The Chinese New Year is fast approaching; February 10th to be exact; and celebratory planning should be under way; however, if you are not familiar with the tradition, and either want to host your own party, or are attending someone else's; click
here for 11 steps on how to celebrate correctly; there's tips on food, clothing, cleaning, and etiquette.
Not only is this an amazing tradition, but it's also a great reason to get together with friends and family and bring some love and enjoyment to these dreary months.
Each year has it's own animal, I'm the Year of the Rooster: Honest, energetic, intelligent, flamboyant, flexible, diverse, confident. Interesting...
A fun idea to ring in the new year is to have a costume party where everyone must attend in an outfit based on their Chinese zodiac sign.
What are you? What does your sign say about you?
新年好 (Happy New Year). Enjoy!
Years Corresponding to Chinese Zodiac Signs:
Rat |
1900 |
1912 |
1924 |
1936 |
1948 |
1960 |
1972 |
1984 |
1996 |
2008 |
2020 |
Ox |
1901 |
1913 |
1925 |
1937 |
1949 |
1961 |
1973 |
1985 |
1997 |
2009 |
2021 |
Tiger |
1902 |
1914 |
1926 |
1938 |
1950 |
1962 |
1974 |
1986 |
1998 |
2010 |
2022 |
Rabbit |
1903 |
1915 |
1927 |
1939 |
1951 |
1963 |
1975 |
1987 |
1999 |
2011 |
2023 |
Dragon |
1904 |
1916 |
1928 |
1940 |
1952 |
1964 |
1976 |
1988 |
2000 |
2012 |
2024 |
Snake |
1905 |
1917 |
1929 |
1941 |
1953 |
1965 |
1977 |
1989 |
2001 |
2013 |
2025 |
Horse |
1906 |
1918 |
1930 |
1942 |
1954 |
1966 |
1978 |
1990 |
2002 |
2014 |
2026 |
Sheep |
1907 |
1919 |
1931 |
1943 |
1955 |
1967 |
1979 |
1991 |
2003 |
2015 |
2027 |
Monkey |
1908 |
1920 |
1932 |
1944 |
1956 |
1968 |
1980 |
1992 |
2004 |
2016 |
2028 |
Rooster |
1909 |
1921 |
1933 |
1945 |
1957 |
1969 |
1981 |
1993 |
2005 |
2017 |
2029 |
Dog |
1910 |
1922 |
1934 |
1946 |
1958 |
1970 |
1982 |
1994 |
2006 |
2018 |
2030 |
Boar |
1911 |
1923 |
1935 |
1947 |
1959 |
1971 |
1983 |
1995 |
2007 |
2019 |
2031 |
Below are the
Chinese Zodiac signs, and the characteristics that
correspond to each one.
Rat:Element:
WaterPartners
well with:
Dragon and
Monkey
Characteristics: Intelligent, adaptable, quick-witted, charming,
artistic, sociable
Ox:Element: Earth
Partners well with:
Snake and
RoosterCharacteristics:
Loyal, reliable, thorough, strong, reasonable, steady, determined
Tiger:
Element:
Wood
Partners well with: Horse and
Dog
Characteristics: Enthusiastic, courageous, ambitious, leadership,
confidence, charismatic
Rabbit:Element: Wood
Partners well with: Sheep and
Boar
Characteristics: Trustworthy, empathic, modest, diplomatic, sincere,
sociable, caretakers
Dragon:Element:
Earth
Partners well with: Rat and Monkey
Characteristics: Lucky, flexible,
eccentric, imaginative, artistic, spiritual, charismatic
Snake:Element:
FirePartners
well with:
Rooster
and Ox
Characteristics: Philosophical, organized, intelligent, intuitive,
elegant, attentive, decisive
Horse:Element:
FirePartners
well with: Dog and
TigerCharacteristics:
Adaptable, loyal, courageous, ambitious, intelligent, adventurous, strong
Sheep:Element: Earth
Partners well with: Boar and
Rabbit
Characteristics: Tasteful, crafty, warm, elegant, charming, intuitive,
sensitive, calm
Monkey:Element: Metal
Partners well with:
Dragon and
Rat
Characteristics: Quick-witted, charming, lucky, adaptable, bright,
versatile, lively, smart
Rooster:Element:
Metal
Partners well with:
Snake
and Ox
Characteristics: Honest, energetic, intelligent, flamboyant, flexible,
diverse, confident.
Dog:Element: Earth
Partners well with:
Tiger
and
HorseCharacteristics:
Loyal, sociable, courageous, diligent, steady, lively, adaptable, smart
Boar:Element:
WaterPartners
well with: Sheep and Rabbit
Characteristics: Honorable, philanthropic,
determined, optimistic, sincere, sociable