Jenn McKinlay: If you're like me, the new year comes around and you're never prepared. Seriously, I am never prepared! So, decades ago, I adopted Lunar New Year as my chosen start to the new year. This has worked out really well for me and not just as an excuse to order Chinese food, although that, too, is a perk.
This is the year of the Fire Horse, combining the horse's freedom and speed with the fire element's intensity and urgency. A year of chaos and opportunity! Very exciting, I know!
For me, there are two horses in the family, Hub and Hooligan 2. While Hub was born in the year of the Fire Horse, H2 was born in the Water Horse cycle. Hooligan 1 has the coolest of years as he is the Metal (Golden) Dragon, while I am (alas) the lowly Sheep.
My friend Xui Hai (from China) brought me a beautiful baby outfit from Shang Hai when I was pregnant with H1 and explained that he would be born in the year of the Golden Dragon and would always be lucky.
Xui Hai then asked my birthdate and when I told her, she sighed and said, "You will always struggle, Jenn." Really, Xui Hai? Really?
I have since discovered I'm a Fire Sheep so I hope that balances out the struggle. LOL.
The chart below is from:
https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/chinese-zodiac-years-chart.htm
to find your exact Zodiac symbol use this calculator as the lunar year starts later than the Gregorian so you can't go by year exclusively:
Now Reds and Readers, tell me, what is your Chinese Zodiac sign and how do you feel about it?
Happy Lunar New Year, Jenn!
ReplyDeleteThe Dragon baby outfit is adorable . . . .
According to the chart, my sign is Ox . . . . I have no idea if being an Ox is good or bad, but I'm fine with being an Ox . . . .
Ox is solid!
DeleteYear of the Rabbit for me
ReplyDeleteA bunny!
DeleteHow lucky for your men to all have such inspiring signs. I am going to stick with Scorpio because my Chinese Zodiac sign isn't kosher...lol
ReplyDeleteLOL Judy! You can have my snake?
DeleteLOL, wise choice!
DeleteRabbit. So is my husband. It's supposed to be a lucky sign, and we think it has been for us. We are different signs in the western zodiàc, but we once had someone do our charts, and both had predictions we would work hard in our later years. Well ... I would call learning Portuguese hard work. 🙂
ReplyDeleteHa! Yes, it is!
DeleteWater Dragon
ReplyDeleteOoooh, that's cool!
DeleteI am a dragon. I consider myself to be lucky but I don’t think that it reflects my personality .
ReplyDeleteMaybe a baby dragon? A cute dragon.
DeleteI'm a dragon, which is pretty perfect and goes well with being a double Scorpio! (Where do you find if it's Fire or Water?)
ReplyDeleteThere's a good chart on this page, Edith:
Deletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_zodiac
Niiiiice!
DeleteI am a tiger. 🐅 My husband is a rat.🐀
ReplyDeleteI wanted to be a tiger! LOL.
DeleteMy son was born in 1998, when most of his classmates in elementary school were. However, he was born before Lunar New Year so was the Year of the Ox. His classmates were the Year of the Tiger. He was SO mad! — Pat S
DeleteTiger here, hub is a sheep. I love the baby outfit, what a nice gift.
ReplyDeleteIt was/is a lovely gift.
DeleteOkay, so I am a dog, probably more of a Scooby-do type than a Rin TinTin or Lassie. But, Year of the Fire Horse? Why anyone would want to torch Flicka is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteLOL!!!
DeleteThat little baby outfit is so cute, Jenn! And we need some fire and opportunity this year. We know there will be chaos. I am a Rooster, I guess it fits since I get up so darn early every day! I've never really been one to crow, but cockadoodle doo to all my JRW friends.
ReplyDeleteWe do need fire - lots of it!
DeleteI’m a snake. Not happy about it. But then I’m
ReplyDeleteAlso a Libra and don’t fit the description
Veryinteresting.
DeleteOx. That’s wrong. Isn’t it? And I’m a Libra, too, so that’s weird.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good thing, Hank. My husband is an Ox, and steady as a rock.
DeleteOh, I like that, Karen.
DeleteRat. …. Hmmm not sure what to make of that. Clever? Resourceful? Trying to give it a positive spin
ReplyDeleteWhat positive spin can you think of for Rhys's and my snake, Hallie?
DeleteH2 is a horse and wanted to be a rat...so beauty in the eye of the critter?
DeleteWood Horse -- Victoria
ReplyDeleteNiiice.
DeleteHappy Lunar New Year, Jenn. That’s a very cute baby outfit from your friend.
ReplyDeleteYear of the Rooster for me.
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DeleteYou and Gillian are the first roosters that I know!
DeleteI always knew I was born in the year of the Pig or Boar, but I just found out that I was born a Fire Pig. What! Am I barbecue?
ReplyDeleteCareful or your nickname will be bacon.
DeleteVery good, Jenn!
DeleteYear of the dog, which suits me just fine!
ReplyDeleteDogs are the best of us.
DeleteYear of the dragon, see me BREATHE FIRE
ReplyDeleteGet it, girl!
DeleteI'm an Iron Rabbit. How do you think I feel? LOL Being a Libra, it could go either way.
ReplyDeleteI hope Grace chimes in from her long trip. She's in Vietnam currently, during the Tet (New Year) celebration, and she herself is a Fire Horse, with a birthday this week, if I'm not mistaken. I've been following her on Facebook; maybe you have, too. She's a good photographer, and an excellent armchair tour guide.
Yes, I've been enjoying Grace's photo and meals.
DeleteThank you Karen, I’ m so glad to learn that you follow Grace and that she’s well. I was worried about her as it has been a long time she didn’t comment
DeleteMe too - I've missed her posts. Can't wait for her to be back with lots of stories.
DeleteShe quit commenting on the blog long before her trip. You may not see much from her in the future either.
DeleteShe is a wonderful tour guide. Happy Birthday, Grace!
DeleteHappy birthday, Grace
DeleteI'm the year of the dog and it fits. My element is Earth.
ReplyDeleteI love it, Dru!
DeleteSo apparently I am a Water Ox. It doesn't look like I'll be too lucky in 2026, except if I scroll down to my specific year, it looks better. But my personality description seems pretty spot-on: Tough, honest, faithful…
ReplyDeleteThe Girl is a Golden Dragon. I think she would argue that she's always lucky. LOL
Ah, same as my boy! You can't beat the Golden Dragons.
DeleteFrom Celia: I'm a sheep too and I explored further to find Personality:
ReplyDeletegentle, softhearted, considerate, reliable, hardworking, thrift
Weaknesses: indecisive, timid, pessimistic, moody, weak-willed
Not really me so I'll take it with a big pinch of salt.
Always with a dash of salt! :)
DeleteI'm a Horse, and since I was a very horse-crazy ten- and eleven-year-old, that seems appropriate. Living in Old San Juan, I never had much of a chance to ride, but I collected little figures of horses for a while. By 14, the phase had passed, but I kept the prettiest of my figurines!
ReplyDeleteThat was me! Total horse girl!
DeleteI've always wondered about the horse craze for many (not all of course) pre teen girls. When I was growing up every girl my age collected horses and wanted to have one. Same with my daughters when they were about that age.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they still do that? Having only had boys, I have no idea.
DeleteI don't know about the collecting, but little and young girls still account for most of the students at riding academies.
DeleteI knew I was a Golden (Metal) Ox, and always thought it didn't make sense, since I'm hardly focused, methodical, and hard-working when it comes to my writing. However, one of my friends pointed out I was 100% Golden Ox when it came to my family, so there you go!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't known Youngest was also a Golden Dragon, but I'm not at all surprised. She's also a Leo, so I fully expect her to rule the world one day.
We'll be in good hands with Youngest at the wheel!
DeleteAs a P.S. - if you watch the wonderful Kung Fu Panda movies, there are characters representing every sign in the lunar zodiac, which is a cute touch!
ReplyDeleteI love those movies. I mean, Jack Black, as panda -- what's not to love?
DeleteHappy Lunar New Year all! I am a Snake. I was told once that’s okay, but I’m not sure the traits really seem like me.. I like the sound of a Dragon or Tiger better. My husband is a Dog. (For the western zodiac I’m an Aries. Unless you believe that the signs have changed over time as the universe expands and some of the signs have changed and April 7 is now a Pisces- which actually seems to fit better. I wish all 年年有余 (Nián Nián Yǒu Yú) – Wishing You Abundance Year After Year.
ReplyDelete年年有余 back at you, Suzette!
DeleteI am a Dragon! What fun. Now I just need to work on bringing some of that Dragon energy to the fore!
ReplyDeleteLooks to be a good year for dragons!
DeleteEarth Rooster here. My husband brought me back a jade rooster from a trip to Taiwan.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love that.
DeleteI am a boring ox. As is my husband. Our son is a snake and his fortune sounds much better!
ReplyDeleteLOL.
DeleteLike others, pinch of salt here with The year of the Dog…have encountered too many unfriendly, even aggressive dogs to want to be around any…plus allergies…Definitely my year and I are out of alignment! Elisabeth
ReplyDeleteMaybe there's an animal rising sign?
DeleteSometimes when I look it up it shows that I am a rooster and other zodiac sites indicate that I am a monkey so I am not sure which one is correct
ReplyDeleteThe January/February months do make it fluid.
DeleteI’m a Snake. Looked it up and here are the positive things: Positive Traits: Wise, charming, intelligent, intuitive, calm, and resourceful. Not so nice ones we’ll ignore!
ReplyDeleteNice.
DeleteMary E from VA - I was born in the year of the Pig and so is my husband. Initially I was not in favor of the pig - We don’t even eat pork ! I would like to be the pig Wilbur from ‘ Charlottes Web, I suppose I can live with that.
ReplyDeleteI love Wilbur - excellent choice!
DeleteAgree love Wilbur the pig from Charlotte's Web. And one of my favorite books!
DeleteI’m a Fire Monkey. My husband is the Year of the Rat (didn’t want to say HE’S a rat) and we are supposed to be very compatible signs, which is nice. My predicted fortune is that I will have a good financial year, possibly taking on a side job. I have actually been mulling over doing something like that so maybe it’s a sign I should get to it! (Interestingly, my husband is still working and his predicted financial year said he’s got to work overtime and to be cautious with investments, but it’ll result in good finances by the end of the year. I think I had better figure out my side gig to help him.) —Pat S
ReplyDeleteWhen I sent my husband his horoscope, he was manspl, er, explaining to me that it’s the year of the “fire” horse. He said, “Apparently every 60 years, they set fire to your spirit animal!” 😂 — Pat S
DeleteWater rabbit here. Creative, intuitive, peace-loving according to the chart I saw. I'll take creative and peace-loving any day (reaching for my knitting project). -Maggie M. from Lincoln City, OR
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Da Nang, Vietnam from the cursed Fire Horse! Yes, 2026 is my special year when I turn 60 next week. They really know how to celebrate this special time of year & the horse animal.
ReplyDeleteThx to PAT S for msg me about the blog. It's 3:35 am on Feb 18, so I am going back to sleep. Miss u all!
Thanks for checking in and sending you happy birthday wishes early.
DeleteWater Dragon - all I can say, based on what I've read, yes.
ReplyDelete