By CGTN's Tianran He, Minzhui Lee and Sun Ke
Every 12 years, the only feathered Chinese zodiac flaps by. But despite having a team of eggheads working on it around the cluck, there still isn’t a global consensus on its English name.
So, instead of winging it, we sent CGTN’s Travelogue presenter Tianran He out in Beijing to learn directly from the natives. It turns out chooks aren’t as bird-brained as we think – they don’t just squawk, they talk!
Tianran He is interviewing chickens. /CGTN Photo
A rooster is being interviewed. /CGTN Photo
This lunar year, which began February 28, 2017, belongs to the Rooster (let’s just stick with that name for now). It’s the 10th animal in the Chinese zodiac, and those born in Rooster years are said to be independent, punctual, and brave.
Other characteristics include honesty and diligence, but it’s also believed that Roosters attach great importance to appearance and can be quite cocky, as they often like to crow about themselves.
A rooster. /CGTN Photo
A crossoptilon auritum. /CGTN Photo
A goura scheepmakeri. /CGTN Photo
Chicken. /CGTN Photo
For Roosters, lucky numbers are five, seven and eight, and lucky colors are gold, brown and yellow. In the romance department, they are most compatible with Oxen and Snakes; indeed, it is foretold that most of those relationships will be everlasting, and enviable to others.
Unfortunately, however, this year supposedly isn’t the luckiest for Roosters. But many of our clucky locals are keeping their beaks high, and aren’t letting this prediction ruffle their feathers.
“Just wear something red every day, because that’s meant to protect you from misadventure,” said Henny Penny, who has just turned 24 in human years. “Really, I’d be much more worried as a duck in Beijing.”
Some Rooster celebrities include Natalie Portman, Goldie Hawn, and Serena Williams. Hang on a second, Serena Williams won the women’s singles Australian Open title on the first day of this Lunar New Year. So… it can’t be that unfortunate, can it?
A hen. /CGTN Photo
A couple of chickens. /CGTN Photo
Anyway, from all of us at CGTN, Happy Year of the Rooster, or Chicken, or Cockle-doodle-doo!
