OK, as the time draws closer, Grace and I are wondering if the twins will be born in the year of the Pig or the Rat. Chinese New Year falls on Febuary 7th... If they or one of them are born on or after February 7th, we'll have a rat or two on our hands. Personally with myself being a Pig and Grace being a Tiger, I'm hoping for piglets... :) For those of you unfamiliar with the Chinese Zodiac and either wnat to know what you are or what your kids are, here is s brief description of each... This can get a little confusing because the Chinese Zodiac goes by the Lunar calendar, which is not Jan-Dec... It changes every year, usually in the Jan or Feb timeframe somewhere. So theoretically, the twins could be born up until Feb 6 in 2008, but still be a Pig.... With our luck, we'll end up with one of each...
Both descriptions are from http://www.theholidayspot.com/chinese_new_year/zodiacs.htm
Year of the Pig (1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007)The Boar child will be self-reliant, sociable and easy to deal with. Dependable and determined, he will lead in school activities and acquire prestige by his perseverance and dedication. This youngster will be courageous in the face of great odds and he will not whimper or complain. As a matter of fact, he will be endowed with a remarkably strong body and can withstand a good deal of pain and suffering without crying.
The Boar, like the Rat, will have a hefty appetite and you won't have to force him to eat or pamper him like the Sheep child. He will work hard cheerfully and will not be easily depressed or discouraged. His placid exterior masks his passionate nature. The amorous Boar finds it difficult to be casual or detached in his affections. If he loves his parents, he will worship the very ground they walk on; if not, he will punish himself with remorse and guilt instead of blaming anyone else. He will not need as much attention as other children but he must be assured that he will have your support when he seeks it.
The Boar child has a certain individualism of his own. He will allow you to be the boss so long as you do not expect him to be your slave. His give-and-take attitude will make him popular around the neighborhood He strives more for the fun of winning rather than for the rewards. Often, he may not treasure his belongings and may give things away easily.
In spite of his excellent ability for organizing group effort, smoothing out rough edges and calming fiery natures, the Boar will have trouble taking sides, questioning other people's motives or restraining himself from indulging in his rich tastes and love of comfort on the sly.
This is one child who can take reproach with a positive frame of mind. Setbacks can instill him with renewed vigor. Whenever he instigates changes, he will always be able to convince everyone involved of their necessity. The Boar child will put all his strength, conviction and dedication behind anything he undertakes.
With his soft approach and gentle persuasiveness, the Boar can and will inspire others to do his bidding. It is he who needs more discipline if his talents are not to go to waste. He may excel at planning functions, projects and other people's activities, but he is lazy about applying the same rules to his own daily life.
Whatever you do for him, the Boar will pay you back double. This goes for the bad as well as the good. He is totally blind to the faults of his loved ones and is filled with immense loyalty to his friends. His instinctive understanding of another person's emotions or needs will at times make him seem wise beyond his years.
Whatever he does, you will find this child constantly looking for more ways to work off his huge supply of energy. Wherever he is, you will find a lot of togetherness. He loves to seal relationships with a special glue of his own. In him, you will see unselfishness and a truly great passion for living.
Year of the Rat (1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008)A child born in the year of the Rat will be sweet and loving. He may be shy, but inwardly he is fiercely competitive. Often, he resorts to crying to get more attention and usually clings to one or two people with whom he identifies. Although he has a charming disposition, he is possessive of parents and friends and jealous of attention given to others.
He will talk early. He likes to eat (mention of his favorite foods always makes him light up) and he takes an early interest in cooking and other household chores. Being affectionate and demonstrative, he will not like being left alone. He will enjoy group play, can concentrate on detailed work and make friends easily. You can depend on him to keep things tidy or at least know where they are.
The Rat child will start to show his calculating nature very early in life. He will insist that he get the bigger half of the apple, exactly the same number of cookies as his older brother (preferably more, but under no circumstances less). It will be hard to cheat him on anything. He learns fast and never misses a trick. He takes regular stock of his possessions--so don't try to give away any of his old toys thinking he won't miss it. Then again, if you consult him, be prepared for a struggle as the selfish little Rat won't part with anything easily.
With younger children, the Rat child will tend to be motherly; at his worst, he will boss them around mercilessly. Given the proper encouragement, he will be ambitious in school. He will be most eager to participate in anything that stimulates his sharp mental powers.
The vivacious Rat will be an avid reader. He will learn the importance of the written word early and be able to express himself well. Many of the world's greatest writers and historians were born in the year of the Rat.
What are you?
