Chinese New Year : Welcoming the Year of the Ox

Chinese New Year falls this year on Friday the 12th February, with celebrations taking place where possible across China and the rest of the world as we move from the Year of the Pig into the Year of the Ox.

The most important day in China's calander, the new year kicks off a 16 day festival and is a time when families in China will gather to share food together and to celebrate. Also referred to as the Lunar New Year, the date of the festival changes each year as it is set according to the arrival of a new moon between the end of January and the end of February. The celebrations last around two weeks until the full moon is in place, marked by the Festival of Lanterns.

The Ox is the second of the twelve animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac. According to one myth, the Jade Emperor decided that the way in which animals were to be listed on the periodic sequence was determined by the order they arrived to his party. Legend has it that the Ox was about to be the first to arrive, but was tricked by the Rat into giving him a ride. Just as they arrived, Rat jumped down making his appearance ahead of the Ox.

If you were born in one of the following years then, unless your birthday is in January or early February, you will have been born in the Year of the Ox: 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021.

We can draw on the Ox’s strength and determination to deal with life’s toughest problems - a welcoming attribute for the challenges that we are already experiencing at the start of 2021.

Lucky signs for people born in Ox Year
Colours: Blue, Red, Purple
Numbers: 1,9
Flowers: Tulip, Evergreen, Peach Blossom

Unlucky things
Colours: White, Green
Numbers: 3,4

Personality traits – hardworking, diligent, determined, realistic and honest.

Most compatible with: Rat, Snake, Rooster
Least compatible with: Tiger, Dragon, Horse, Sheep

Main image: Vecteezy.com