2022: Year of The Tiger

Julia Gaevsky and Kenzie Veres|January 25, 2022

The Chinese Zodiac year starts following the Chinese New Year, which begins in late January to mid-February. It is theorized in Chinese culture that a person’s characteristics are associated with their birth year’s animal and element. This year is the year of the tiger–the water tiger to be exact. Individuals born in tiger years with water as their element are typically very family-oriented and exhibit many interpersonal relationships.

Chinese Zodiac years run on a 12-year cycle, and there are five elements attached to each animal: water, wood, fire, metal, and Earth. Depending on the year, every person has one of these five elements, which helps to identify their individuality more concisely. For example, Centennial English teacher Kristin Lavender was born in 1974: the year of the wood tiger, while Centennial business manager Cheryll Beall was born in 1962: the year of the water tiger!

Wood and Water Tigers

A wood tiger is an individual who is cooperative and communicative. As a teacher, Lavender deals with a wide range of students who have different demands and learning capabilities. “Like a tiger, I am strong and powerful – maybe not in physical strength, but in resolve,” Lavender explained. To be a teacher, it takes immense patience and mental strength—all characteristics a wood tiger exudes.

Beall, a water tiger, carries the qualities of being a successful and powerful leader. “Imma tiger! I’m strong, confident, and hard headed,” Mrs. Beall stated. Water sign tigers have a strong sense of self-esteem and learning ability. Lavender and Beall can be stubborn in their beliefs and tough in their judgment, but are ultimately competent leaders with bold personalities.

Each element, as previously mentioned, holds its own specific qualities. Apart from the wood and water elements, there is gold, fire and Earth. The characteristics of the Earth tiger are adventurous and realistic, with a strong sense of faith. Gold tiger females tend to be enthusiastic, while males can be indecisive and stubborn. While fire tigers are optimistic and independent, they may lack self-control.

Lucky and Unlucky Things

This year, tigers should pay close attention to their lucky numbers: 1, 3 and 4. These numbers could either be within a larger number, such as 34 or 14, or stand alone. On the contrary, a tiger’s unlucky numbers are 6, 7 and 8.
Some colors that tigers could wear to boost their luck are red, blue, orange, and gray! However, they should do their best to avoid wearing the color brown.

Celebrities Born on Tiger Years