The Year of the Pig
The History of the Chinese Horoscope In Chinese culture, each new year is represented by one of You were born in the Year of the Pig if 12 animals. This tradition you were born in: is thousands of years old and is said to have begun 1935 1947 1959 1971 1983 with a story. Given its age, 1995 2007 2019 many versions of the story exist and it is unclear as to whether the main character was the Buddha or the Jade Emperor. Nevertheless, both stories are very similar and they name the same 12 animals. In one version of the Chinese myth, Buddha called out to all of the animals on Earth and asked them to come and see him one day. Only 12 animals answered his call. To thank them for their loyalty, Buddha named each year in the Chinese zodiac cycle after one of the animals.
The Year of the Pig begins on Tuesday 5th February 2019. It is the 4717th year of the Chinese calendar and will last until 24th January 2020, when the Year of the Rat begins. Once it finishes, the next Year of the Pig won’t happen again until 2031. Traits of the Pig People born in the different years of the Chinese zodiac cycle are believed to have particular traits and qualities. These characteristics reflect the animal the year is named after. The pig is said to be one of the most trustworthy animals of the Chinese zodiac and has lots of positive qualities.
In Chinese culture, the pig is honest, thoughtful and kind. People born in the Year of the Pig are said to be excellent friends; they are funny and you can always depend on them. Pigs are extremely loyal and will do anything for the person that is most important to them. They believe in the truth and they stay calm in emergencies.
Page 1 of 4 visit twinkl.com The Year of the Pig
Perfect Professions People born in the Year of the Pig tend to do well in jobs which involve helping other people. They love to entertain and do well in professions that are creative and imaginative. They are good at their jobs because they put in a lot of effort and they are kind and helpful to their colleagues. They often lend a helping hand to others, completing some of their work when they have too much to do.
Generally, people born in the Year of the Pig enjoy successful careers in industries such as catering, medicine, interior decorating, transportation, entertainment, retail and hospitality. Fortunes for 2019 The year 2019 is predicted to be full of joy, friendship and love, according to Chinese zodiac horoscopes. If you are born in the Year of the Pig you are advised to do the following in 2019:
• think about past mistakes and learn from them;
• take care of your health, making sure you eat lots of healthy food;
• learn to communicate better with people in your life;
• learn new skills and try hard at school.
Did You Know…? Chinese New Year doesn't happen on the same day as the western New Year's Day. This is because it is worked out according to the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar.
Page 2 of 4 visit twinkl.com The Year of the Pig Questions
1. Which of the following years is a Year of the Pig? Tick one.
1936 2007 2017 1984
2. Match the statement to the correct date.
The date that the Year of the Pig 24th January 2020 begins in 2019:
After 2019, the next Year of the Tuesday 5th February Pig will be:
The date that the Year of the 2031 Rat begins:
3. List two things that people born in the Year of the Pig are advised to do in 2019.
4. The Pig is said to be one of the most trustworthy animals of the Chinese Zodiac. What does the word trustworthy mean?
5. Find and copy two words from the fourth paragraph which shows what kind of friend someone born in the Year of the Pig is said to be.
6. Do you think someone born in the Year of the Pig might be a good comedian? Explain your answer.
Page 3 of 4 visit twinkl.com Year of The Pig
7. ...it is unclear as to whether the main character was the Buddha or the Jade Emperor. Why can't this fact be checked?
8. Would you like to be friends with someone born in the Year of the Pig? Give a reason for your answer.
Page 4 of 4 visit twinkl.com Year of The Pig The Year of the Pig Answers
1. Which of the following years is a Year of the Pig? Tick one.
1936 2007 2017 1984
2. Match the statement to the correct date.
The date that the Year of the Pig 24th January 2020 begins in 2019:
After 2019, the next Year of the Tuesday 5th February Pig will be:
The date that the Year of the 2031 Rat begins:
3. List two things that people born in the Year of the Pig are advised to do in 2019. Accept any two of the following answers: Think about past mistakes and learn from them in 2019; take care of your health this year – make sure you eat lots of healthy food; learn to communicate better with people in your life; learn new skills and try hard at school.
4. The Pig is said to be one of the most trustworthy animals of the Chinese Zodiac. What does the word trustworthy mean? Pupils’ own responses, such as: Being trustworthy means being dependable, honest and truthful.
5. Find and copy two words from the fourth paragraph which shows what kind of friend someone born in the Year of the Pig is said to be. Accept any two of the following: honest; thoughtful; kind; funny; calm
6. Do you think someone born in the Year of the Pig might be a good comedian? Explain your answer. Pupils’ own responses, such as: I think that people born in the Year of the Pig might be a good comedian as they are often funny and they like to entertain.
visit twinkl.com Year of The Pig
7. ...it is unclear as to whether the main character was the Buddha or the Jade Emperor. Why can't this fact be checked? Pupils’ own responses, such as: The story is so old it cannot be checked due to lack of original sources; there is no surviving author or other means of verification.
8. Would you like to be friends with someone born in the Year of the Pig? Give a reason for your answer. Pupils’ own responses, such as: Yes, I think people born in the Year of the Pig would make good friends because they are honest, thoughtful and kind. They are also funny, loyal and you can always depend on them.
visit twinkl.com The Year of the Pig
The History of the Chinese Horoscope According to Chinese culture, each new lunar year is represented by one of 12 animals. This tradition dates back thousands of years and is said to have begun with a story. However, given its age, many versions of the story exist and it is unclear as to which version was the original tale. One story features the main character as the Buddha while the other states that it was in fact the Jade Emperor. Nevertheless, both stories are very similar and name the same 12 animals. In one version of the Chinese myth, Buddha called out to all of the animals on Earth and asked them to come and see him yet only 12 of them answered his call. To repay them for their loyalty, Buddha named each year in the Chinese zodiac cycle after one of the animals.
One such animal was the pig. The Year of the Pig begins on Tuesday 5th February 2019. It is the 4717th year of the Chinese calendar and will last until 24th January 2020, when the Year of the Rat begins. Once it finishes, the next Year of the Pig won’t happen again until 2031. Traits of the Pig Each year of the Chinese zodiac cycle is believed to hold particular traits and qualities, which are instilled in individuals born in that year. These characteristics reflect the animal the year is named after. Each zodiac sign is also linked with one of five elements: wood, fire, earth, water and metal. Depending on the year you are born in and the element you are linked to, people born in a Year of the Pig are said to have different traits.
Year of Birth Type of Pig Traits
Pleasant, lovely, easy-going, generous, 1935 or 1995 Wood Pig heroic, sometimes ill-tempered
1947 or 2007 Fire Pig Ambitious, determined, impatient
1959 or 2019 Earth Pig Outgoing, popular, good timekeeper
Gentle, modest, honest, 1923 or 1983 Water Pig responsible, individual
1911 or 1971 Metal Pig Open-minded, friendly, helpful
Page 1 of 14 visit twinkl.com The Year of the Pig
Overall, people born in the Year of the Pig are said to be honest, thoughtful and kind. They can be excellent friends as they are funny and you can always depend on them. Pigs are extremely loyal and will do anything for people that are important to them. They believe in the truth and they stay calm in emergencies. Predictions and Horoscopes The Chinese culture surrounding the zodiac heavily relies on beliefs and horoscopes. Just as the above traits are believed to apply to anyone born in a Year of the Pig, in 2019 they should:
• think about their past mistakes and learn from them;
• take care of their health, making sure they eat well and have lots of fruit and vegetables;
• talk and listen more, communicating better with people in their life;
• not be afraid to learn new skills and try hard at school;
• set clear goals and stay determined to reach them.
Glossary horoscope: A forecast of a person’s future based on the position of the stars and planets at birth. lunar year: A year in which the months are based on the Moon’s phases not the Sun’s movement.
Page 2 of 4 visit twinkl.com The Year of the Pig Questions
1. In which year might someone known as a Metal Pig have been born? Tick two.
1911 1971 2018 2019
2. According to the text, which two of the following words describe Fire Pigs? Tick two.
determined outgoing ambitious pleasant
3. According to the stories, which two people may have been the main character of the legend in which the Chinese zodiac cycle was created?
4. …each new lunar year is represented by one of 12 animals. What does the term lunar year mean?
5. To repay them for their loyalty… How else could the author have written this phrase?
6. Imagine you were giving advice on what to do in 2019 for people born in a Year of the Pig. What two main things would you advise them to do?
7. Which type of pig, according to the table in the text, would you prefer to be friends with? Give reasons to support your answer.
Page 3 of 4 visit twinkl.com Year of The Pig
8. Why is it unclear which version of the story was the original?
9. Why does it not matter which version of the story is the correct one?
Page 4 of 4 visit twinkl.com The Year of the Pig Answers
1. In which year might someone known as a Metal Pig have been born? Tick two.
1911 1971 2018 2019
2. According to the text, which two of the following words describe Fire Pigs? Tick two.
determined outgoing ambitious pleasant
3. According to the stories, which two people may have been the main character of the legend in which the Chinese zodiac cycle was created? Accept the two following answers: the Buddha; the Jade Emperor
4. …each new lunar year is represented by one of 12 animals. What does the term lunar year mean? Accept any suitable definition, such as: A year in which the months are based on the Moon’s phases not the Sun’s movement.
5. To repay them for their loyalty… How else could the author have written this phrase? Pupils’ own responses, such as: To reward them for doing what he asked; to repay them for listening to him.
6. Imagine you were giving advice on what to do in 2019 for people born in a Year of the Pig. What two main things would you advise them to do? Pupils’ own responses, based on the Predictions and Horoscopes paragraph, such as: I would advise them to: think about past mistakes and how they could learn from them; make sure they think about what they are eating.
7. Which type of pig, according to the table in the text, would you prefer to be friends with? Give reasons to support your answer. Pupils’ own responses, such as: I would like to be friends with a Wood Pig, because it says that they are pleasant and lovely and I like that sort of friend.
visit twinkl.com Year of The Pig
8. Why is it unclear which version of the story was the original? Pupils’ own responses, such as: The story is so old that the facts of the original cannot be checked due to lack of original sources; there is no surviving author or other means of verification.
9. Why does it not matter which version of the story is the correct one? Pupils’ own responses, such as: Both stories contain the same 12 animals, which are the foundation to the Chinese zodiac; the years are still called after the same animals.
visit twinkl.com The Year of the Pig
The Origin of the Chinese Horoscope According to Chinese culture, each new lunar year – a year in which the months are calculated based on the moon’s phases – is represented by one of 12 animals. This tradition dates back thousands of years and is said to have originated from a story. However, given the story’s age and regular retelling, many different versions exist and it is unclear as to which one was the original tale. One story features the main character as the Buddha while the other states that it was, in fact, the Jade Emperor – a representation of the first god within Chinese culture. Nevertheless, both stories are very similar and involve the same 12 animals. In one version of the myth, Buddha called out to all of the animals on Earth and requested that they come and see him yet only 12 of them answered his call. To repay them for their loyalty, Buddha named each year in the Chinese zodiac cycle after one of the animals.
One such animal was the loveable pig. The Year of the Pig commences on Tuesday 5th February 2019. It is the 4717th year of the Chinese calendar and will last until 24th January 2020, when the Year of the Rat begins. Once it finishes, 11 years will pass before the next Year of the Pig, which is in 2031. Traits and Characteristics Each year of the Chinese zodiac cycle is believed to hold particular traits and qualities, which are then shown by individuals born in that year. These characteristics reflect the animal the year is named after. Each zodiac sign is also linked with one of five elements: wood, fire, earth, water and metal. Depending on the year you are born and the element you are linked to, people born in a Year of the Pig are said to have different traits.
Page 1 of 4 visit twinkl.com The Year of the Pig
Year of Type Traits Lucky Stone Birth of Pig
Pleasant, lovely, easy-going, generous, 1935 or Wood heroic, sometimes moonstone 1995 Pig ill-tempered, optimistic
1947 or Fire Ambitious, determined, impatient, curious, yellow 2007 Pig playful, generous citrine
1959 or Earth Outgoing, popular, good timekeeper, pink quartz 2019 Pig strategic
1923 or Water Gentle, modest, honest, fire agate 1983 Pig responsible, individual, diplomatic
1911 or Metal Open-minded, friendly, citrine 1971 Pig helpful, lively Overall, people born in the Year of the Pig are said to be honest, thoughtful and kind. They can be excellent friends as they are funny and you can always depend on them. Pigs are extremely loyal and will do anything for people that are important to them. They believe in the truth and they stay calm in emergencies. Predictions and Horoscopes The Chinese culture surrounding the zodiac heavily relies on beliefs and horoscopes – predictions about the future of a person are based on the position of the stars at the moment of their birth. Just as the above overall traits are believed to apply to anyone born in a Year of the Pig, in 2019 they should:
• consider what they have achieved so far in their life, recalling and learning from past mistakes;
• be aware of their health, making sure they eat foods high in fibre, vitamins and minerals;
• be more communicative, listening to people more and explaining their feelings more often;
• embrace new challenges, learning new skills and trying hard at school;
• set clear goals, being determined to reach them.
Glossary: Lunar: Relating to the moon
Page 2 of 4 visit twinkl.com The Year of the Pig Questions
1. Which of these stones is the lucky stone of a Wood Pig? Tick one.
citrine pink quartz moonstone fire agate
2. Tick two traits that someone born in 1923 may show. They may be:
gentle pleasant modest ambitious
3. Give the five elements to which a zodiac sign is also linked.
4. In your opinion, what type of elemental pig would make a good friend? Give reasons for your answer.
5. How is the pig described in the second paragraph?
6. …a year in which the months are calculated based on the moon’s phases. What phrase could the author have written instead of thecalculated ?
7. How are the Buddha and the Jade Emperor similar?
Page 3 of 4 visit twinkl.com Year of The Pig
8. Why will we only see the next Year of the Pig in 2031?
9. How might people born in the Year of the Pig in 2019 act to ensure a good future?
10. With the predictions for 2019 in mind, imagine you were making dinner for someone born in the Year of the Pig. What would be on the menu? Starter: Main course: Dessert:
Page 4 of 4 visit twinkl.com The Year of the Pig Answers
1. Which of these stones is the lucky stone of a Wood Pig? Tick one.
citrine pink quartz moonstone fire agate
2. Tick two traits that someone born in 1923 may show. They may be:
gentle pleasant modest ambitious
3. Give the five elements to which a zodiac sign is also linked. Accept the following five answers: wood; fire; earth; water; gold.
4. In your opinion, what type of elemental pig would make a good friend? Give reasons for your answer. Pupils’ own responses, such as: I think Metal Pigs would make good friends because they are friendly and helpful and they are also open-minded. I think we would get on really well.
5. How is the pig described in the second paragraph? Accept the answer loveable only.
6. …a year in which the months are calculated based on the moon’s phases. What phrase could the author have written instead of thecalculated ? Accept any suitable phrase which conveys the same meaning as the word calculated, such as: worked out; decided upon; outlined.
7. How are the Buddha and the Jade Emperor similar? Accept any reasonable comparison between the Buddha and the Jade Emperor, such as: They are both characters in the original story: they are both people of high esteem within Chinese culture; they both existed thousands of years ago.
visit twinkl.com Year of The Pig
8. Why will we only see the next Year of the Pig in 2031? Accept any reasonable answer, such as: The calendar is cyclical so we need to wait until the other 11 animals have had their years before the pig will appear again; the Year of the Pig only happens once every 12 years; there are 11 other animals to go through first before the Year of the Pig is repeated.
9. How might people born in the Year of the Pig in 2019 act to ensure a good future? Pupils’ own responses, such as: People born in the Year of the Pig in 2019 should think about what they have achieved in their life and learn from their past mistakes; they should be aware of their health and eat nutritious food; they should embrace new challenges and learn new skills; they should set goals and be determined to reach them.
10. With the predictions for 2019 in mind, imagine you were making dinner for someone born in the Year of the Pig. What would be on the menu? Pupils’ own responses, such as: Starter: Carrot and coriander soup Main course: Avocado salad with tomatoes, egg and brown rice, served with a low-fat dressing Dessert: Peaches and fat-free yoghurt The menu must be healthy to show they have considered the predictions for 2019.
visit twinkl.com