HONOLULU -- Mayor Mufi Hannemann on Wednesday declared January the annual "Month in Chinatown."

The month is filled with events, including Chinese New Year celebrations and the Narcissus Queen Pageant.

Hannemann made the declaration and welcomed Chinese community leaders at Honolulu Hale. The mayor also made a gift to a pair of dancing Chinese lions.

The year of the ox begins on Jan. 26.

Chinatown Events:

Narcissus Queen Pageant -
Jan. 10, 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m.
Hawaii Theatre

Chinese New Year Festival -
Jan. 9, 10, 16, 17; 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Chinatown Cultural Plaza

Coronation Ball -
Jan. 17, 5 p.m.-10 p.m.
Hilton Hawaiian Village

Chinese New Year Charity Show
Jan. 18, 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m.
At McKinley High School Auditorium

60th Annual Narcissus Festival and Choy Cheng, Traditional Lion Dance Blessing, and Chinatown Open House
Jan. 23, 6-10 p.m.
Chinatown, Chinatown Cultural Plaza

Chinatown Open House, Day Two
Jan. 24, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
Chinatown Cultural Plaza

Night in Chinatown Festival
l Jan. 24, 9 a.m.-10:30 p.m.
Maunakea Street

Night in Chinatown Parade
Jan. 24, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
Begins on Hotel Street at the State Capitol and proceeds to Maunakea Street

The year of the rat is winding down -- a time of great upheaval and big change.

No ordinary bovine, this. This is the year of the Earth Ox, and Wall Street is hoping the trends will be bullish after a disastrous 2008. But don't expect any handouts or get-rich-quick schemes to change your fortune.

"As you know bulls work very hard, so I would say, get up early, work harder. I think your reward will be bigger," said Ben Tran of the United Chinese Coalition.

The ox is tolerant, patient -- able to plow the soil day after day without complaint. Employers who abide by the lunar calendar will be looking for oxen-types to put on the payroll. You can always rely on the ox to complete a task and to remain loyal.

"One of the traits of the ox is hard working. This year, I'm looking forward to working hard at new opportunities and doors that might open," Tran said.

The door to the White House is soon to be open to Hawaii's most famous ox, Barack Obama. He is an ox born under the element of metal.

These workaholics have the strength of metal, but might have difficulty connecting to people on an emotional level.

"Barack Obama and I went to the same high school and had the same homeroom teacher, Mr. Kusonoke," 2008 Narcissus Queen Catherine Jayne said.

No matter what animal or sign you call your own, lunar prognosticators said you should sow your seeds and reap the harvest in the next 12 months, because following the ox, comes the tiger, a year of unpredictability.