Well, let me tell you somethin’ about these Chinese zodiac things. Folks say it’s all about the year you were born, but lordy, it’s more complicated than plantin’ corn! They got this moon calendar, see, not like the regular one we use. So, the New Year, it jumps around all over the place, makes it hard for an old woman like me to keep track.
First off, we got that Rat. Them Rats, they’re quick, always gettin’ into somethin’. Smart little fellers, I guess, always findin’ a way to get by. Adaptable, they call it. Yup, they can fit in anywhere, like a weed in a cornfield.
Then comes the Ox. Strong as an ox, that’s what they say, and it’s true. Them Oxen are steady, you know? Reliable. You can count on ‘em. They work hard, never complainin’, just gettin’ the job done. Focused and determined, that’s them alright.
- Tiger: Oh, them Tigers, they’re something else. Full of energy, passionate, they say. But they can be a bit much, you know? Always jumpin’ around, like a chicken with its head cut off.
- Rabbit: Now, the Rabbits, they’re gentle. Artistic, too, I hear. Quiet folk, they like things pretty, like a well-tended garden.
- Dragon: Dragons? Powerful, they say. Lucky, too. But I ain’t never seen no dragon, so I can’t say much about ’em. But folks born in the year of the Dragon, they seem to have a bit of fire in their bellies.
- Snake: Snakes… Some folks are scared of snakes, but them Snake folks, they’re wise, they say. Quiet, observant, always thinkin’. They know things other folks don’t.
- Horse: Horses? Energetic, that’s for sure. Always on the go, like a wild pony. They love to run, to be free. Can’t sit still for a minute, them Horses.
- Goat: Goats, now they’re kind. Empathetic, that’s the word they use. They feel things deeply, understand what you’re goin’ through. Gentle souls, them Goats.
- Monkey: Monkeys! Oh, them Monkeys are a handful. Curious, always gettin’ into mischief. Clever, though, always figuring things out. But always playin tricks.
- Rooster: Roosters? Meticulous, they say. That means they pay attention to detail, like makin’ sure every chicken gets fed. They like things just so, them Roosters.
- Dog: Dogs? Loyal, that’s what they are. Best friends you could ask for. They’ll stick by you through thick and thin, them Dogs. Always there for you, no matter what.
- Pig: And finally, the Pig. Honest, they say. Good-hearted folks, them Pigs. They enjoy the simple things in life, like a good meal and a warm bed. They’re happy to share what they have, them Pigs are.
So, that’s the twelve animals, see? Each one’s got its own way, its own personality. Just like people, I guess. Some are loud and boisterous, some are quiet and shy. Some are strong and steady, some are quick and clever. It’s all just a way of understandin’ folks, I reckon. Don’t take it too serious, though. It’s just for fun, like readin’ the tea leaves or lookin’ at the stars.
Now, they got these other things too, like fire signs and earth signs and all that. Sounds like a bunch of hogwash to me, but some folks swear by it. Fire signs, they’re like a wildfire, all hot and bothered. Earth signs, they’re steady, like a rock. Air signs, they’re always thinkin’, their heads in the clouds. And water signs, they feel things deep, like a well. But like I said, I don’t pay much mind to that stuff. I have seen enough in my years.
But it’s interesting to see how these animals, they show up in Chinese culture. You see ‘em everywhere, in pictures, in stories, even in the way people talk. It’s just part of life, I guess. Like plantin’ in the spring and harvestin’ in the fall. It’s just the way things are.
So, there you have it. A little bit about these Chinese zodiac signs, from an old woman who’s seen a thing or two. Take it with a grain of salt, like I always say. But it’s fun to think about, ain’t it? How the year you were born can say someth