A Cultural Significance
Chinese New Year is just around the corner with the Year of the Snake beginning on January 29, 2025. The Snake is one of the 12 animals represented in the Chinese Zodiac which repeats on a 12 year cycle. There are five elements of the Zodiac including wood, fire, earth, metal and water, and each animal belongs to one element.
Chinese Zodiac animals have astrological and cultural meanings, and it is believed that people born in a given year have the personality of that year's animal. It is also associate with their respective lucky and unlucky things including numbers, colours, flowers, and direction.
[Fun Fact] The 12 Zodiac animals in order are:
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Just like in Western culture, many people like to look into their constellation sign to explain attributes and personalities. In Chinese culture, there is the Chinese Zodiac. Do you know your Zodiac animal and attributes?
Special Note
Each year my family introduces something new as a conversation starter for our kids, family and friends and at school. Previous art included Chinese Calligraphy, Cheongsam (Chinese dress), fabric-sewn Fortune Cookies, and a hands-on DIY Lantern Kits and these beautiful 12 Chinese Zodiac Framed Artwork. Each finished piece is 8x10 framed, handmade with mixed media materials and requires a lot of time to complete. Slight variations for each is to be expected, hence one-of-a-kind. There will be a very limited quantity available for each animal at this time.
Giving Back
A portion of the proceeds from all sales are donated to the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Network of Sunnybrook Hospital. Your funds will be used to improve bereavement care and support for families and education for health care professionals in Ontario.