Chinese New Year! Even though 2021 has already started, the Year of the Ox hasn’t! This year starts a bit later, on February 12, to be precise. This is the first day of the Chinese calendar, also called the Lunar calendar. Just like any of the other eleven animals of the Chinese Zodiac, the Ox returns every twelve years. Previous Years of the Ox were: 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973 and 1961. Were you born in one of these years? Last year, 2020, was the Year of the Rat.
Every animal of the Chinese Zodiac has lucky colors. For the ox, these colors are white, yellow and green. Just like a field full of daisies, isn’t it? Blue is an unlucky color. No visit to the ocean then! Or… blue orchids!
Talking about flowers… According to Chinese mythology, there are certain lucky flowers connected to the Zodiac signs as well. The ox, funnily, fits the Netherlands like a glove, for one of its lucky flowers is the tulip. Besides, plum blossom will also bring you luck, should you be born in the Year of the Ox. If you ever find yourself in Japan, go and stand underneath one of those beautiful, majestic, pink, blossoming trees!
Chinese trivia
The word Ox in Chinese is written like this: 牛
It’s pronounced like niú [nyou?] (the word has a rising tone, meaning that the end of the word has a higher pitch than the beginning, hence the question mark)
A few famous people born in the Year of the Ox are: Barack Obama, Vincent van Gogh, Walt Disney and Margaret Thatcher
Would you like to read more about the Chinese Zodiac signs? Go to www.chinahighlights.com.
We wish you a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year!
春節快樂 · 年年有餘 · 身體健康 · 新年快樂，萬事如意 · 心想事成 · 恭喜發財 · 大吉大利