2010: YEAR OF THE TIGER
The Vietnamese Lunar Calendar or Zodiac
It is a tradition in the Western world to associate each individual's astrological and spiritual characteristics with the month during which they were born. Born in October, you're a Libra, dedicated to keeping the universe in a working balance, yet hard-pressed to make a firm decision. Born under the sign of Taurus, you acquire one of the characteristics of the Bull: pride. The other astrological signs on the solar chart all carry with them certain unique characteristics which are embraced by those falling under them.
In the Chinese tradition (which is followed quite closely by Vietnam) , however, astrology does not run quite the same course. Legend has it that the Jade Emperor, after having organized and conducted a race between all of nature's animals, selected the first twelve winners in the order in which they finished, and created a lunar calendar based on the twelve finalists. Unlike the solar calendar, which repeats the same pattern year after year, the Chinese lunar calendar changes every year, with each year embodying one of the twelve animals.
In the 21th century there are 3 years where the Lunar New Year begins at different dates in Vietnam and in China. In 2007 the Vietnamese New Year is on 17/02/2007, the Chinese one on 18/02/2007. In 2030 the dates are 02/02/2030 and 03/02/2030, and in 2053 they are 18/02/2053 and 19/02/2053.
The years alternate in a twelve-year pattern, making the number 12 the central theme in its organization. People born in that year will become that animal, taking on its characteristics and identifying with it for their entire lives.
The rat comes first, then the ox or buffalo, followed in order by the tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat or ram, monkey, rooster, dog, and lastly, the pig.
Of these animals one is mythical (the dragon) and four (rat, tiger, snake and monkey) are wild, shunning contact with humans. Seven are domesticated. Every twelve years, the sponsorship reverts to the same animal. The years 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 are dragon years.
2010: Year of the Tiger
TIGERS are quick to anger, indecisive but can be flexible and accommodate their personalities to suit the circumstances. He is the king of the jungle, nocturnal and evokes images of darkness and stormy weather. The period from 3am to 5am is the time when the tiger returns to his lair after prowling at night.
2011: Year of the Rabbit
2011: THE RABBIT is a timid creature, afraid of his shadow at times, afraid something may jump out and hurt him. He will hide or run from danger if at all possible. He craves safety and security.
Food is important to him, and he makes sure he has an ample supply close to his burrow. Change makes him nervous. He would prefer to always deal with that which is familiar.
2012: Year of the Dragon
2012: DRAGONS in eastern mythology can be protective and a symbol of the male (yang) principal of the universe of royal authority. The dragon is in its element everywhere; under water, on the ground and in the air. It is a water sign and a propitious sign for agriculture. Dragons are sincere, energetic but short-tempered and stubborn. They are symbols of power, wealth and prosperity and of royalty. There is a saying "In the year of the dragon, everyone keeps his food for himself". Famine usually appears in these years. His hours are between 7am and 9am.
2013: Year of the Snake
SNAKES speak little but have tremendous wisdom. They are associated with the damp earth. Snakes symbolize the eternal revolution of the ages and the succession, dissolution and regeneration of humanity. Snake year people are considered calm and gentle, profound, compassionate, but may fly off the handle at times. They are determined and persistent. His hours are 9am to 11am.
2014: Year of the Horse
HORSE year people are smooth talkers and given to compliments and generosity, therefore, they are popular, but rarely listen to advice. Its propensity to kick evokes images of a quick-tempered personality. The horse's
speed has caused him to be compared with the sun that traverses the earth daily. In legend, the sun is associated with fiery steeds. The Greek myth related to this is of Apollo driving the chariot of the sun across the skies each day. The horse is invested with purity, nobility and wisdom. It is esteemed for altertness, intelligence, strength and is a friend to man. Noontime, when the sun is the highest, is the horse hour.
2015: Year of the Goat/Sheep
GOAT people are calm and shy, unassertive and self-effacing. They are clumsy in speech so they are poor salespersons, but are compassionate for the less fortunate, and help others. They are often taken advantage of because of their natural kindness and timidity. His hours are between 1pm and 3pm.
2016: Year of the Monkey
The MONKEY is an erratic genius. They are clever and skillful when making financial deals. They are cheerful, skillful, curious and inventive, but they may drive people away by talking too much and being contemptuous of others. Their weakness lies in their tendency to be erratic and inconsistent. The time between 3pm and 5pm is the monkey hour.
2017: Year of the Rooster
2017: The ROOSTER year represents a period of hard work and activity as the rooster is busy from morning to night. His comb is a mark of high intelligence and of a literary spirit. People born in the year of the cock are considered profound thinkers. At the same time, he is a symbol of protection against fires. Pictures of a red cock are hung in houses for that reason. People born in the cock year earn their living from small businesses they practice with diligence like a "cock scratching the soil for worms". Because ghosts disappear at sunrise it is believed that the cock drives them away with his crowing. A white cock is sometimes placed on the coffin of funeral processions to make the way free from demons. The cock controls the hours between 5pm and 7pm.
2018: Year of the Dog
2018: The year of the DOG indicates future prosperity. Worldwide, the dog is used as a guard against intruders. Pairs of stone or ceramic dogs are placed on each side of the entrance to villages and temples as guards. The dog year will be secure and protected. The hour of the dog is 7pm to 9pm when people of rural Vietnam have gone to bed and leave the dog to keep watch.
2019: Year of the Pig/Boar
2019 The PIG symbolizes the wealth of the forest because the boar maintains his lair in the woods. Boar year people are chivalrous and gallant, honest, courageous, but headstrong and short tempered, impulsive, studious and well informed. The hour of the pig is between 9pm and 11pm.
2020: Year of the Rat
2020: A RAT year prophesies a year of chaos. Rat people are charming and attractive to the opposite sex, although they have a fear of light and noise. Rat people are active and dynamic but can be fussy about little things. Rats can have a positive side because if there are rats, it is a sign that there is grain in the storage bins, so rats can represent a bountiful harvest. Because it is a nocturnal animal and can be heard scurrying about at midnight, the period of time between 11pm and 1am is called the rat hour.
2021: Year of the Buffalo/Ox
2021 is the Year of the Ox - or more appropriately for Vietnam, the Year of the Buffalo. Specifically this is the year of the Brown (or Earth) Buffalo. The BUFFALO symbolizes industriousness and patience. The year is one of slow, steady progress and patient strength; traits suitable for a scientist. He is the traditional symbol of spring and agriculture because of his association with the plow and his pleasure in wallowing in mud. People of that year are thought to possess the characteristics of that animal: steady, placid, but stubborn when crossed.
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