The year of the Ox
In 2009, the lunar New Year will fall on January 26, ushering in the Year of the Ox and completing an entire twelve-year cycle with the Grand Chinese New Year Concert.
Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is based upon the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. The festival starts with the first new moon of the first month of the lunar year. In China, Spring Festival carries as much significance and emphasis on family as Christmas does in the West.
The Chinese Zodiac is based on a twelve-year cycle, with each year represented by an animal. Beginning with the rat, the cycle continues through the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and finally pig. The Ox is the second sign in this cycle.
Many Chinese people believe that the year of a person's birth largely defines his or her personality traits, physical and mental attributes, and success and happiness in life. People born in the Year of the Ox are seen as the born leaders. The Ox is hard working, patient and rather prefers to keep silent instead of loosing too many words. They are consequent in their actions and can be relied on as a friend. According to ancient Chinese wisdom, they should be blessed with long lives.
Year of the Ox: (1901-1913-1925-1937-1949-1961-1973-1985-1997-2009-2021)
Famous people born under the sign of the ox:
Charlie Chaplin (1965), Catherine Freeman (1973), Heather Locklear (1961), Jane Fonda (1937), Jack Nicholson (1937), Juliette Lewis (1973), Margaret Thatcher (1925), Meg Ryan (1961), Meryl Streep (1949), Princess Diana (1961), Vivien Leigh (1913), George Clooney (1961), Napoleon (1769), Van Gogh (1853), Walt Disney (1901), Clark Gable (1901) und Richard Nixon (1913)