Guestling Bradshaw CE Primary School

Legend has it that the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he departed from Earth. Only twelve came to bid him farewell and as a reward he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. Some stories say that the animals had a race: everyone thought the rat would be last as he was so small, but as they crossed the river, he jumped on the ox’s back – and won.

The Chinese believe the animal ruling the year in which a person is born influences their personality. In addition, the characteristics of the animal are tempered by one of the five Chinese elements of metal, water, wood, fire and earth.

Rats are imaginative, charming and truly generous to the ones they love. They are often perfectionists and work hard to achieve their goals. At ease in a group of people, their intelligence and observation skills enable them to quickly grasp a situation from different perspectives. Rats know how to spot an opportunity and to seize it. However, their ambition and restlessness can sometimes lead to too many commitments, and they can sometimes be quick-tempered and overly critical.

Famous rats: William Shakespeare, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Winston Churchill, George Washington

Born leaders, ox people inspire confidence from those around them. They show great determination and defence of what they believe in. They are strong, dutiful and reliable, and have firm bonds with their home and family. However, they can be demanding and stubborn, and hate to fail or be opposed, sometimes sulking if they do not have their own way.

Famous oxen: Napoleon, Vincent Van Gogh, Walt Disney, Richard Nixon

Tigers are sensitive, emotional and capable of great love. They are very competitive, especially when it comes to protecting the ones they love. They love to dominate and are eager to face challenges, and this makes them natural, if difficult, leaders. Always restless and alert, tigers are never afraid to go for what they want. They make honest, generous friends, and expect people to be honest in return, even though criticism or disapproval makes them depressed. Still, they soon bounce back to face new challenges and take bigger chances. Tigers do not respond well to authority and can be disobedient.

Famous tigers: Marco Polo, Oscar Wilde, Marilyn Munroe, Dwight Eisenhower

Everyone likes to be around rabbit people: they are affectionate, obliging and pleasant. Well-groomed, good-mannered and quietly fashionable, their conservative exterior hides a sense of fun. They like disputes but have great diplomatic skills, making them good at assessing a situation objectively and finding a solution. They do like a gossip and can be a little selfish when it comes to enjoying themselves, but they would never deliberately hurt anyone.

Famous rabbits: Orson Welles, King Henry V, Confucius and Albert Einstein.

Full of vitality and enthusiasm, dragons are popular people, even though they can seem a bit of a ‘big-mouth’ at times. They like to attract attention, and prefer demanding situations to everyday routines. They are intelligent, often gifted, perfectionists and demand perfection from others. To dragons, rules and regulations are only made for other people. They are generally self-sufficient and like to live, act and think big, but their pride can prevent them from accepting help when they need it most. Their hot-headedness can get them into trouble and their intolerance of what they see as other people’s failings can cause offence.

Famous dragons: Joan of Arc, Sigmund Freud, Pele and Sarah Bernhardt.

Wise and charming, snakes are deep thinkers, and are guided by their intuition. They are often good-looking, though this can make them a little vain. They can sometimes be possessive or jealous with friends, although they can show great sympathy for other people. They do things at their own pace, and when the moment is right, shed their skin and take up something completely new. They are subtle workers, quietly manoeuvring until they get what they want. Although they can be sociable, snakes often prefer to be left alone.

Famous snakes: Charles Darwin, Edgar Allen Poe, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Horses have an amazing capacity for hard work and are very independent. They are intelligent friendly, and loquacious. They are often skilled with their hands. Usually lively and popular, they like to be entertained and enjoy being with a crowd. Although they enjoy a challenge and are prepared to devote themselves to success, they will have no hesitation in dropping a project if they feel the role is beneath them. They rarely listen to anyone else’s advice and don’t worry about settling down. Horses can be stubborn and are prone to temper tantrums.

Famous horses: Rembrandt, Chopin, Mike Tyson, Boris Yeltsin and Billy Graham.

Sheep can be charming company, once you come to know them, for they have the knack of getting off on the wrong foot. They tend to be shy and mild-mannered and are not always appreciated for their true nature. Naturally pessimistic, they are the first to complain about discomfort, and may spoil themselves to compensate. Sheep are civilised and creative people and love art and nature. While some sheep are timid and easily upset, others are adaptable and sure-footed when the need arises. Either way, sheep feel more secure living and working with other people.

Famous sheep: Michelangelo, Buster Keaton, Laurence Olivier, Jane Austen and Mark Twain.

Monkeys are intelligent, witty and have a magnetic personality. They are sociable and easy to communicate with – monkeys love to talk! They are remarkably inventive in thinking and can often solve the most difficult problems with ease - although they are sometimes impatient if they cannot do things immediately. They have a thirst for knowledge and perform well in many jobs, but they need stimulation and prefer something outside the usual 9-5 routine. They can be mischievous, and despite their exceptional brightness, cannot see when one of their jokes or pranks has hurt someone. Some people love a monkey’s eccentricity; others distrust their sly, inquisitive nature.

Famous monkeys: James Stewart, Joan Crawford, Bob Marley, Leonardo Da Vinci, Julius Caesar and Elizabeth Taylor.

Roosters are hard workers; shrewd and definite in their decision making. They always think they are right (they usually are) and like to speak their minds, which makes them sound a little boastful at times. Roosters love to mix socially. They are often extravagant, flashy dressers, as they love to attract attention, and can get cross if someone else steals the spotlight. Despite being melodramatic, they are extremely practical, logical and have excellent powers of discrimination. They have high standards of excellence, which can sometimes frustrate others.

Famous roosters: Eric Clapton, Dolly Parton, Rudyard Kipling, and Katharine Hepburn.

Dogs are naturally honest and faithful to the ones they love. They seem to specialise – they find an interest they enjoy and stick to it. They have a strong sense of justice and fair play and are good at finding logical solutions to problems. They are good conversationalists and make loyal, trustworthy companions. Unfortunately, most dogs are plagued by worry, and they have a tendency to criticise others with their sharp tongue. They can have a temper, and if someone has upset them, hold a grudge until appeased.

Famous dogs: Socrates, Benjamin Franklin, Sylvester Stallone, Norman Schwarzkopf and Liza Minnelli.

Pigs make splendid companions – sincere, tolerant and honest. They are intellectuals who like to set difficult goals and carry them out. They can be a little naïve by expecting the same of others and are sometimes taken advantage of, but even so, pigs rarely hold a grudge. They are good-humoured and will overlook other people’s faults for the sake of social harmony. Pigs love their homes, and love to indulge themselves – they secretly crave a life of luxury. Their steadfast, patient nature makes them good organisers, but when pigs reaches their limits, watch out – their rage is something to behold!

Famous pigs: Fred Astaire, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tennesee Williams and Ernest Hemmingway

According to chinese astrology, 2021 is going to be a year when we will fully feel the weight of our responsibilities, a year when it is necessary to double our efforts to accomplish anything at all. But it will also be a year when hard work is rewarded. 

Do you know what animal you are? Click on the document below to find out.