Chinese astrology: What you can expect from babies born in the Year of the Rooster

<i></i>
 Photo: Getty Images

According to Chinese astrology, January 28 2017 marks the beginning of Chinese New Year. The Chinese astrology calendar follows the lunar cycle, and combines a counting system of five Yin-Yang elements and 12 animals, each animal representing a year on a 12-year cycle. 

This year we farewell the Fire Monkey and welcome the tenth animal in the cycle, the Yin Fire Rooster.

The Years of the Rooster are: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041.

The Rooster is associated with the element Yin, metal.

Characteristics

Babies born in the Year of the Rooster are said to be self-starters, honest, bright, communicative and ambitious. They are strong characters who express their opinions and can be deemed eccentric. They have big dreams full of optimism, and often plot detailed plans to realise their visions.

In daily life, they seldom rely on others. They might be enthusiastic but can be impatient. They are confident in their abilities, focused and self-disciplined.

However, they can also be blind to their own faults, stubborn, and have grandiose life goals.

Raising a Rooster can be a wild ride, as they are fearless and determined to achieve their objectives – no matter how extreme. They will be high-achieving students as they love to learn, but need to temper their inability to admit when they're wrong, which can make them a challenge to teach and guide.

Your young Rooster may have unruly energies and lack self-restraint. "Cock-of-the-walk" is an apt expression for Rooster signs.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths of the Rooster are their independence, intelligence, warm-heart, self-respect and quick mind. They are witty, talkative, meticulous and efficient. Their hard-working nature and determination to achieve their goals will see them go far.

Their major weaknesses are impatience and vanity. They can be highly critical, narrow-minded, and selfish. They are often misunderstood and viewed as aggressive and imposing. Some Roosters may be accused of being boastful.

Compatibility

Roosters are usually popular and make many friends easily. They like to be the centre of attention and to always appear attractive.

Perfect matches for the Rooster are the Ox, the Dragon and the Snake, who are all attracted to the Rooster's larger-then-life personality.

In opposition, the Rat and the Rabbit do not gel too well with the Rooster's grandstanding and impatience.

Love life

With a well-developed disposition for passion, love and seduction, the Rooster combines well with people in Ox or Snake signs. Most of these unions will obtain everlasting and harmonious married lives, with tight connections often envied by others. They have big hearts and practise great honesty.

Roosters should avoid relationships with the signs Rat, Rabbit, Horse, Dog and other Roosters. Strong opinions and grand ambitions see these couples marred with difficulties that could be damage relationships.

Career and success

As Roosters are ambitious, courageous and charismatic, and are also gifted at self-expression, they are often drawn to the spotlight. Elaborate visions often lead Roosters to careers in the public eye.

Best suited careers are sales people, athletes, teachers, and surgeons.

Lucky things

  • Numbers: 5, 7, 8
  • Colours: gold, brown, yellow
  • Flowers: gladiola, impatiens, cockscomb
  • Directions: west, southwest, northeast

Celebrity Roosters

  • Britney Spears
  • Guy Sebastian
  • Justin Timberlake
  • Roger Federer
  • Beyoncé Knowles
  • Paris Hilton
  • Jennifer Lopez
  • Eleanor Roosevelt
  • Eric Clapton
  • Alicia Keys
  • Goldie Hawn
  • Jennifer Aniston
  • Serena Williams
  • Rod Stewart
  • Steve Martin
  • Yoko Ono