Each Chinese New Year is characterised by one of 12 animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac – and the next one is the Year of the Dog.
The annual celebration begins on the new moon that comes between 21 January and 20 February. This year, it starts on 16 February 2018 and will end on 4 February 2019, when the Year of the Pig begins.
The new year, also known in China as the Spring Festival, is marked by the lunisolar Chinese calendar; this means the date changes from year to year.
The festivities usually start the day before the New Year and continue until the Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the new year.
The Chinese zodiac is divided into 12 blocks (or houses) just like its western counterpart, but with the major difference that each house has a time-length of one year instead of one month.
This year, the Year of the Dog, is the 11th animal in the cycle. Last year was the Year of the Rooster and the next Year of the Dog will be in 2030.
WHY DONALD TRUMP SHOULD BE ON HIS GUARD THIS YEAR:
According to Chinese astrology, the year of your sign is believed to be one of the most unlucky years of your life. This doesn’t bode well for anyone born in previous Years of the Dog; famous names who should be wary include Donald Trump (born in 1946), Prince William and Kate Middleton (both born in 1982).
Trump’s most famous impersonator Alec Baldwin was also born in the Year of the Dog, as well as Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Madonna, Andie MacDowell, Judi Dench, Liza Minelli, Justin Bieber, Sharon Stone and Susan Sarandon.
LUCKY SIGNS FOR THE DOG:
Those born in the Year of the Dog are going to need all the luck they can get. Lucky numbers for people born in the Year of the Dog are 3, 4 and 9 and their lucky colours are green, red, purple. Their lucky flowers are rose, oncidium and cymbidium orchids and their lucky directions are east, southeast and south.
THE PERSONALITY OF THE DOG:
People born in the Year of the Dog are characterised as loyal, sociable, courageous, diligent, steady, lively, adaptable and smart. Not afraid of difficulties in day to day life, they have a harmonious dynamic with people in their lives.
Strengths: Valiant, loyal, responsible, clever, courageous, lively
Weaknesses: Sensitive, conservative, stubborn, emotional
WHY DO THE CHINESE VALUE DOGS?
Dogs symbolise luck to the Chinese: if a stray dog approaches a house, it is said to show the fortune is coming to the family. The animal is incredibly loyal to its owner, whether or not the owner is wealthy. Plus, dogs bark to warn people if an intruder is nearby; centuries ago, the Chinese would predict good or bad luck according to the amount of times a dog barked.
The animal is seen often in Chinese mythology: Erlang, a popular supernatural stock character, has a dog in the novel Journey to the West. Over the course of the story, Erlang’s dog rescues him on several occasions, including by biting his master’s adversary Sun Wukong on the leg and attacking a nine-headed insect demon.
A dog is also integral to the legend of Panhu. The Chinese sovereign Di Ku’s dog Panhu killed an enemy army general in the tale, helping him win the war. The dog was then rewarded with marriage to the emperor’s daughter, whom he carried to the south of the country. Panhu has since been worshipped by the Southern Yao and She minorites – often referred to as King Pan – and is the reason the eating of dog meat is forbidden in their communities.