The Year of the Rooster

by Victoria M. Johnson

What's all the fuss about roosters?  Plenty—if we look at folklore, astrology, and symbolism.  Oh, in case you didn't know, 2017 is the Year of the Rooster in Chinese culture.  It begins on January 28, 2017 and lasts to February 15, 2018.

The rooster is one of the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac. According to the What's Your Sign website, the rooster is a Chinese symbol of honesty, as well as physical and moral fortitude.  It signifies fortune, luck, fidelity, protection, as well as bossiness.

Considered sacred symbols in Japan, the Japanese attribute the virtue of courage to roosters.  In China and Japan it is believed that by crowing at dawn, the rooster chases away evil spirits.  (And I thought roosters just crowed throughout the day to tell everyone who's in charge.)  In Portuguese folklore the rooster represents truth and equity.  While Jewish tradition identifies the rooster as a symbol of gallantry and honesty.

An interesting post on the JapaneseMythology & Folklore website says:  In Korea, people “believed roosters knew time well and considered them a symbol of hopeful beginnings and good omens." The Astrology Club website echoes that viewpoint saying the Year of the Rooster is "a period when the fiery temperament of the Rooster is expected to infuse more enthusiasm and energy into our activities, increasing hopes for better prospects for everyone."

I know we are all seeking hopeful beginnings, enthusiasm, and better prospects for our future and that of our loved ones.

According to the What Is My Spirit Animal website, as a Totem Animal, the rooster belongs to those who never give up. 

Determined, compassionate, and hardworking are other attributes of "rooster" people.  And since we are all here, making a go of our lives in 2017, doing the best we can with what we've got, we are all roosters, too.  It's encouraging to believe we each have a year of possibilities ahead.  

Let's make this a year to crow about.  Wishing you and yours a fabulous Year of the Rooster!

Victoria M. Johnson knew by the time she was ten that she wanted to be a writer.  She loves telling stories and she's happiest when creating new characters and new plots.  Avalon Books and Montlake Romance published Victoria's fiction debut, The Doctor’s Dilemma, (A Bookseller’s Best double finalist).  Her other fiction book is a collection of romance short stories titled, The Substitute Bride and a novella, Hot Hawaiian Christmas. She is also the writer and director of four short films and two micro documentaries.   Visit Victoria's website at http://VictoriaMJohnson.com for inspiration and tips and find her Amazon author page or connect with her on Pinterest and Twitter.