2009 Year Of The Ox – President Obama is an Ox

2009 is upon us and so is the Year Of The Ox. Chinese new year begins on January 26th, 2009. The Chinese Zodiac is an integral part of Chinese culture and jewelry carving design. These symbols are very important and are taken very seriously in Chinese society, but how were these twelve zodiac signs chosen. All twelve symbols are often carved into jadeite jade jewelry, jadeite jade pendants, carved jade bracelets, etc. As the tale goes, Buddha called for all the animals in the realm to join him for Chinese New Year. These twelve animals appeared; rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. He then assigned each to a year and decided that those born in those years will attain traits of these symbols.

How do you know what sign you are? If you were born in one of the following years, you were born under the sign of the ox: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009. The Ox is a very strong symbol. Representing those that are tenacious, hard-working, liberal, understanding and open-minded.

President Barack Obama was born in 1961, therefore he was born under the sign of the Ox. Of course, we all hope that he does have many of the traits appointed to his Chinese Zodiac sign. Leadership, strength and determination are some of the traits appropriate for a national leader. The ox tend to be quiet, patient and logical. They also believe that success can be gained by hard work and persistence.

Other leaders that were also born under the sign of the ox are former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Diana, Princess of Wales; former President Richard Nixon.

The significance of the Ox in jade carvings and Chinese art can be good health, but often the meaning depends on the what the Ox is pictured with, or holding. When the Ox is shown with a pineapple there is a meaning of a good omen, when shown with a Chinese coin the meaning is wealth and when displayed with a feng shui ingot the meaning is of holding prosperity.

To view Mason-Kay‘s full page on the Year of the Ox, please click here.