Here’s Everything You Need to Know About the Year of the Ox

Happy Chinese New Year!

Today marks the start of another Chinese New Year, and this year it's time to celebrate the Year of the Ox.

Whether celebrating Chinese New Year has been a huge part of your family’s tradition for generations, or this is your first time joining in on the festivities, there is a bunch to know about how the traditional Chinese calendar works and what the Ox could have in store for us in 2021.

How does Chinese New Year work?

The traditional Chinese calendar is based on the cycle of the moon as well as the Earth’s course around the sun, known as lunisolar. This means that the Chinese calendar determines the Lunar New Year.

A month in the Chinese calendar is 28 days long, unlike the Gregorian calendar that is commonly used around the world, in which most months are 30 or 31 days long.

With 28 days making up a month, a normal year in the Chinese calendar lasts somewhere between 353 to 355 days, but to keep the calendar aligned with seasons and the sun, an extra leap month is added about once every three years.

So, the way it works is by following a 12-year cycle, with each year corresponding to a specific animal. In 2021 it's the Year of the Ox but each year can be associated with a tiger, rabbit, dragon, horse, snake, rat, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog or pig.

Chinese New Year typically falls in late January or within one of the first few weeks in February, meaning that it doesn’t have a set date each year. Instead, the start date is usually determined by the date of the second new moon after the summer solstice.

So, what does the Year of the Ox mean for 2021?

It is commonly believed that the animals of the zodiac influence the qualities and personalities of the people born within that year. For example, those born in the Year of the Horse are thought to be cheerful and intelligent, and those born in the Year of the Snake are thought to be creative and wise.

According to chinesenewyear.co, the Ox is a highly esteemed animal in Chinese culture due to its important agricultural role.

People born in the Year of the Ox are said to be reliable, strong, hard-working, fair and conscientious. They also instil confidence in others, while also being very calm, methodical, trustworthy and patient. However, they can also be quite stubborn and dislike challenge.

With this year being a metal element, those born in a previous Year of the Ox should expect a new step in their romantic relationships or the welcoming of a new person into their lives. Professional Oxen should be rewarded with financial gain and hard work, according to chinesenewyear.co.

You can read about more fortunes for the Oxen in your life here.

Fingers crossed the Year of the Ox gives us a slightly less turbulent year than the Year of the Rat did (I’m erasing 2020 from my mind). Enjoy your celebrations and have a Happy Chinese New Year!

Header Image: Oleksandr Pupko via Getty Images