As we Welcome the Chinese New Year Of The Tiger, we uncover the meaning, luck, rituals’, and cultural mythical stories this Zodiac brings.
The Tiger is known as the king of all beasts in China, it’s a character of strength, exorcising evils, and braveness. People born in the year of the Tiger are friendly, brave, competitive, charming and endowed with good luck and authority. With indomitable fortitude and great confidence, the tiger people can be competent leaders. On the other side, they are likely to be impetuous, irritable, overindulged and love to boast to others.
The Tiger ranks third among the animals of the Chinese zodiac. The 12 zodiac animals are, in order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each year is related to an animal sign according to a 12-year-cycle
What does the year of the Tiger bring?
- Lucky numbers: 1, 3, and 4 and numbers containing them (like 13 and 43)
- Lucky days: the 16th and 27th of any Chinese lunar month
- Lucky colours: blue, gray, orange
- Lucky flowers: yellow lily, cineraria
- Lucky direction: east, north, south
- Lucky months: the 3rd, 7th, and 10th Chinese lunar months.
- Unlucky numbers: 6, 7, and 8 and numbers containing them (like 67 and 87)
- Unlucky colour: brown
- Unlucky direction: southwest
- Unlucky months: the 1st, 4th, 5th, and 11th Chinese lunar month
LUCKY CHINESE NEW YEAR FLOWERS AND FRUITS.
Flowers and fruits hold particular importance during Chinese New Year, which is celebrated in several Asian countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, and Vietnam. We list the lucky fruits and flowers that are often used as decorations during Chinese New Year and their aligning principles.
Peach blossoms – Prosperity and Growth
Grapes, Plums, Jujube and Kumquats – Good Luck and Prosperity
Pomelos – Good Luck and Family Unity
Oranges – Abundance and Happiness
Orchids – Fertility and Abundance
Plum blossoms – Endurance and Courage
Peonies – Richness and Peace
Narcissus or Water Fairy Flowers – Good Fortune and Prosperity
THE TALE OF THE GREAT RACE FROM A HARDWORKING, HONEST ANIMAL.
According to mythological stories, a race was held to determine which animal, in which order, would be the namesakes of the twelve-year cycle. The race was run and swum, with the finishing line being beyond a large river. The Rat and the Ox crossed the river easily, with the Ox due to being large, powerful, and adept both on land and in water, the Rat asked the good-natured Ox for a ride on its back, but then ungratefully jumped off at the last minute to cross the finish line first.
The Tiger was sure that was going to win, but ended up placing third. Thus, Tigers are incredibly competitive people, known for their fearlessness and ambition. Tigers are ambitious, but they’re also incredibly generous with a drive to help others. Tigers want to win but they’re also always seeking justice.
MYTHOLOGY
According to tales and myths, the beginning of the Chinese New Year began with a mythical beast called the Nian during the annual Spring Festival. It was known that the Nian would eat villagers in the middle of the night. One year, the villagers decided to hide from the monster. An old man said that he would stay the night and take revenge on the Nian. All the villagers thought he was crazy. The old man put red scrolls up and set off firecrackers. The following day, the villagers came back and saw that nothing had been destroyed and they felt that the old man was a deity who came to save them, the villagers then understood the Nian was afraid of the colour red and loud noises. So the tradition grew that when New Year was approaching, the villagers would wear red clothes, hang red lanterns, and red spring scrolls on windows and doors. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nian. From then on, Nian never came to the village again.
Was I born during the Year of the Tiger?
If you were born in 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998 or 2010, you were born during the Year of the Tiger.