The Chinese New Year falls on February 12 this year, and with it the Year of the Metal Ox begins. The Ox is the second animal on the Chinese calendar, which changes annually. Each Chinese New Year brings with it a different animal with symbolic implications that are rooted in mythology. The Ox is associated with the hours between one and three in the morning, hard work, and honesty. In 2021, the Ox’s element is metal, signifying that challenges are imminent early in the year. This year the celestial stem is xīn, a word associated with trust, feeling, and long-term goals.
This year of the Metal Ox brings specific symbolic implications for all the other animals from the Chinese calendar (years of birth correspond with animals). Click through the following gallery to discover your animal according to ancient Chinese mythology, and what this year predicts for you.