Celebrating the Year of the Tiger!

Chinese New Year falls this year on Tuesday 1st February, with celebrations taking place across China and the rest of the world as we move from the Year of the Ox into the Year of the Tiger. The tiger is the third animal in the Chinese zodiac - the repeating twelve year cycle based on the lunar calender that is defined by twelve animal signs and their related attributes. 

According to legend, the Jade Emperor summoned the animals to his palace, and decreed that the order in which they arrived would determine their place in the zodiac. The tiger was supremely confident that none of the other animals would be able to compete with his speed and stamina in the race. However, he was sent off course by a strong current when swimming across the river close to the race's finish and was overtaken by the ox. The rat had cunningly hitched a lift on the ox's head to get across the river and raced ahead once safely across to take first place in the race. 

When the tiger climbed out of the river he was convinced he was first, only to find that that the rat had claimed first place with its cunning, and the ox second with its strength and diligence. The king of the jungle therefore had to settle for third place.

New Year and its associated Spring Festival are the main holidays in the Chinese calendar with celebrations lasting up to 16 days, with the first 7 days considered as public holidays. Factories and other workplaces across China will close for the holiday, with workers returning to their home towns to spend time with their families, sharing food and enjoying colourful parades and festivals. Firecrackers and fireworks are set off at midnight to cast away any bad luck and to bring in good luck for the year ahead.  

Those born in the Year of the Tiger (including the years 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998 and 2010) are said to be brave, unpredictable and confident, with boundless energy and vitality. They love freedom and independence and are fiercely protective of their personal space. They are also ambitious and highly competitive, but with a strong sense of justice and a commitment to helping others.

However they can also be conceived as irritable, unpredictable and overindulgent. Their single-mindedness can lead them to disregard others' feelings and come across as brash or stubborn. Their self-confidence can also mean that they can't always communicate or work well with others, which can leave them isolated and lonely.

Lucky for Tigers

• Lucky colours: orange, blue, green
• Lucky numbers: 1, 3, 7
• Lucky flowers: yellow lily, plum blossom

 Unlucky for Tigers

• Unlucky colour: white
• Unlucky numbers: 4, 9
• Unlucky direction: southwest

Most compatible with: Horse, Dog, Pig

Lease compatible with: Ox. Snake, Goat, Monkey