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Cock-a-doodle-doo, 2017 Is Year of the Rooster

Chinese New Year lantern
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Whether you already know all there is to know about Chinese astrology, or it’s more of a distant memory of something you read on a placemat, here’s a rundown of what’s in the stars for 2017: year of the rooster.

Chinese architecture
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Let’s start with the basics. The Chinese zodiac, like the Greek zodiac, is super about the number 12. But instead of having a corresponding animal for each of the 12 months, the Chinese zodiac runs on a cycle of 12 years — each year with its own animal.

When the cycle starts over, the animals are assigned different elements, too. And starting on Chinese New Year, which is January 28 this year, we’ll be hanging out with the rooster. The fire rooster, no less. Sounds invigorating?

Rooster eye extreme close-up
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We’re leaving behind the year of the monkey, the trickster animal. Sounds like 2016 to us. The rooster year, if you’re one to entertain a bit of mysticality, goes hand in hand with some core rooster traits. It symbolizes getting energized at the asscrack of dawn, ready to face anything in your way like a boss. This year’s supposed to be a great time to get ahead at work, and not by schmoozing your way to the top. We’re talking getting down to the nitty-gritty and working hard for authentic results.

Along with being a hard-working sign, the rooster is also into looking good — strutting, tailfeathers, the works. If you’ve been wearing the same tired wardrobe for a while or have started to feel weird about your man bun, this is a great year to reinvent yourself through a totally new approach to fashion.

So get out there and get down to business. Take some pride in looking good doing it. And pro tip from Muhammed Ali: “A rooster crows only when it sees the light. Put him in the dark and he’ll never crow. I have seen the light and I’m crowing.”

Related Reading: New Year, New Hobby: Box Brew Kits

Megan Freshley
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Megan Freshley is a freelance copywriter and poet living in Portland, OR. She's studied at Antioch College and the Esalen…
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