January 25 - Lunar New Year 2020 - Year of the Rat

Happy Lunar New Year 2020! The rat is the first of all zodiac animals. According to one myth, the Jade Emperor said the order would be decided by the order in which they arrived to his party. The Rat tricked the Ox into giving him a ride. Then, just as they arrived at the finish line, Rat jumped down and landed ahead of Ox, becoming first.

The Rat is also associated with the Earthly Branch (地支—dì zhī) Zi (子) and the midnight hours. In the terms of yin and yang (阴阳—yīn yáng), the Rat is yang and represents the beginning of a new day.

In Chinese culture, rats were seen as a sign of wealth and surplus. Because of their reproduction rate, married couples also prayed to them for children.

Rats are clever, quick thinkers; successful, but content with living a quiet and peaceful life.

Recent years of the Rat are: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020.

Paired with the Celestial Stems (天干—Tiān gān), there is a sixty-year calendrical cycle. Although zi is associated with water, the years also cycle through the five elements of nature (五行—wǔ xíng). 

Personality and Characteristics

Optimistic and energetic, people born in the Rat year are likable by all. They are sensitive to other’s emotions but are stubborn with your opinion. Their personality is kind, but due to weak communication skills, their words may seem impolite and rude. 

Men born in the Rat year are clever and adapt quickly to new environments. They are creative great at taking advantage of opportunities. However, they sometimes lack the courage to do so. Although they have great ideas, they might not be suitable for leadership positions.

Women born in the Rat year are the traditional women. They love keeping things organized and place great value on the family. Everything is taken care of by them and there is no need for their husband to worry. Outside of home, they’re also someone with a sense of responsibility and ability. 

Compatibility

Most compatible with Rat: Ox, Dragon, Monkey 

Rat’s fixed Earthly Branch is water, while Ox is earth. They complement and help one another in both work and life.

Couples that are formed from Rat and Dragon will be able to understand each other well, and enjoy success together.

Similar to Dragons, Monkeys get along great with Rats, and tend to live happily ever after like a fairytale.

Least compatible with Rat: Horse, Goat and Rabbit 

The Earthly Branches of Rat and Horse clash strongly. No matter what a Rat does, it won’t be enough for the Horse.

Goats are attracted to Rat’s wealth and hope to control it, making it a rocky relationship.

The Rabbit will either purposely or unintentionally go against the Rat’s wishes, while the Rat can only keep silent.

Lucky things for Rats

• • Colors: blue, gold, green 
• • Numbers: 2,3 
• • Flowers: lily, African violet, valley lily 
• • Directions of auspiciousness: southeast, northeast 
• • Directions of wealth: southeast, east 
• • Directions of love: west
  
  

Unlucky things

• • Colors: yellow, brown 
• • Numbers: 5,9
  
  

We all adore François Truffaut!

I do, anyway.

#yearofteherat
#chinesezodiac
@GoogleDoodles  
@RAT_GG33 

January 25 - Youssef Chahine

Happy Birthday, Youssef Chahine! Born today in 1926, this Egyptian actor, writer, producer and film director was active in the Egyptian film industry from 1950 until his death. 

Chahine is best known for directing and starring in the 1958 Egyptian black and white drama/crime film 'Bāb al-Ḥadīd'('Cairo Station', also called 'The Iron Gate').

The film follows a newspaper salesman at the train station in Cairo. Chahine plays a lame young man named Qinawi. 

The salesman gives Qinawi a job selling newspapers in the Cairo train station. However, the women there all shun him because of his mild handicap, though he has little trouble walking. 

Later on, Qinawi develops an unhealthy obsession with a beautiful cold drink vendor named Hanuma (Hind Rustum). However, she is engaged to husky luggage porter Abu Siri (Farid Shawqi), who is trying to organize his co-workers into a union to better their lot.  

Nonetheless, Qinawi proposes to her. When she rejects his fantasy of a home and children in his village, Qinawi's obsession turns to madness. 

Later that same year, 'Cairo Station' was entered into the 8th Berlin International Film Festival between late June and early July 1958, 

The film was selected as the Egyptian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 31st Academy Awards in early April 1959. However, it was not accepted as a nominee.

A winner of the 50th Cannes Film Festival Anniversary Award in May 1997, Chahine was credited with launching the career of Egyptian film and television actor Omar Sharif. 

On January 25, 2015, a Google Doodle was created in what would have been Chahine's 89th birthday.  

Chahine had been active from 1950–2007. 

#borntodirect 

@tcm 

@FilmAfrica
@GoogleDoodles

January 25 - Tobe Hooper

Happy Birthday, Tobe Hooper! Born today in 1943 as Willard Tobe Hooper, this American screenwriter, producer and director was best known for his work in the horror genre. The British Film Institute cited him as one of the most influential horror filmmakers of all time. 

Hooper had been active from 1964–2017. 

#borntodirect 

@BFI 

@HorrorMovieCast