Chinese New Year and welcoming the Tiger to 2022
Surely you know your Zodiac sign, but do you know your sign in the Chinese horoscope? With its origins in Ancient China, the Chinese calendar is still used for determining the dates of important cultural festivals and celebrations, such as the Chinese New Year .
Each year in the Chinese calendar is associated with a certain animal, and the Chinese New Year in 2022 will be the Year of the Tiger. Learn about the traditions of its celebration and what to expect from this year.
Table of Contents
- What Is the Animal for Chinese New Year 2022?
- Year of the Tiger 2022
- What does the Chinese New Year symbolize?
- What Can You Expect from the Year of the Tiger?
- How Is Chinese New Year Celebrated?
- Why is the Chinese New Year different?
What does the Chinese New Year symbolize?
Besides the obvious cultural differences, the Chinese New Year is not that different from the many other customs and traditions of western cultures. It is a time for celebrating the new year that arrives and with it, the new opportunities and challenges that will be moving us to the future.
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It is also a time to review past experiences that we wouldn’t like to repeat but at the same time, we can review that last smile of that special dear friend or family member, the kind gesture of that person in helping with the car, or the time to say last “Goodbye” before opening a new chapter in your life, whenever by changing jobs or city or country.
It is the moment to set new goals and to lay out a life strategy that will take us further and evolve as humans in society.
What Is the Animal for Chinese New Year 2022?
Year of the Tiger is 2022
In the Chinese calendar, each year is named after a nature element (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water) and an animal. The animals of the Chinese horoscope are:
- Rat
- Ox
- Tiger
- Rabbit
- Dragon
- Snake
- Horse
- Sheep/Goat
- Monkey
- Rooster
- Dog
- Pig
The animal for 2022 is Tiger and its element is Water. If you’d like to find out whether your sign in the Chinese horoscope corresponds to the Year of the Tiger, know that each sign repeats every 12 years, so Tigers are people born in 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, and so on.
In the Chinese horoscope, Tiger plays the role of the king of beasts, the courageous and strong animal. As a result, the year 2022 is expected to be guided by determination and growth. Traditionally, Tigers are also thought to protect children and homes from misfortune.
What Can You Expect from the Year of the Tiger?
According to the characteristics of Tigers in the Chinese horoscope, the year may also bring quite a few changes and surprises. For some signs, the Year of the Tiger could mean new beginnings and get rid of the things that no longer serve them.
Others might have to put in extra effort to achieve what they want. The quick and even aggressive personality of the tiger should be balanced by the water element in 2022, so overall the year is expected to be lucky for many signs.
People with the Tiger as their Chinese horoscope sign are often courageous and optimistic, generous, and full of life. For them, the Year of the Tiger 2022 would perfectly fit with their adventurous natures.
How Is Chinese New Year Celebrated?
Chinese New Year is a traditional celebration not only in China but also in Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and other countries. It is also known as Spring Festival.
Festivities typically last around two weeks and many people start preparing early, cleaning their houses to say farewell to the old year, and shopping for food, decorations, and clothes.
During Chinese New Year’s Eve (which falls on January 31 in 2022) there are also plenty of celebratory activities going on.
These are just a few things people do to celebrate the Chinese New Year:
- Decorate their houses
- Pay respects to their ancestors
- Reunite with family members
- Gift money and lucky items
- Enjoy fireworks
- Watch traditional performances
Before the New Year families decorate their houses with red lanterns and other red accessories because red is considered an auspicious color. During family dinners, many relatives gather to reunite and welcome the New Year together.
It is important to honor the ancestors and show respect to the elderly. A common gift during this holiday is money in an envelope which is colored red to bring good luck.
On Chinese New Year’s Day (which falls on February 1 in 2022) there are various public events like celebrations at parks and temples, fireworks displays, and traditional performances.
People greet New Year’s Day wearing new clothes and sending messages to their friends and relatives. After about two weeks, Spring Festival closes with the Lantern Festival (which falls on February 15 in 2022).
Why is the Chinese New Year different?
Chinese New Year is different because the traditional Chinese calendar follows the phases of the Moon, instead of having a fixed date in the calendar. Each new year starts with a new moon, and for that reason, each year also starts on a different date.
For example, in 2021 the first day of the Chinese New Year was on February 12, while the Year of the Tiger, 2022, will begin on February 1. But not only the Moon plays the role in determining its date – it’s also the Sun.
Chinese New Year typically takes place around 1-2 months after the winter solstice and within two weeks from the start of Spring, one of the 24 solar terms created by Ancient Chinese farmers. That is why it is also called the Spring Festival.
As each Chinese New Year’s date is different, you’ll need to check it beforehand if you want to determine your sign in the Chinese horoscope.
For example, a child born on February 5, 2022, will be a Tiger, because the Year of the Tiger starts on February 1 in 2022, but a child born on January 20 will be an Ox, the previous year’s sign.