Your Guide to the Year of the Rooster

by: Xiying Tham, Year 7

Happy Lunar New Year everyone! As of January 28th, it is now the tenth year of the zodiac cycle: the year of the Rooster. Though you may be familiar with the 12-year zodiac cycle that assigns a different animal to each year, did you know that each year has its own element?

Roosters in their Elements

The Lunar calendar has five elements: wood, fire, earth, gold and water. Each element re-occurs every 60 years. Here are the birth years of the different element Roosters and their defining personality traits:

Wood Rooster: 1945, 2005. Overconfident and unstable, but very energetic!

Fire Rooster: 1957, 2017. Responsible, hard-working, and trustworthy.

Earth Rooster: 1909, 1969. Caring and trustworthy; popular amongst friends.

Gold Rooster: 1921, 1981. Brave, persevering, and determined.

Water Rooster: 1933, 1993. Smart, tender, and trustworthy.

Famous Roosters

You’ve got some famous company! Here are just a few examples of celebrity Roosters:

Zayn Malik

Alicia Keys

Jennifer Lopez

Britney Spears

Roger Federer

Justin Timberlake

A Rooster’s Guide to their Lunar Year

Did you know that Rooster Years are supposedly bad for Roosters? This is a Chinese belief: when it’s your zodiac’s year, you don’t actually have good luck. This is because the God of Age, Tai Sui,  is said to not like people who are turning 12, 24, 36, and other multiples of 12. But this shall not slow you down! Here are things that are lucky for you Roosters.

Lucky Numbers: 5, 7 and 8.

Lucky Colors: Gold, brown, and yellow - it may be time to update your wardrobe!

Lucky Plants: Cock’s comb and gladiola. Spruce up your gardens with these plants to ring in a lucky new lunar year.

Your General Guide to the Year of the Rooster

Red is a color used by many people during the Chinese New Year because it wards off evil, and has long been a symbol of good luck and fortune for the Chinese. You could wear anything red, but there is one rule that you should follow: wear something red that is bought by a spouse, family member or friend!

As the Rooster’s good friends, people born in the Year of the Ox or Dragon will have a great year. Support your Rooster friends and your luck may rub off on them too! However, Rabbits, Dogs and Roosters - beware. Since it’s the Rooster’s year and you are their ‘enemies’, you should stay aware and work hard. Remember to take care of yourself - stay hydrated and make sure you manage your time well so you can stay well-rested and on top of your work!

恭喜发财！Happy Lunar New Year, BSM!

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