Ruling the Rooster
Papercuts of Year of the Rooster XINHUAWhat do Nigerian President Goodluck
Jonathan, American pop star Beyoncé Giselle Knowles and Russian Empress Catherine the Great have in common? The answer is anyone’s guess, you might say. But any well-read Chinese person would probably tell you in the blink of an eye: all were born in their respective Year of the Rooster, and thus all share the same Chinese astrological sign.
Over the last few weeks, doors are getting decorated with poetic couplets, fireworks and firecrackers are being sold everywhere, and the strong fragrance of dumplings is filling the air, there is no mistaking - the whole of China is now busy preparing for the celebrations of the Spring Festival and the coming of the 2017 Year of the Rooster.
If you happen to be born in any of the following years: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, and 2017, then you too have the rooster as your Chinese astrological sign. And the Year of the Rooster (January 28, 2017-February 15, 2018) might just be one of the most important years in your life.
Cocky like a rooster
The Chinese zodiac is a cyclical system in which each year is associated with one of the 12 animals that take turns over a period of 12 years in the following order: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. It was the traditional way in ancient China to count the years and record a person’s age. Indeed, if you know a person’s approximate age and zodiac animal, you can easily calculate his or her birth year and exact age.
Similar to the Western horoscope, people born in the year of a given Chinese zodiac animal are believed to share similar traits in their personality. It’s said that people born in the Year of the Rooster are determined, brave, and perseverant, with a strong sense of timekeeping and responsibility at work.
Moreover, roosters are talkative, outspoken, and frank. They enjoy being the center of attention and strive to always appear attractive and beautiful. Much like 1981-born Beyoncé, they enjoy the spotlight and know how to make use of their charm.
With their strong character, roosters are also born leaders and enjoy taking to the stage and voicing their opinions, which is somewhat reminiscent of President Jonathan and Catherine the Great. On the downside, roosters are sometimes overly boastful, and will make sure you are fully aware of their latest accomplishments.
Fun with puns
In China, the Year of the Rooster is highly anticipated by all, because the word for rooster in Chinese (ji) is homonymous with “auspicious.” Therefore, when congratulating each other on the New Year, Chinese are fond of using puns to convey their hope that the coming year will bring them good fortune, joy and happiness.
More than that, every part of the rooster has its associated expression and its implied meaning in the Chinese language. Cockscomb, for example, means “staving off a disaster,” while cockcrow has the meaning of “evil spirits,” but is also homophonic with “high official” and “getting a promotion.”
Chickens are also part of the fun. A charred chicken feather is associated with an emergency, and a letter with a chicken feather attached is usually taken as a sign of urgency.
Also on the menu
Famous chicken dishes are also an integral part of Spring Festival celebrations in many parts of China. Chicken are prepared in many different ways, includ-ing deep-frying, steaming, roasting, stewing, and boiling. Chinese people believe that nearly all parts of the chicken can be eaten. As a matter of fact, chicken necks and feet are high on the list of Chinese people’s favorite snacks.
Due to regional differences in dietary culture and cooking techniques, each part of China has developed its unique chicken dishes. Among the most famous are Chongqing chicken feet with pickled peppers, Sichuan Kungpao chicken, Xinjiang spicy hot chicken, Jiangsustyle Beggar’s chicken and Guangdong white sliced chicken.
But while the rest of us are feasting on these delicious dishes, people who were born under the sign of the rooster should be especially careful. According to the Chinese traditional belief, the year of one’s birth sign, which comes around every 12 years according to the zodiac cycle, is one of bad luck.
It is recommended for roosters to take a few precautions to ensure that their year is not a bad one. To ward off any dangers that might befall them, Chinese people traditionally believe that wearing the color red can help. Red is one of the luckiest colors in Chinese traditions, standing for loyalty, success and happiness.
Red belts, red socks, red shoes, and even red underwear are all indispensable items of clothing for roosters in 2017. However, be aware that for this rule to work, you need not to buy the item yourself - it has to be bought by a spouse, family member, or a fellow rooster friend.
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Lifestyle Food Worth Crowing About
• Kungpao chicken is a spicy stir-fry dish made with chicken, chilies, Sichuan peppers, peanuts, and vegetables. It is a traditional Sichuan dish that can be found throughout China. The chicken meat is tender and smooth, and the flavor can be either spicy or mild depending on how much chili is added.
• Xinjiang spicy hot chicken is a traditional Xinjiang dish made from chicken, potatoes, onions, bell peppers, chilies, garlic and ginger. It is usually served with noodles on a large tray. Its rich flavor and heartiness quickly made the dish a local favorite of the region, and it can now be found everywhere in China.
• Beggar’s chicken is a famous Han dish originally from east China’s Jiangsu Province. The chicken is usually stuffed, wrapped in lotus leaves, and roasted in an oven or under a grill for about two hours. The result is an aromatic, crisp and tender chicken meat which is now considered a staple of Chinese cuisine.
• White sliced chicken originates from south China’s Guangdong Province. The chicken is slowly boiled in its entirety with ginger, onions and cilantro stems. Due to the slow cooking process, the chicken’s skin remains nearly white, while the meat is tender and flavorful.
Kungpao chicken douguo.com
Beggar’s chicken sqsm0371.com
Xinjiang spicy hot chicken jd-zx.com
White sliced chicken sucai.redocn.com