A Roaring Lunar New Year – 2022 is the Year of the Tiger
In 2021, the Year of the Ox, the strength and resilience of the ox was necessary as we battled another year of a global pandemic and all the challenges of daily life. As we celebrate the Lunar New Year and enter 2022, the Year of the Tiger, we look forward to a year of ambition, courage, and generosity.
People born in the years of the Tiger are independent and have a strong sense of self-esteem. These individuals are optimistic, enthusiastic, energetic, and value justice. Tigers hold strengths like courage and ambition, with a keen sense of adventure and a bold nature.
Alongside each new year’s zodiac sign, Chinese astrology assigns one of the five elements to each year. This year, 2022, is a year of the Water Tiger. Water Tigers are those born in 1962 or 2022 and are family oriented. These people are typically patient, considerate, and hard-working.
The 12 Animals of the Chinese Zodiac
The Chinese Zodiac consists of 12 animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Each Lunar New Year welcomes the next animal down the list with 2021 being the year of the Ox. The order of animals is based on the ancient Chinese legend called the Heavenly Gate Race. According to this legend, the Jade Emperor was in search of 12 animals to serve as his guards, so the emperor declared a race starting in the mortal world and ending at the Heavenly Gate. The rat was the first to pass the Heavenly Gates, followed by the ox. The twelfth and final animal to cross the Heavenly Gate was the pig, solidifying the 12 animals who would protect the Jade Emperor. The way these animals participated in the race and interacted with each other signifies their own personalities and relationships with other animals, true to the nature of astrology. Fast and fiercely competitive, the Tiger came in third.
Click here to learn more about the Heavenly Gate Race!
The 5 Elements of the Chinese Zodiac
Five Elements Theory is a Chinese philosophy used to describe the interactions and relationships among all things. The five elements consist of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. They are believed to be the fundamental elements of everything in the universe. According to China Highlights, “Everybody belongs to one of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs and a 12-year cycle according to the year in which they were born. One of the five elements is associated with each of the Chinese zodiac signs and 12-year cycles.” This means that for every year, there is a specific zodiac animal and element combination. In traditional Chinese culture, a person’s personality and luck are often determined by their zodiac sign 12-year cycle element. Their life force, or qi, is based on a person’s time and date of birth. Your sign and element combination only occur once every 60 years!
Click here to see what your sign and element mean!
For the Tigers…
Years of the Tiger: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
Most compatible with Ox: Rat, Snake, Rooster
Least compatible with Ox: Goat/Ram, Horse, Dog
Lucky Colors: blue, green
Lucky Numbers: 1, 3, 7
Lucky Flowers: Plum Blossom
Lucky Directions: North
Famous People Born in the Year of the Tiger:
Queen Elizabeth II: born April 21, 1926, Fire Tiger
Marilyn Monroe: born June 1, 1926, Fire Tiger
Tom Cruise: born July 3, 1962, Water Tiger
Lady Gaga: born March 28, 1986, Fire Tiger
Here are some local events you can attend to celebrate:
Japantown Lunar New Year Festival – My Sister’s House
Lunar New Year Lion Dance – Rooftop Macarons
Tết (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) Celebration
The Year of the Tiger Celebration – Chinese New Year Culture Assocation
Interested in learning more? Click the links below for more information:
Year of the Tiger 2022: How to Bring You Year-Long Good Luck
Chinese Zodiac — Year of the Tiger
Famous People Born in the Year of the Tiger