What is Lap Chun 立春 (Lìchūn)?

In Chinese culture, a new year (lunar year) actually starts on Lap Chun (立春), the official first day of Spring in the Chinese lunar calendar, which usually falls on February 3, 4 or 5.  Lap Chun (in cantonese) is equivalent to the Spring/Vernal Equinox.  In mandarin, it is pronounce as Lìchūn. 

Meaning to say, for those born in the new Gregorian year but before Lap Chun, they are considered to be born in the previous year Chinese zodiac.  Example; if Ah Meng was born on 2nd Feb, 2001, he would be considered to be a golden (metal) dragon and not a golden (metal) snake, although general public would say 2001 is a year of the snake (Chinese New Year that year fell on 24th Jan, 2001).  Reason being, in the year 2001, Lap Chun fell on 3rd Feb. and the golden snake year had not started yet on the day Ah Meng was born.  So... as you may be able to see, Lap Chun is actually a very important day for all Chinese. 

There is a Chinese folk belief that it is much easier to balance an egg on a smooth surface during Lap
Chun day than at any other time of the year.  Balancing fresh chicken eggs on their broad end was a traditional Lap Chun ritual in China.  You don't believe it is easier to balance an egg on Lap Chun?  Then, give it a try on 4th Feb, 2012....

**********************************
Update on 4th Feb, 2012:

I did the testing at about 11.00pm and managed to balance/stand 8 fresh eggs.  

Will try again tomorrow night.

龍馬精神 (May your spirits be like the dragon and horse)

As the Auspicious Water Dragon Year approaching close, with a Chinese New Year poem  (with attribution to the writer of the poem, a good VIOS friend, Mr Dennis Loh Kok Kin), I wish all my relatives and friends:

(Long2 Ma3 Jing1 Shen2)

May your spirits be like the dragon and horse

(written by Dennis Loh Kok Kin)

My heart leaps up when I behold
The new year dragon in the sky.
Never will I be despairing cold,
Though homeward-bound my thoughts they fly
To lantern arrays bedecking the streets,
And familiar faces everywhere meet,
Gongs and crackers erupt in merry furore,
"Xin Nian Hao" and other tunes chime galore.
May your spirit be renewed by this new year coming fast
Here's wishing that your dragon year be an absolute blast!