Happy CNY 2014: 5 Things You Most Certainly Didn't Know About The Year Of The Horse
The Mongol ruler Genghis Khan, born in the year of the horse.
By Sadho Ram — 03 Feb 2014, 02:25 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
1. The Chinese zodiac is a calendar system originating in the Han dynasty (206-220BC), which names each of the years in its 12-year cycle after an animal
The names are: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig, in that order. According to the system, the universe is made up of five elements – earth, water, fire, wood and metal – which interact with the 12 animals, resulting in the specific character of the year ahead.
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2. People born in the year of the horse are said to be a bit like horses
They are animated, active and energetic – they love being in a crowd. They are quick to learn independence – foals can walk minutes after birth – and they have a straightforward and positive attitude towards life. They are known for their communication skills and are exceedingly witty.
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3. The animal signs of each year merely indicate how others see you or how you choose to present yourself
There are also animal signs for each month, known as inner animals, signs for each day, called true animals, and animals for each hour, or secret animals.
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4. If you were born in the year of the horse, you're in some mighty good company
Fellow members of the horse club include Genghis Khan, Mongol ruler; Franklin D Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the US; Louis Pasteur, a 19th-century scientist; Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon; the American singer Aretha Franklin; and the model Cindy Crawford.
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Neil Armstrong, Aretha Franklin, Cindy Crawford and Franklin D Roosevelt were all born in the year of the horse
Image via guim.co.uk5. 2014 is the first year of the wooden horse in 60 years. The years of the wooden horse are associated with warfare.
The battle of Dien Bien Phu, which ended with the defeat of France by the Vietnamese, happened in 1954 and 1894 saw the start of the first Sino-Japanese war. "With such serious conflicts on historical record in the previous two yang wood horse years, I cannot rule out the possibility of war and fierce battle in 2014," predicts Lo.
theguardian.com
BONUS: The Chinese don't call it 'Chinese New Year'
In China, the festivities are known as spring festival or Lunar New Year -- the new year is determined by the lunar calendar. And the Chinese aren't the only ones who observe it. From late January to mid-February, Korea, Vietnam, Japan and other countries celebrate Lunar New Year.
travelerstoday.com
