The Year of the Earth Pig

​

Astrology and horoscopes have been nothing more than mild amusement for me. I liken then to the childhood days of opening the newspaper during the summer days and reading all the comics, Dear Abby, Dear Ann, Dear Meg, the listing of movies, and the daily horoscope. The horoscope seemed to be a longer version of the Chinese fortune cookie.


1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031

The Chinese year of the Pig is the twelfth and final year of the 12-year-cycle of Chinese Zodiac animals, finishing in last place to the Heavenly Gate. The old Chinese story behind this was that the Jade emperor ordered a race to select the 12 animals to be his personal guards. The animals arrived in the order of the cycle.

People born in the Year of the Pig were born in 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, and 2031.

Though be careful, our Gregorian calendar does not line up perfectly with the Chinese lunisolar calendar. If you were born in January or February (generally, the Chinese New Year begins in late January or early February), check the Chinese New Year dates from your birth year to determine your correct zodiac sign!

If you’re a Pig, read on for a few more details!

PIG PERSONALITY
They’re generous, trustworthy, and warm-hearted. These are kind and pleasant people who are looking to live a full life—but one that doesn’t involve stepping on others to get ahead. That said, they’re okay to put other people first.

They’ll surely be able to see and appreciate the finer things in life, and can be big spenders on luxuries.

While you might think they could be perceived as snobbish or greedy, they actually can suffer from being taken advantage of.

Compatible with: Tiger, Rabbit, and Goat are best; also ok with Rat, Horse, and Dog

Be careful around: Snake or Monkey

CHINESE ZODIAC ELEMENTS
Chinese astrology assigns each year with one of the five elements (Metal, Water, Wood, Earth, and Fire). When you combine these five elements with the 12-year cycle of animal signs, you get a 60-year cycle.

Each of those elements have associated meanings. Here they are on a rather simplistic level:

• Wood: creativity, imagination
• Fire: passion, adventure
• Metal: persistence, ambition
• Water: agility, eloquence
• Earth: patience, stability

To find your Chinese element, look at the last number of your birth year:

• For birth years ending in 0 or 1, your element is metal.
• For birth years ending 2 or 3, your element is water.
• For birth years ending in 4 or 5, your element is wood.
• For birth years ending in 6 or 7, your element is fire.
• For birth years ending in 8 or 9, your element is earth.

Again, though, remember that the Chinese calendar and the regular Gregorian calendar do not line up perfectly. If you were born in January or February, check to see which Chinese year you were actually born in!