Brussels welcomes the year of the Dog 狗

The Chinese New Year of the “Dog” began last February 16 and will last through until February 4, 2019. Traditionally this marks a period of 10 days of festivities and is a time that Chinese families organise reunions and social gatherings.

Yesterday, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels welcomed friends and colleagues to celebrate the beginning of the year of the Dog. 

Legend says that before the Lord Buddha left this Earth, he summoned all the animals to come to him. Only twelve came. First was the Rat, followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Drog and Pig. In appreciation of their loyalty, the names of the twelve animals were given to the years of the Chinese calendar. More importantly, their spirits were allowed to live in the heart of those born in their particular years. In ancient Chineses cosmology, the Universe and everything within it is composed of five basic elements – Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth – associated with the animal signs. 2018 is an Earth Dog Year, which occurs once every 60 years.

The Dog – 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 20130

People born in the Year of the Dog are honest, loyal, fair, hard-working and sincere, with a strong sense of justice and duty. Friendly and warm with a great sense of humor, they treat everyone equally. The love peace and quiet, and good food. Dogs are deeply devoted to their home. They are most compatible with Tigers, Horses and Rabbits, and least with compatible with Dragons. Carrers best suited to Dogs are artists, business-person, judge, lawyer, trade unionist, politician, secret agent and entrepreneur.

Belgians born in the Year of the Dog

• Bart de Wever, Mayor of Antwerp
• Tome Lanoye, Writer
• Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs
• Rudi Vervoort, Minister-President of the Government of Brussels-Capital Region