The celebrations for Chinese New Year have just finished a couple of days ago.
This year we should have been celebrating with friends (none of whom are Chinese, but who did live in Hong Kong for many years, and always celebrate). However, I was ill so sadly we had to miss out.
I’ve always been fascinated by Oriental art, and the Chinese Zodiac, partly because I was born in the Year of the Dragon, which in Chinese culture is a very lucky year to be born in. We have also visited Hong Kong, and we both bought home a Dragon ornament. (Mine is the image).
Weirdly, my husband is also a Dragon – there is 12 years between us, and that is the time it takes for the Zodiac animals to appear again -they change annually, on a 12 year cycle.
The Myth behind the animals
The Dragon is the only mythical creature among the animals. There are several different versions of how the animals came about. One suggests, the myth and legend originates from a Chinese poem telling the story of the 12 animals, which descended from the heavens to help people celebrate the coming of spring and a new crop.
The animals came down to earth over a 2 hour period with their combined journey representing a whole 24-hour day, and in turn a symbol of one’s lifetime. In later years the story developed into one where the animals raced against each other – which is often the version told to children.
Alongside the 12 animals there are also 5 different types, represented by the five elementary elements of Chinese culture – earth, wood, fire, water and metal.
2023 was the year of the Water Rabbit, and this year is the year of the Wood Dragon.
(My husband, born in October is a Wood Dragon and I’m a Water Dragon, born in March).
If your birthday falls between Feb 10th and Jan 28 2025, then you are a Dragon.
However, because of the Chinese lunar calendar compared to the Western calendar, you need to check for your proper sign. The Chinese New Year doesn’t all on the same day each year.
The different animal years:
Rat: 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032
Ox: 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033
Tiger: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034
Rabbit: 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2022, 2023, 2035
Dragon: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036
Snake: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037
Horse: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2038
Sheep/Goat: 1943 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039
Monkey: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, 2040
Chicken/Rooster: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041
Dog: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042
Pig: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043
Find your Chinese Zodiac:
Dragons are supposed to be destined for good fortune and greatness – which is why more babies in many Asian nations are born in the year of the Dragon, than any other.
Traits of Dragons:
Impulsive and obstinate.
They’re supposed to intelligence, charisma, optimism, strength and health.
Be a natural born adventurer and risk taker. Also have a gung-ho spirit.
And have a charismatic personality…
Strong sense of justice and fairness and a great dollop of creativity.
I’ll definitely own up to being obstinate at times, and I can be impulsive, but I would not say I’m a natural born adventurer, although I don’t take risk with money, I don’t shy away from
change.
I hadn’t realised that this is something that Dragons enjoy – making change. I read that the Dragon sign ‘endows the wards with the ability to change their lives from any starting point – be it a young age or mature years.’ It seems when abrupt changes are made, we revive ourselves to a new life. I’ve not read that before.
Now being in my third career, I can definitely agree with that, and luckily for me, all of my careers have been in creative areas.
The other interesting thing is that usually, in love, people tend not to be that compatible with the same signs, but as two dragons we do have favourable compatibility. The most interesting comment about that being that it is founded on a shared desire for equality and freedom, and I’d say that’s perfectly true of our relationship. We support each other completely, but we also like to do our own thing.
So, do you know what your Chinese zodiac sign is?