What to expect in the Year of the Pig

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In China, the new year is calculated according to the lunar calendar (农历; Nónglì). Although the Gregorian calendar is standard, the lunar calendar dictates the dates of traditional Chinese holidays and helps people choose auspicious days for important life changes such as weddings, funerals, moving house or starting a business.

But there is a lot more to Chinese astrology than just the animals! Read on to find out what kind of energy the Pig will be bringing this year, and what you should definitely be aware of!

Chinese New Year should be the new moon closest to the beginning of spring (in the northern hemisphere), known as Lìchūn. Most of the time Chinese New Year will fall 11 (sometimes 10 or 12) days earlier than the previous year. If that means that the event would be outside of the Chinese New Year range of January 21 to February 21 (in the Gregorian calendar), a leap month must be added so Chinese New Year jumps 19 (sometimes 18) days later.

The coming Chinese year (4716)  is the Year of the Pig, starting on February 5th 2019 and lasting until January 24th 2020.

The pig is the twelfth and final animal in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac. The Years of the Pig include 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 and 2031.

According to traditional astrology, lucky signs for people born in the Year of the Pig include:

Lucky Numbers: 2, 5, 8
Lucky Colors: Yellow, grey, brown, gold
Lucky Flowers: Hydrangea, pitcher plant, Marguerite
Lucky Directions: Southeast, northeast

If you were born in a Pig year, this year might be unlucky. Remember to wear red every day to attract good luck! Chinese often wear bracelets made of red cord, left on for the whole year.

Pigs are considered one of the luckier signs by the Chinese, and the birth rate rises in a pig year. Pigs are good with money, considerate, responsible, independent and optimistic, warm-hearted, loyal and honest. On the downside, pigs can be gullible, short tempered, lazy and enjoy the pleasures of life, so spend a lot of time sleeping and eating.

As a result, a Pig year is believed to usher in a time of plenty and relative calm, with an air of relaxation and celebration. Pig years are particularly good for the tourism industry.  However, the transition between the Year of the Dog and the Year of the Pig is forecast to be chaotic, so the beginning of the year may be quite unstable.

Be aware of the challenges of the pig year, and (even if you’re weren’t born in a Pig year) do not allow yourself to be lazy or gullible - question what you see and hear (for example, double check contracts). No matter the challenges of the year, the characteristics of the pig remind us to take pleasure in life, because even the small things can be filled with joy! 

And remember that your destiny will always be first and foremost shaped by your intentions!

Of course, it might all just be myth and superstition.  But in any case, the most important thing to keep in mind is balance, no matter what the year or which animal sign you are. As long as you are paying attention to your health, balancing fun and work, and striving each day to be a better person both to yourself and others, you're likely to fare well no matter what the multiverse throws at you!

With that in mind, will you still be paying attention to your horoscopes this year? Do you think the Year of the Pig will make life more difficult for you, or do you think it's all nonsense? As always, let us know in the comments. We are always happy to hear from you!

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Cultural Keys, a registered company in Hong Kong, Beijing and the UK, was founded in 2013 by three expats looking to help people better access, understand and enjoy life and traditional culture in China

Since then, Cultural Keys has helped hundreds of people do exactly that.

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Tongzhou, Beijing

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