
Culture
Chinese New Year: What does the year of the tiger mean for you?
3 years ago

It’s the Chinese year of the tiger with celebrations happening in Liverpool on Sunday and here astrologists predict what 2022 holds according to the Chinese zodiac. By Katie Wright.
The most important holiday for billions of people in China and around the world, Lunar New Year (also called the Spring Festival) is a two-week celebration that this year starts on February 1.
During the festival, homes are festooned with red paper lanterns and families gather to share sumptuous feasts, enjoying symbolic dishes such as dumplings (to represent gold ingots) and noodles (to denote long life).
Celebrations take place in Liverpool on Sunday with the annual dragon and unicorn parades, street performers, 3D projections and more.
This year, celebrations will herald the Year of the Tiger. So what does that mean in terms of our fortunes in 2022 according to the Chinese zodiac? We asked astrologists to explainâŚ
How are Chinese zodiac signs determined?
âUnlike the Western zodiac, which is based on 12 months, the Chinese zodiac is based on a 12-year cycle with each year being attributed to an representative animal,â says astrologist, energy mentor and psychic Julie Chandler (soul-focus.co.uk).
A quick google will tell you whether youâre a rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, or pig.
âThose born under that animal are said to embody their characteristics and itâs taken very seriously in China, to the point of babies being planned to coincide with the traditionally luckiest year, that of the dragon, and avoid the unluckier year of the goat.â
If your age is a multiple of 12 this year, you fall under the tiger sign and your personal qualities will include âcourage, strength, determination,â according to mystic and astrologer Inbaal Honigman (inbaal.com). âPeople born in the Year of the Tiger are adventurous and never take no for an answer. They enjoy a challenge and like to be kept active.â
What does this mean for people born in a tiger year?
âThe Year of the Tiger will carry the qualities of the Chinese tiger sign throughout the year,â says Honigman. âThis year is therefore likely to be another fiery year!â
People born in a tiger year will âfeel right at home during their birth year â the energies outside will match their reality on the inside,â she continues. âTheyâll enjoy whatever challenges the year might throw at them.â
As tigers are at the start of a new 12-year cycle, now is a good time to embrace change in all areas of your life, says Chandler: âWhichever new direction youâd like to go, this is the year the universe is ready to help you with all the support and focus at your fingertips. You could feel restless at the idea of the old stuff that no longer sits right â youâre ready to pounce this year and get out the gate with a bang.â
The other thing to note, Chandler adds, is that this year the tiger is âunder the water element and can bring eruptions or explosions in both the physical and our internal world. Think of a playful cat waiting to pounce or a caged tiger prowling back and forth behind the fence.â

Look out for the lanterns in Liverpool City Centre
What about people who werenât born in a tiger year?
As for the other 11 Chinese zodiac signs, they may struggle more in 2022, says Honigman: âTiger energies are very focused, determined and geared towards achievement. If youâre not used to thinking on your feet â expect the unexpected!
âOther active signs, such as horses and dragons, will find their feet very easily. The more home-loving signs, like rabbits and goats, will want to remain quiet until theyâve figured out the lay of the land.â
Looking at the 12-year cycle could help determine how 2022 will pan out for you, Chandler says: âWhat were you doing 12 years ago? What was your focus? Itâs time to go round that energy once more. If you recall turbulence, it could be a bumpy year, but if you donât remember much happening at all then you could be in for a smooth ride.â