Year of the Rat

The Rat person's favorite color is blue, and their corresponding gemstones are diamond, amethyst and garnet. They enjoy car accessories, art books, gym memberships and maps and atlases of all kinds. They enjoy playing basketball and billiards in their spare time, as well as painting, any sort of handicraft, and interior decorating and remodeling. Rats are very impulsive and cannot stand delayed gratification, so they just can't live without their fascination of the moment. They dislike routines and indeed any sort of responsibility not self-inflicted. Rats cannot stand being passed over for those deemed more important than they are -- they think that they are the important ones, and deserve to be treated as such wherever they go!

Year of the Ox

Ox people prefer stability -- they are traditionalists and homemakers by habit. Rarely would one expect an Ox person to be an extroverted hedonist. They are happiest in the peace and quiet of their own home environment. Ox people are fond of the color violet, and their corresponding gemstones are jade, emerald, and agate. They like kitchen accessories, gardening and planting books, cookbooks, and especially bonsai trees. In their spare time they enjoy a personal fitness regimen, cooking, gardening, and sewing. Ox people dislike idle gossip and useless chitchat. They are also not fond of what they deem to be unnecessary social niceties and games people play -- Ox people like to get straight to the point whenever possible. They really don't appreciate being made fools of in public.

Year of the Tiger

Tiger people are balls of energy and really enjoy being out about engaged in any sort of recreational physical activity. The favorite color of Tigers is green, and their corresponding gemstones are ruby and topaz. They like cookbooks, travel guides, sporting equipment, mystery novels and the odd game of football. They also enjoy parties, amateur dramatics, and vacations in exotic locales. Some of the things that Tiger people could do without are, first and foremost, not getting enough recognition for their efforts on the behalf of others -- they hate being passed over, especially for others who they may consider to be inferior! They also don't like being made to feel inferior to others, and they especially dislike rude people. They will go to great pains to avoid those they consider impolite!

Year of the Rabbit

Rabbits are generally very cozy and quiet people who like to stay at home nights with a good friend or a good book. The favorite color of the Rabbit person is pale green, and their corresponding gemstones are crystal and pearl. Rabbits like good music, fine wines, fabrics of all kinds, and recreational artwork. Their favorite pastimes include writing poetry, hiking, pottering about in the garden, and chatting with friends. Rabbits dislike having their daily routines disrupted for any reason, and in general have a healthy distrust for disorganization in all of its many forms. Rabbits are very sensitive about their personal space, and dislike the sort of people who indulge in casual contact at the moment of greeting. They cannot stand the idea of kissing their hellos!

Year of the Dragon

Dragon people are in the main very strong personalities with a zest for adventure and personal challenges -- to be swiftly overcome, of course! The favorite color of Dragons is greenish-blue, and their corresponding gemstones are opal, sapphire and amber. Dragons like fortune-telling systems of all kinds, mirrors, heraldry as a hobby, and cellular phones as status symbols. They also enjoy a bit of computer programming and gaming in their spare time, as well as public speaking, fossil hunting, and astrology. Dragons dislike taking orders from those that they consider their inferiors, unnecessary bureaucracy, and those who they feel aren't holding up their end of the bargain. They also can't stand centipedes or multicolored thread.

Year of the Snake

Snakes are highly aesthetic people with very firm beliefs about what is beautiful and what is not. They like to stay in their cozy home nests. The favorite color of the Snake is red, and their corresponding gemstones are jasper and bloodstone. They are quite keen on binoculars, exotic oils and balms, and stamp collecting. They also enjoy astrology, painting, going on long vacations, and amateur photography. Snakes dislike being interrupted while they are talking, or indeed having their own opinion on something being challenged in any way. They also don't take kindly to being misled or lied to in any way, especially where their personal life or private business may suffer in some way because of such incorrect information. Snakes will make enemies pay dearly for any sort of detrimental intrigue or infringement on their perceived prerogatives!

Year of the Horse

Horses are generally very active people who enjoy physical exercise. They bounce around from project to project, never finishing anything. The favorite color of the Horse person is orange, and their corresponding gemstones are turquoise and topaz. They like kites, compasses, cameras and other small mechanical devices. Their favorite pastimes include horseback riding (naturally!), going to the theater, music in all its many forms, and flying model airplanes. Horses dislike being ignored by others, and will never forget a social snub. They also try to avoid being dependent on any other people in their life -- they like to be free if possible. They shy away from the apparent envy of others, as it is disconcerting for them. Horses can't abide being made to look foolish in the eyes of people whose personal opinions they respect.

Year of the Goat

Goats are cultured people who prefer the sort of entertainments not patronized by those of the common crowd. The favorite colors of the Goat person are pink and purple, and their corresponding gemstones are moonstone, sapphire and jade. Goats like bathrobes, broaches, peppermint oil, seashells, being massaged and opera tickets. They are consummate sybarites and enjoy pampering themselves and their bodies. They prefer to spend their leisure time reading, eating, drinking fine wines, swimming and watching movies. Goats dislike the feeling of being separated from all of their friends and loved ones -- they like to have the support of those close to them in their endeavors. They also dislike conflict of any sort, and are very good at dodging it completely whenever it may surface in their lives.

Year of the Monkey

Monkeys are very active people with a variety of physical and mental pastimes with which to amuse themselves in their off hours. The color of choice for Monkey people is yellow, and their corresponding gemstones are crystal, agate, topaz and aquamarine. Monkeys like books, pens, cellular phones, makeovers, joke books, and crossword puzzles. In their spare time they enjoy solving puzzles of all kinds, playing a musical instrument, or going out to a bar and singing on the karaoke machine until all hours. Monkeys cannot stand being forced to be quiet -- they need to broadcast, loudly, all the time! They have no use for people who simply will not be a good audience for their many pranks and antics, and even less use for people who will try to horn in on their occupation of center stage and steal the spotlight for themselves!

Year of the Rooster

Rooster people are very active and showy egotists who like to go out and paint the town red once in a while. The favorite color of the Rooster person is peach, and their corresponding gemstones are diamond, ruby and topaz. They enjoy a good terrarium, a nice walking stick, an engraved flask, or new clothes of the more stylish varieties -- Roosters are real show-offs when it comes to their wardrobe! They also enjoy spending time socializing, fishing, gardening, swimming, hiking, or mountain biking. Roosters dislike people with bad hygienic habits, and will avoid them in public and complain about them in private. They also hate people who they consider to be philistines, as well as those who dare to make fun of them when they think that they are the toast of the town.

Year of the Dog

Dog people are very cerebral and introspective, and prefer more sedentary pursuits and enjoyments. The favorite color of Dog persons is pale yellow, and their corresponding gemstones are moonstone, carnelian and jasper. They like rocking chairs, good books, roses and other flowers, and movies of all kinds. Their favorite pastimes are cooking, dancing, and arts and crafts of every possible variety, from basket weaving to pottery. Dogs dislike hurting other people's feelings, so they will go out of their way to be polite to people, at least to their faces. They don't like losing control of their emotions, as they are embarrassed by any big emotional outpouring and will try to avoid such incidents. They also have a strong sense of social justice and enjoy backing unpopular causes, especially those for which there is little or no chance of success in the near future!

Year of the Pig

Pigs are generally cheerful people who enjoy the more physical recreations in life. The favorite color of Pig people is dark blue, and their corresponding gemstones are lapis lazuli, coral and beryl. Pigs like makeup, lotions and perfumes, bathroom accessories and, true to type, all sorts of delicious and exotic foods. They enjoy pampering their bodies in their spare time, as well as shopping, the theater, and going to parties. Pigs dislike being forced to rein in their appetites or limit their menus for any reason, whether starvation or just the occasional diet. They also hate conflict of all kinds, as it disrupts their daily routines and keeps them from their habitual activities. They also have an uncontrollable aversion to breaking the law, even when it's justified on their part.