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Well, let me tell you about this thing, this… lunar calendar zodiac, or whatever they call it. My old man, he used to mumble somethin’ about it, but I never paid much mind. Now they tellin’ me it’s important, so I guess I gotta learn a little somethin’, right?
So, this lunar calendar thing, it’s all about the moon and the sun, you know? They watch how them things move and then they figure out the days and the years. Sounds complicated to me, but them smart folks, they figured it out. They also call it the Yin calendar, somethin’ about dark and light, I reckon.
Now, the real interesting part is the animals. Every year, they slap an animal name on it. It’s like givin’ the year a nickname, you see? And these animals, they ain’t just any animals. They got a special order, like they lined up for somethin’ important. There’s twelve of ’em, and they go in a circle, always the same way.
- First, there’s that sneaky little Rat. They say them Rats are smart and can get outta anythin’.
- Then comes the Ox, big and strong, always workin’ hard.
- After that, you got the Tiger, fierce and bold, like my cousin Bessie when she’s mad.
- Next is the Rabbit, quiet and gentle, always hoppin’ around.
- Then, whoosh, comes the Dragon, all fire and magic, like somethin’ outta them fairy tales.
- Then you got the Snake, slitherin’ around, kinda mysterious.
- After the Snake, it’s the Horse, runnin’ fast and free, like my neighbor’s boy on his motorbike.
- Then comes the Sheep, or maybe it’s a Goat, I dunno, gentle and kind.
- Next is the Monkey, always playin’ tricks and causin’ mischief.
- After that, it’s the Rooster, crowin’ loud in the mornin’, wakin’ everybody up.
- Then you got the Dog, loyal and true, always there for ya.
- And last, but not least, the Pig, happy and always eatin’, kinda like my Uncle Joe.
And they go round and round, every twelve years, same animals, same order. This year, they tellin’ me it’s the year of the Dragon. Sounds fancy, don’t it? But I ain’t seen no dragons flyin’ around, so I dunno what all the fuss is about.
This whole thing, they say it comes from China, way back when. Them Chinese folks, they been usin’ this calendar for a long time, figurin’ out when to plant their crops and when to have their celebrations. And now, other places, like Korea, they use it too. I heard Koreans use it for pretty much all the same reasons as the Chinese, must be a pretty useful thing.
Now, each animal, they say it means somethin’ about the people born in that year. Like, if you’re born in the year of the Rat, you’re supposed to be clever. If you’re born in the year of the Ox, you’re supposed to be strong. I ain’t sure if it’s true, but it’s somethin’ to think about.
My old man, he was born in the year of the Dog, and he was loyal as can be, always lookin’ out for us. Me, I don’t even know what animal year I was born in. Back then, we didn’t pay no mind to such things. We just worked hard and tried to make a livin’.
But now, they puttin’ it all over the TV and the internet, this lunar calendar zodiac. So, I guess it’s good to know a little somethin’ about it. Maybe it can help me understand folks a little better, or maybe it’s just a bunch of hooey. Who knows? But it’s kinda fun to think about all them animals and what they might mean.
Anyways, that’s what I know about this lunar calendar zodiac. It’s a bit complicated for an old woman like me, but I think I got the gist of it. Moon, sun, animals, and a whole lotta years. It’s a wonder how them folks figured it all out.
Tags: [Lunar Calendar, Chinese Zodiac, Yin Calendar, Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, Astrology, Chinese Folklore, Korean Zodiac]
