Happy Year of The Ox

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A traditional Chinese paper cutting and a gift received from Sean H.Hsiao, who writes “The cutting in left side composed of flower peonies and vases, which means “Wealth” plus “Peace and safety” in Chinese language. And that’s the popular greeting words we love to say during New Years. The right side as you can see is oxen. Ox is a very important symbol in agricultural society. Traditional farmers and their family members usually don’t eat beef to show the respect to the animal that works hard for their plowland. (Even now there are many people in Taiwan and Mainland don’t eat beef.) Ox also has the magical power to expel evil spirits and diseases. I remember when I was a kid, I took the pills my mother gave to me, and it has a funny name “Yellow Bull”. Ha~ the elder generation believes that medicine with ox name can detoxicate the poison and bad sickness. And I wish you can be happy and healthy since the year of ox.”