plaza the giant incense burners work overtime to handle hundreds of people queued up to throw in their offerings of juniper branches. New sculptures of yak butter and tsampa (roasted barley flour) are displayed. Made by the lamas, the sculptures depict deities and Buddhist scenes and will be unveiled at the Butter Sculpture Festival at the first full moon of the year (15 days after New Year's Day).
Yak Year People:
 4th February 1913 to 4th February 1914.
4th February 1925 to 4th February 1926.
4th February 1937 to 4th February 1938.
4th February 1949 to 4th February 1950.
4th February 1961 to 4th February 1962.
4th February 1973 to 4th February 1974.
4th February 1985 to 4th February 1986.
4th February 1997 to 4th February 1998.
This year there are lucky stars for Yak people with the 'star of authority' and 'heaven star of virtue' on the way. The destiny trend for the year 2009 is strong. You will meet helpful people and achieve success. You will have more chance to be promoted and earn more income. From a business perspective, you will experience good relationships with clients and are likely to be helped by a male. However, it requires hard work, with little regard to fantasies. From the finance aspect, income will increase, and it is a good year to organise some solid investments.
This year is good for moving house, migration, traveling and social life. It is also good for marriage. Single people will have good chances to find a partner and will enjoy romance; married Yak people should focus on family life to ward off outsiders. Potential health problems relate to the digestive system and emotional problems.
Lucky objects are: display a yak on the North for safety and protection and put a pair of mandarin ducks on the bedside table for good relationships.
Your Tibetan meditation word for for 2009 is 'intelligence.'
Tiger Year People:
 4th February 1914 to 5th February 1915.
4th February 1926 to 5th February 1927.
4th February 1938 to 5th February 1939.
4th February 1950 to 4th February 1951.
4th February 1962 to 4th February 1963.
4th February 1974 to 4th February 1975.
4th February 1986 to 4th February 1987.
4th February 1998 to 4th February 1999.
This year has a couple of inauspicious stars in the way, so that the luck trend is not strong and has some up and downs. Some unexpected difficulties may arise with business and you may feel it hard to take control of situations at times.
A 'travel horse' appears in the planets and this will bring travel luck; it is a good year for transfer, job changes and moving house. Finances may be unstable so it is important not to take any big risks with investments. Beware of your limitations, and do not try anything outside of your abilities. You need to pay attention to networks and work relationships. There are likely to be some failures caused by mistrust.
For the Tigers emotional life, some quarrels and disharmony will need understanding and compromise to resolve. From a health perspective, energy levels are low and exercise will be good for you, such as Tai Chi, yoga, meditation, etc. This year, you need to pay attention to senior people of the family, and look after their health.
Lucky objects are: Carry a pig symbol, display a dragon in the North of your living room for good health and protection.
Your Tibetan meditation word for for 2009 is 'serenity.'
Hare Year People:
5th February 1915 to 5th February 1916.
5th February 1927 to 5th February 1928.
5th February 1939 to 5th February 1940.
4th February 1951 to 5th February 1952.
4th February 1963 to 5th February 1964.
4th February 1975 to 5th February 1976.
4th February 1987 to 4th February 1988.
4th February 1999 to 4th February 2000.
The Hare year and Rat year form a penalty relationship, this will result some disharmony in work relationships and personal relationships. It requires a humble attitude and second thoughts before expressing your opinions, to avoid mistakes.
From a financial aspect, there is an auspicious Bon star 'Tai Yin' appearing in your destiny. This star will bring good luck for money. Business relating to females will be beneficial, such as: fashion, beauty. It is a good year to invest, and good gains are likely.
This year brings brings 'peach blossoms' (romance flowers) to Hare people in 2009. This refers to the hare's popularity and attraction to the opposite sex. However, due to the penalty relationship with Jupiter, your love life appears more complicated and difficult. There will be unrealistic demands, misunderstandings or troubles caused by relationships.
Potential heath problems are related to liver, so avoid too much alcohol. Senior relatives may suffer health problem, pay more attention to them if you can.
Lucky objects: display images of pig, rabbit and sheep in the east of your living room. These three animals will form a strong protection. Carry three Tibetan ancient coins for money luck.
Your Tibetan meditation word for for 2009 is 'dream.'
Dragon Year People:
4th February 1916 to 4th February 1917.
4th February 1928 to 4th February 1929.
5th February 1940 to 4th February 1941.
5th February 1952 to 4th February 1953.
5th February 1964 to 4th February 1965.
5th February 1976 to 4th February 1977.
4th February 1988 to 4th February 1989.
4th February 2000 to 4th February 2001.
The Dragon year is half combined with the Rat year, combined with the planet Jupiter is a good thing, meaning you will be supported and enjoy good relationships with others, plus there is a lucky 'art' star is on the way. As such, this is a very promising year for Dragon year people of a creative nature.
Career paths will be smoothed with the influence of the auspicious stars; business will have more opportunities. Income will increase. It is a year full of creativity and it is a good time to make plans for future.
The star of art has negative result on love life, you may love your creative time too much and neglect loved ones. The joy of creative isolation is no good for relationship commitments. Work out what you want and compromise.
The health outlook is not as strong as business. You will become stressed more easily. You should do some exercise, to maintain a good balance.
Lucky objects: this year Dragon people should wear a symbol of the rooster to attract helpful people, or mentors. Display a dragon in the east of the living room for positive energy, and put a turtle on the North of the living room to respect the planet Jupiter. This will enhance your safety.
Your Tibetan meditation word for for 2009 is 'compassion.'
Snake Year People:
4th February 1917 to 4th February 1918.
4th February 1929 to 4th February 1930.
4th February 1941 to 4th February 1942.
4th February 1953 to 4th February 1954.
4th February 1965 to 4th February 1966.
4th February 1977 to 4th February 1978.
4th February 1989 to 4th February 1990.
4th February 2001 to 4th February 2002.
Snake year people confronted the powerful influence of Jupiter last year and experienced lot of pressure and challenges. The journey of 2009 is much smoother; it is a year of sunshine, the luck trend is strong.
Under the lucky star called the 'month of virtue's' influence, Snake people will experience excellent luck with career and business. It is a good year to strengthen yourself and make the most out of it.
Your financial aspect looks good and you will make more money however, you may spend more money than you make. You need to manage your finances carefully and have a good plan for saving.
The Snakes love life is normal and stable, though single people will find it hard to have any breakthrough. Regarding health, senior people need to be careful with strokes, be careful with legs and hands injuries.
Lucky objects: Carry symbols of rooster and ox. Display a dragon or turtle on the North of your living room for safety and protection.
Your Tibetan meditation word for for 2009 is 'awakening.'
Horse Year People:
4th February 1918 to 5th February 1919.
4th February 1930 to 5th February 1931.
4th February 1942 to 5th February 1943.
4th February 1954 to 4th February 1955.
4th February 1966 to 4th February 1967.
4th February 1978 to 4th February 1979.
4th February 1990 to 4th February 1991.
4th February 2002 to 4th February 2003.
Horse and Rat people will clash in their relationship. The horse is fire and the rat is water based on the elements, birth and destructive cycles. Water destroys fire and therefore, Horse people will have a difficult year ahead.
Career and business will have unexpected difficulties. You should prepare for changes ahead to avoid frustration. This is a year to be humble and take advice from senior and more experience people. Treat this year as planting seeds and hard work; do not be over ambitious.
Under the influence of a few auspicious stars, this year gives you the opportunity to spend big money. It is not however, a good year to take any risks. You could buy some blue chip stocks or become involved with long term investments to minimize loss.
Health luck is not very strong, good diet, meditation and exercise are good for you. You also need to pay attention to the health of the senior members of your family, their health may not be good. For relationships, there are no spectacular stars in your romance; single people may find short term relationships only.
Lucky objects: Carry of symbol of the Tiger and Dog to attract helpful friends and protection. People born in first half of the year can wear gold or silver, people born in the second half of the year can wear jade or crystal. Display a pig in the North for safety.
Your Tibetan meditation word for for 2009 is 'childhood.'
Sheep Year People:
5th February 1919 to 5th February 1920.
5th February 1931 to 5th February 1932.
5th February 1943 to 5th February 1944.
4th February 1955 to 5th February 1956.
4th February 1967 to 5th February 1968.
4th February 1979 to 5th February 1980.
4th February 1991 to 4th February 1992.
4th February 2003 to 4th February 2004.
The Sheep and Rat form a penalty relationship in 2009 and it is inauspicious. There are however, a few strong lucky stars on the way and these will help you out. The destiny trend of the year is difficult at the beginning, lucky at the end.
Under lucky stars influence, career and business aspect looks good, you will gain support and move to a higher level. Work relationships may feature conflicts with colleagues, troubles may come from jealousies.
From a financial aspect, the first half of the year will be a bit tight, however the situation will improve in second half of the year. There not much luck with easy money so work hard and be careful with financial management.
With regard to health, be careful to avoid stress. With food, there is potential problem with weight gain, so keep good balance with diet.
Lucky objects: wear symbols of rabbit and pig, to form a strong three combination for protection. Display a dragon in the North of the living room for safety.
Your Tibetan meditation word for for 2009 is 'confidence.'
Monkey Year People:
5th February 1920 to 4th February 1921.
5th February 1932 to 4th February 1933.
5th February 1944 to 4th February 1945.
5th February 1956 to 4th February 1957.
5th February 1968 to 4th February 1967.
5th February 1980 to 4th February 1981.
5th February 1992 to 4th February 1993.
4th February 2004 to 4th February 2005.
This year monkey people have lucky stars of both 'academia and wisdom' in their destiny and will experience a good year ahead.
From a business aspect, it is a good year for self improvement. The wisdom star will help you to have a better view of undertakings and enable you to move forward. Income will increase. For students, it is a good year to achieve desired results. 2009 is also good for traveling.
From the relationship aspect, the Monkey may find different opinions and arguments. Problems will be solved at the end and family life looks good. Work relationships may find troubles caused by men gossiping.
From a health aspect, the Monkey needs to be careful with their teeth and avoid any dangerous sports and watch out for injuries from animals (ie: pets).
Lucky objects: Carry symbols of rat and dragon for protection. Display a money rat in the North of your home for good luck.
Your Tibetan meditation word for for 2009 is 'courage.'
Bird Year People:
4th February 1921 to 4th February 1921.
4th February 1933 to 4th February 1934.
4th February 1945 to 4th February 1946.
4th February 1957 to 4th February 1958.
4th February 1969 to 4th February 1970.
4th February 1981 to 4th February 1982.
4th February 1993 to 4th February 1994.
4th February 2005 to 4th February 2006.
Bird people this year are under the influence of a few powerful lucky stars and will have a very promising year ahead.
From a business aspect, the fortune star and heaven star of virtue will help you overcome all the difficulties you will experience in 2009 enabling you to enjoy a strong year. You will have more opportunities, promotion and business sales will have a major increase. It is an excellent year.
The finance aspect looks good and you will gain more conventional and unconventional income. It is a good year to expand your investments. This year you will have more social life and but be aware that your expenses also will have a big increase.
From a health aspect, troubles relate to liver and the digestive system. Avoid drinking and smoking. It is best to have health checked to prevent any diseases. Relationships look good. Single people will have chance to meet soul mate and have chance to marry. Married couples also may find a more colourful life and it is best to focus on your family to avoid any outsiders.
Lucky objects are: Wear symbols of the snake, rooster and ox; these three animal signs will form a strong protection for you to ward off any evil intentions. Put a Wealth Yak in the North East of the living room to advance career luck. Display a symbol of pig in North for good health and safety.
Your Tibetan meditation word for for 2009 is 'harmony.'
Dog Year People:
5th February 1910 to 5th February 1911.
4th February 1922 to 5th February 1923.
4th February 1934 to 5th February 1935.
4th February 1946 to 4th February 1947.
4th February 1958 to 4th February 1959.
4th February 1970 to 4th February 1971.
4th February 1982 to 4th February 1983.
4th February 1994 to 4th February 1995.
Dog year people are influenced by some lucky and unlucky stars so the luck trend is not strong. If you persevere, you will have a happy ending.
From a business aspect, there will be difficulties in the beginning but help is on the way and problems will be solved in the end. This is a year of hard work but it is very rewarding and give you much pride. From a financial aspect, there is no easy money, so be careful with investments. It is not a good year to take any risks.
From a love aspect, a star of loneliness is in your destiny, and it may cause you some emotional instability. This will create a feeling of isolation no matter how many people are around you.
Health luck is not very strong, and so you need to be careful with infections and beware of accidents around the house.
Lucky objects for dog year people are: Wear a symbol of tiger for protection. Place a money tree in the North of your property for to respect and for safety. Carry a symbol of Buddha for health luck.
Your Tibetan meditation word for for 2009 is 'illumination.'
Boar Year People:
4th February 1911 to 5th February 1912.
5th February 1923 to 5th February 1924.
5th February 1935 to 5th February 1936.
4th February 1947 to 5th February 1948.
4th February 1959 to 5th February 1960.
4th February 1971 to 5th February 1972.
4th February 1983 to 5th February 1984.
4th February 1995 to 4th February 1996.
People who are born in Boar years or on Boar days were confronting the powerful planet Jupiter last year. This year they finally walk out the cloud and will have a much more stable year ahead. Although a 'stable' 2009 will be a little dull, excitment comes in new creative ideas and recognition of this artistry.
From a business and career aspect, there are no auspicious stars, so you must work hard work and ground yourself. It is not a good year to expend your ambitions or take big risks. This will be a quiet year for the Boar person with the time to gather energy for 2010.
Income will be stable but you will have little luck with easy money; do not expect any unconventional income and avoid gambling and speculative investments.
Health luck is not very good. Watch out food poisoning. Avoid any dangerous contact sports.
Relationship aspect looks normal, nothing spectacular. Single people find it hard to have any break through.
Lucky objects: carry a symbol of tiger for luck, display a pig symbol in the North of your living room for good health and safety.
Your Tibetan meditation word for for 2009 is 'excellence.'
Rat Year People:
5th February 1912 to 4th February 1913.
5th February 1924 to 4th February 1925.
5th February 1936 to 4th February 1937.
5th February 1948 to 4th February 1949.
5th February 1960 to 4th February 1961.
5th February 1972 to 4th February 1973.
4th February 1984 to 4th February 1985.
4th February 1996 to 4th February 1997.
People who born in the Rat year are confronting inauspicious days in 2009. They will experience unexpected changes, difficulties and challenges. However it is not always a bad thing and most Rat people can still move on to a more positive direction.
This year you will need to plan things in advance to avoid frustration. From a business and career aspect, there are three auspicious stars which will bring encouragement and creativity to rat people but only if they are able to recognise their luck. People who work in military related fields will receive the most benefit from these stars and as a result, they will be promoted and have more income. Most Rat people will find themselves being more creative and and it is a good year to make plans for extending this creativity. For most people, if you work hard, you can still achieve success at the end.
The Rat persons financial aspect is stable with income improving and there also have more chance to spend money. Money comes and goes and it is not a good year to take risk. Avoid gambling.
Without the help of the romance star, the Rats love life appears less colourful. Single people may form short term relationships only. Do not have high expectations and more focus on your work will help you smooth relationships.
Health luck is not very good. Due to the influence of a few inauspicious stars, you need be careful with driving, avoid any dangerous sports.
Lucky objects: carry a symbol of ox, monkey and dragon for safety and protection.
Your Tibetan meditation word for for 2009 is 'integrity.'
The Tradition of Tibetan Prayer Flags.
The Losar (New Year) festival in Tibet is a time of flags. Tibetan prayer flags were originally used as talismans to protect Tibetans during times of war. Originally the Bon people used prayer flags for protection and put symbols such as the snow lion, the dragon, or a tiger on each flag. Prayer flags were eventually adopted into Tibetan Buddhism with prayers or messages of hope and peace written on individual flags. At dawn on Losar, it is the custom to take down old prayer flags and new prayers are offered to the wind. As the flags fray and tear in the wind, the prayers are lifted to the universe. This practice is no longer strictly observed.
The colours of Tibetan prayer flags are significant because they symbolize each of the five elements. Blue stands for the ether, or wind element. The white flag symbolizes air, and the red flag stands for fire. The green and yellow flags symbolize water and earth, respectively. The five colours of Tibetan prayer flags represent the five directions, (north, south, east west, and center). The five prayer flags also represent the five meditation Buddhas, and the five wisdoms. The five wisdoms are compassion, harmony, wisdom of sight, kindness, and perfect wisdom. The correct order is blue, yellow, green, red, then white.
Symbols on prayer flags include prayers for wealth, wisdom, and health, or the eight auspicious signs - a right coiled white conch, a precious umbrella, a victory banner, a golden fish, a wheel, an auspicious drawing, a lotus flower and a vase of treasure. Many prayer flags also depict mantras, such as the Tibetan Buddhist mantra, 'Om Mani Padme Hum.' Prayer flags can be placed inside your house but traditionally they are placed outside in the wind. The most auspicious time to hang prayer flags is during the Losar (New Year) season. Prayer flags are also hung during times of great happiness, such as a birth, or times of great sadness, such as war and invasions by foreign powers.
Prayer flags should always be placed in a high part of your house, such as near the ceiling or between flag poles outside. Prayer flags should be hung in the right order, starting with blue from left to right. The actual hanging of your prayer flags is considered to be a momentous occasion. Tibetan prayer flags above all symbolize peace and harmony with our friends and family and with the greater universe.
Sources, thanks and links:
How to make Tibetan prayer flags for kids.
With special thanks to Palden Drolmar of Thekchen Shedrub
Choeling, Flinders Park, South Australia.
Tibetan Buddhist Institute.
With love and thanks to Fenton Brigantes.
BBC Online - Tibetan Religion.
Tibetan Translations.
Frivilous but fun: The Chinese Zodiac for Prospective Lovers.
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