2017 Year of the Rooster... What Will It Bring?!

Chinese symbol for Rooster 2017 is the Year of the Rooster, the Year of the Fire Rooster to be more precise. So what does it mean? Each of the twelve animals in the Chinese Zodiac has unique characteristics and each year corresponds to one animal. 2017 corresponds to the Rooster.

In addition to the twelve year cycle corresponding to each of the animals in the Chinese Zodiac, there are Five Elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) which are associated with their own "life force" or "chi".

This energy blends with the corresponding animal to determine that year's fortune.

In 2017, the corresponding element is Fire.

Fire is also associated with the color red. The Year of the Fire Rooster is therefore also known as the Year of the Red Rooster.

So what happens when you mix the Rooster with the Fire Element?

The Rooster is proud, confident and perhaps a bit eccentric. They are hard-working and puctual, after all, roosters are up at the crack of dawn... and have a love of learning new things.

Fire by its very nature, is the element associated with brilliance, warmth, passion, spark...

A diligent and enthusiastic Rooster combined with the sizzling characteristics of Fire, heralds an enterprising and fruitful year. A year of resolve, achievements and to get things done. If you were postponing any projects, the Red Rooster will lit that fire into you to get it accomplished.

The rooster is self-assured and loves beauty and perfection, sometimes to the point of being a bit vain. Use that energy positively to "show off" your best side, your best work.

What to watch out for? A Red Rooster combines the pride and diligence of the rooster and the glow and sparkle of fire... it could lead to a breathless and impatient atmosphere and mood, the desire to "get it all done NOW". This year we will do well by staying focused and centered with an eye to the full project or goal we want to achieve, then run with all our might to achieve those goals!

The Year of the Rooster follows an adventurous and somewhat chaotic Year of the Monkey... A Fire Rooster Year will follow on the same mantra of an energetic, full of life and busy path...

Babies born in the Year of the Rooster

If your baby is born in the Year of the Rooster, he or she will assume the characteristics of the Rooster: Roosters are independent and diligent in everything they do.

They love physical beauty... They pay very much attention to their appearance and enjoy being surrounded by beautiful things. They of course love being the center of attention and being admired, so brace for a little bit of a show-off here.

As they are hard-working, they like to keep everything organized as well. Roosters are very active and cannot stand still... A Rooster baby will have a love for sports and the outdoors.

Fire Roosters are very sociable and quite talkative, they will never lack friends. They are honest, loyal and trustworthy. You'll have a friend for life on your Red Rooster baby!

To be born in the Year of the Roosters, babies will have to be born from January 28, 2017 to February 15, 2018, the last day of the Rooster lunar year. If the baby is born on or before January 27, 2017, he or she will be a Monkey Baby, if born on or after February 16, 2018, the baby will be a Dog Baby.

The next Year of the Red Rooster will be in another 60 years.

Get ready for an exciting and adventurous new year and...

Writing the Chinese Character for Rooster

It's a bit more involved than last year's 12-stroke Monkey character but not complicated, just follow the order and direction of these 18 strokes for the Chinese Character for Rooster: