The Lunisolar Calendar has made another turn, and now it’s time to celebrate the Year of the Tiger! Let’s explore the upcoming sign of the Chinese Zodiac, the Water Tiger.
China and other countries that follow a lunisolar calendar are celebrating the new year.
But what determines the animal representative for each year?
You can read the story of how the animals earned their places in the Chinese Zodiac here. The tiger was third in the race.
There are other labels for the new year animal including a color and an element.
The Chinese calendar combines the solar, lunar, and 60 Stem-Branch timekeeping systems, so each year is unique, and the New Year falls on a different day every year. The system repeats every 60 years, but the animals repeat every 12 years.
For 2022, the specific sign is the Black Water Tiger, the Chinese New Year Day is February 1st, and the year is 4719.
Of course, the celebration begins several days before with what is called the Little Year where everyone tidies the house and gets ready for the New Year.
We share all the details of the Lunisolar New Year and Spring Festival here, including the traditional gifts, parades, and foods!
Chinese legend describes a beast that would show up every year. The beast was called the Nian (a word that sounds like the Chinese word for Year) and would cause all kinds of trouble for the people.
So, they scared away the beast by burning bamboo and candles, wearing red clothes, displaying red paper, and setting off fireworks.
Take that, Nian!
The New Year celebration lasts 2 weeks, with each day honoring a certain person or animal or plant.
On New Year’s Eve, families get together for a big reunion dinner.
The first day of the festival is New Year’s Day, which is a day for visiting family, friends, and the graves of ancestors.
The second day is In-Law’s Day, and married women visit their parents along with their husband and children.
The third day is the Day of the Rat, and people stay home and rest or play indoor games.
The fourth day is the Day of the Sheep, which is believed to be a lucky day, so people visit temples and give offerings.
The fifth day is called Break Five and is a day for breaking a few New Year’s superstitions.
The sixth day is the Day of the Horse, a great day to get rid of unwanted things – reduce, donate, and recycle!
The seventh day is called the Day of Mankind, and people are encouraged to spend it out in nature.
The eighth day is the Day of Grain, and people watch the weather to predict how the crops will turn out. They also have another small reunion dinner.
The ninth day is called Providence and is considered the Jade Emperor’s birthday. Time for giving offerings, burning incense, and setting off fireworks.
The tenth day is Stone Day and celebrates the god stone with more offerings, incense, and firecrackers.
The eleventh day is Son-in-law Day where fathers spend time with their daughters’ husbands.
Over the next 3 days, people get ready for the big Lantern Festival.
Then on day 15, it’s time to light the lanterns and send them soaring into the sky. People enjoy dragon parades and celebrate another wonderful New Year.
What does it mean to be born a Tiger?
The Chinese and other cultures who follow the Lunisolar Calendar believe people born under certain animal signs have specific character traits determined by the animal representing that year.
Previous Tiger years include 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1998, and 2010.
Do you know anyone born in those years?
The zodiac description of Tiger people says they are brave and self-assured, love fighting for causes dear to them, and have a strong moral compass and belief system.
It also says they can be kind of moody and sometimes intense…kind of like a tiger!
And a Water Tiger is a happy-go-lucky person who has lots of awesome new ideas and brings a little ray of sunshine into all the lives they touch.
You can enjoy fun Chinese food as you celebrate the Year of the Tiger when you get our China box from eat2explore.
Gong Hay Fat Choy (Happiness and Prosperity) to you!
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