The holiday that’s celebrated by almost two billion people across the world, also known as Chinese New Year and Spring Festival is February 1st. Though the titles can be used interchangeably, the name Lunar New Year is inclusive to other countries that refer to new year celebrations by different names. Additionally, the holiday has a longstanding connection to the moon.
This is the Year of the Tiger, third in the 12-animal Chinese zodiac cycle. Tigers were born in 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950 and so on.
According to superstition, a person born in a particular year takes on the traits of that year’s animal. Laura Lau, co-author of “The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes,” said people born in the Year of the Tiger tend to be powerful, rebellious, dynamic, adventurous, fiery, impulsive and unpredictable. Tigers also typically have strong ethics, so they’re very passionate about causes.
Tiger years have the potential to be explosive, Lau said. But because 2022 is the Year of the Water Tiger — referring to the five elements (fire, earth, metal, water and wood) that rotate alongside the animal signs — it may be less aggressive. “The water tiger is a more open-minded tiger,” she said.
Lucky Things for Tigers
- Lucky colours: blue, green
- Lucky numbers: 1, 3, 7
- Lucky flowers: plum blossom
- Lucky directions: north
Unlucky Things for Tigers
- Unlucky colours: white
- Unlucky numbers: 4, 9
Looking at where we are now, still in the midst of an uncertain pandemic, she thinks that there’s a lot of pent-up energy, and people need to express themselves.
“So I think that’s part of the potential drama of the year,” she said. “Good comes out of big, passionate expressions. But sometimes it’s tumultuous.”
Many are familiar with the traits and superstitions associated with the Chinese zodiac. Animals across from each other on the zodiac wheel — tigers and monkeys, for example — aren’t supposed to get along, Lau explained.
