Things to Know About the Year of the Rooster

Welcome All Roosters

January 28th marks the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar in 2017. New Year’s Day in China marks the completion of a year of hard work. Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival as it’s sometimes called, is by far the most important and auspicious of all Chinese festivals in the country, and a time for families nationwide to come together and look forward to the upcoming year in hopes of good health, wealth, luck, and happiness.

Although most people in China now only get one week off for Spring Festival, the holiday traditionally lasts until the Lantern Festival, which falls on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese calendar.

Each year in the Chinese calendar is related to an animal sign according to the twelve-year cycle, and 2017 is the year of the Rooster. The Rooster is the tenth in the Chinese zodiac—each animal in the Chinese zodiac has its own unique significance.

Rooster Characteristics

Those born in the year of the Rooster (1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, and 2017) are said to be hardworking, tenacious, active, and daring. “Roosters” are, additionally, frank and honest. Known for speaking their minds, they aren’t ones to shy away from attention either. People born in the year of the Rooster are usually very creative, making fantastic entertainers and artists.

The numbers 5, 7, and 8 are considered especially lucky for those born in the year of the Rooster while gold and yellow are considered their lucky colors. Roosters should, however, avoid the numbers 1, 3, and 9, and the color red as these are considered unlucky for them.

Famous celebrities born in the year of the Rooster include Matt Damon, Natalie Portman, Roger Federer, Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Aniston, and Elton John.

It is said that people born in the Year of the Rooster are most compatible with people who were born in the Year of Ox and Snake, as well as other Roosters.

The numbers 5, 7, and 8 are considered especially lucky for those born in the year of the Rooster while gold and yellow are considered their lucky colors.

Celebrating the Chinese Zodiac

While each animal sign in the Chinese zodiac has its own unique meaning, festivities leading up to, on, and immediately after Spring Festival are much the same every year, regardless of the zodiac. It is a time for families across China to celebrate the year that has just gone by, and usher in the new one with family members and loved ones.

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You may also enjoy our interview peering into the life of Uncle Ye, a local Guilin resident, as he discusses the Spring Festival now versus 30 years ago.

What is your Chinese Zodiac? Share with us here or on Twitter @studycli.