Happy Chinese New Year

The meal I made this year for Chinese New Year since I was celebrating on my own this year. Dumplings, my family dish and cucumber soup! If only I knew how to cook for 1 person... I even bought red lucky candy to eat as many as I could so this year will be sweet. My first attempt at food photography ended up turning out pretty well.

The Twelve Animals of the Chinese Zodiac

1. RAT - 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
Charming, adaptable, creative, ambitious, opportunist, gregarious, erratic, gossip. Symbols of wealth because rats are always able to find food, considered a basic form of wealth.

Compatible marriage to: Dragon, Monkey, Ox
Second choice: Rat, Tiger, Snake, Dog, Boar
Incompatible marriage to: Horse, (worse) Sheep

2. OX - 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961,1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
Steadfast, methodical, unimaginative, dependable, loyal, possessive, logical, honest, unromantic. Strong and not willing to make too many changes - down to earth and practical.

Compatible marriage to: Snake, Rooster, Rat
Second choice: Ox, Dragon, Hare, Money, Boar
Incompatible marriage to: Horse, Dog, (worse) Sheep

3. TIGER - 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Leadership, brave, rash, impetuous, warm, sincere, aggressive, authoritarian. A beautiful animal that will attack if his territory is invaded.

Compatible marriage to: Horse, Dragon, Dog
Second choice: Rat, Ox, Hare, Tiger, Sheep, Rooster, Boar
Incompatible marriage to: Monkey, (worse) Snake

4. HARE, RABBIT - 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Withdrawn, independent, aloof, submissive, humble, gossip, melancholic, gambler, placid. An excellent judge of character, can detect sincerity or trouble.

Compatible marriage to: Sheep, Boar, Dog
Second Choice: Hare
Incompatible marriage to: Dragon, (worse) Rooster, Rat

5. DRAGON - 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
Flamboyant, extrovert, elegant, imaginative, strong, decisive, resolute. The dragon is considered the flashiest and boldest member of the Chinese astrological family.

Compatible marriage to: Rat, Snake, Monkey, Rooster
Second choice: Tiger, Horse, Sheep, Boar
Incompatible marriage to: Ox, Hare, (worse) Dog

6. SNAKE, SERPENT - 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
Restraint, insinuating, subtle, pushy, double-dealing, scandalous, vicarious, sensuous. Symbol of medicine and healing, intuitive and intelligent.

Compatible marriage to: Rat, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Dog
Incompatible marriage to: Monkey, (worse) Tiger, Boar

7. HORSE - 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Competitive, cheerful, talkative, talented, showy, impatient, independent,tough, hard workers and competitive by nature.

Compatible marriage to: Tiger, Dog, Sheep, (best) Horse
Second choice: Dragon, Snake, Monkey, Rooster, Boar
Incompatible marriage to: Ox, Hare, Horse, (worse) Rat

8. RAM, SHEEP - 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Affectionate, caring, trusting, selflessness, artistic, fastidious, creative, complacent, diplomatic. A follower rather than a leader, happiest in a crowd, and is best not placed in a position to make decisions.

Compatible marriage to: Hare, Boar, Horse
Second choice: Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster
Incompatible marriage to: Rat (worse) Ox, Dog

9. MONKEY - 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956,1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
Inventive, curious, quick-witted, scheming, versatile audacious, mischievous, resentful, energetic, humorous. They are energetic and develop personal loyalties.

Compatible marriage to: Rat, Dragon
Second Choice: Hare, Sheep, Dog
Incompatible marriage to: Snake, Boar, (worse) Tiger

10. ROOSTER - 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
Determined, pride, alert, confident, abrasive, aggressive, rude, affectionate, resolute, punctilious. Roosters make great managers and leaders. Compatible marriage to: Ox, Snake, Dragon Second choice: Tiger, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Boar Incompatible marriage to: Rat, Rooster, Dog, (worse) Hare

11. DOG - 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
Loyal, honest, likable, trusted, conservative, sympathetic, tolerant, active, reliable. The dog is active and sociable, ready to mix at get togethers, and good listeners.

Compatible marriage to: Horse, Tiger, Sheep, Hare
Second Choice: Rat, Snake, Monkey, Dog, Boar
Incompatible marriage to: Ox, Rooster, (worse) Dragon, Sheep

12. BOAR, PIG - 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
Unpretentious, joy, caring, industrious, trusting, naive, hardworking, hospitable. The boar is caring ,not lazy, but quiet.

Compatible marriage to: Hare, Sheep
Second choice: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Dragon, Horse, Rooster, Dog
Incompatible marriage to: Monkey, Boar, (worse) Snake