Explainer | Year of the Dragon 2024: predictions, personalities and the wood element’s meaning for the next Lunar New Year

The upcoming Lunar New Year, commencing on February 10, 2024, ushers in the Year of the Dragon, or more specifically, the Year of the Wood Dragon. In the realm of Chinese astrology, there are 12 zodiac animals, each associated with an element - metal, wood, water, fire, earth. These elements rotate as the animals progress through the zodiac cycle. Every 12 years, an animal reappears with a different elemental affiliation. For instance, 2012 was the Year of the Water Dragon, and 2036 will be the Year of the Fire Dragon. Individuals born under each elemental zodiac animal sign possess distinct personality traits that significantly influence their lives, akin to the concept behind Western zodiac signs.

So, what does the Wood Dragon signify? In Chinese culture, wood symbolizes vitality and creativity, while the dragon represents success, intelligence, and honour. Individuals born in the Year of the Wood Dragon are characterized by their energy and drive. They harbour dreams of transforming the world and excel at generating innovative ideas and executing them. They are perfectionists who persistently pursue their goals.

The Year of the Wood Dragon is believed to foster growth, progress, and abundance, making it an opportune time to lay a solid foundation for long-term projects. The previous Year of the Wood Dragon occurred 60 years ago, in 1964. That year witnessed significant events such as The Beatles' rise to fame in America, which profoundly influenced Western music for the subsequent half-century. The US Civil Rights Act of 1964 was enacted into law by President Johnson. The Soviet Union launched Voskhod 1 into Earth orbit, marking the first multi-person space flight and the first without spacesuits, setting a crucial milestone for human space exploration. Meanwhile, China successfully conducted its first nuclear test. The Chinese zodiac operates on a 12-year cycle, with each year represented by an animal in the following order: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. As per Chinese mythology, the Jade Emperor organized a race for all animals, and the first 12 to cross the finish line were rewarded with a position in the lunar calendar.