Public Relations & Social Marketing Insight

This Lunar New Year, we move into the Year of the Rooster. But what does this mean?

The rooster is one of the 12 animals of the zodiac.. In Chinese and other East Asian traditions, each year is characterized by an animal: most commonly the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Legend says that this is the order the animals crossed the finish line in a great race held by the Jade Emperor.

Rooster – 雞 / 鸡 (酉)

2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933

2017 is the year of the rooster! But bad news for those who actually have the rooster as their zodiac sign; one's zodiac year is said to bring bad luck!

Across Asia and around the world, families are coming together, houses and neighborhoods are being dressed up in red and traditional lanterns are being hung. If you're still wondering about what the fireworks are all about, Google Arts & Culture is here to help you learn more about this centuries-old tradition.

Google Arts & Culture teamed up with 12 museums from Beijing to Washington to create a new online exhibition, so everyone can discover the craftsmanship and arts that make this holiday so colorful. Follow the zodiac animals across 1,000 years of art history, learn about the art of the New Year prints with which people decorate their homes, or find out how to give and accept a traditional red envelope....