A friend of mine recently had a baby shower and because her due date is actually on Chinese New Year, she received a lot of tiger-themed baby clothes. The cute little ears and whiskers stitched onto swaddling blankets and baby shoes got me thinking though: What characteristics are attributed to children born during this lunar year by traditional Chinese astrology? And what can we expect from all these little tiger babies?
A quick internet search revealed that those born in the year of the tiger are thought to have qualities such as strength and leadership. What’s more, they are viewed as intelligent, talkative, and playful but are also known for quick and aggressive tempers. They are considered honest, to a fault, and are often accused of being a little too frank with their opinions. Nevertheless, their strong sense of justice combined with confidence, generosity, and a big personality win them lots of friends and admirers.
Tigers are also seen as one of the most ambitious and hardworking of the Eastern signs, and one of the supposed dangers for this zodiac inhabitant is stress and self-imposed perfectionism. The upside to these traits? Tigers tend to make a good living. Especially in legal, leadership, and economic fields as they are big on fairness and good with their coin.
It turns out being a tiger is only half the story, the other half being their element. Wood, fire, earth, gold (metal), and water are the five elements that complement the zodiac signs. Each of the 12 signs has a fixed element, the tiger’s being wood, which is associated with creativity and playfulness. But, to further complicate matters, 2022 itself is marked by the water element which rules responsiveness, persuasion, and flexibility. This means that children born in February of this year will be known as Water Tigers – the last water tiger year was 1962! – and the flexibility of the water element may help curb their perfectionist tendencies while persuading others to see their creative vision. Not a terrible combination. In fact, Kate Spade, Tom Cruise, and Jon Stewart are all water tigers and all three are known for being detail-oriented, globally-minded, interested in social justice, and passionate, inspiring people.
But wait, there’s more! Traditional Chinese medicine has rules for each person’s sign and element as well. Because tigers are so active and strong, they are seen as having few medical issues. And yet, their high-stress levels can result in liver problems that are traditionally said to be linked with this sign, as well as injuries from participation in sporting events which are believed to be more common because of how competitive tigers can be and how hard they push themselves.
As with Western astrology, this is meant to be interesting and fun. You should take all of it with a heavy dose of salt as it is rooted in tradition, not science. Every little one is a unique individual with their own gifts and challenges. Enjoy your little tiger baby for the perfectly imperfect human they are!
KEEP READING: CNY Gift Sets and Toys for the Family To Learn and Play Together
Images: Canva
