We're about to enter the Year of the Snake, and anyone welcoming a child this year can expect their child to be enigmatic, intelligent and wise, according to the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese zodiac is made up of 12 animals, each of which has their own astrological and cultural meanings, and Chinese people associate each animal sign with certain characteristics.
Writing about the Chinese zodiac in the Hull Dail Mail, Deborah Hall said: "When I arrived in 1962, it was the Year of the Tiger, which is supposed to lend me the following characteristics - brave, confident, competitive and unpredictable. I’d like to think of myself as pretty brave, as far as navigating life and all its challenges goes.
"I’m not so sure about the rest, however. Being competitive certainly does not come naturally to me, I’d rather be giving a leg-up to someone else. I’m quite a predictable sort, too, I’d say. But confident? Not at all. I grew up scared of my own shadow and it’s been more of a 'fake it ‘til you make it' way of being since.".
According to Chinahighlights.com, those born in the year of the Tiger are typically quick-witted, resourceful, versatile and kind, and their lucky numbers are thought to be 1, 3, and 4, while the numbers 6, 7 and 8 should be avoided. Similarly, orange is a lucky colour for the Tiger, while brown should be avoided. And lucky flowers for this animal sign include yellow lilies and cineraria.
A Tiger’s best matches are with a Horse, Dog or Pig. Deborah said: "Him indoors is a Dragon, and more suited to a Rat, Monkey or Rooster. In Chinese element theory, each zodiac sign is also associated with one of five elements: Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, or Earth, and my birth year makes me a Water Tiger.
