The Year of the Rooster – Are You Feeling ‘Clucky’?

With the Chinese New Year fast approaching, many across the world are getting prepared to celebrate the year of the rooster with friends and family. We've put together a 'lucky list,' full of Chinese superstitions and home buying traditions in celebration of the new lunar year, which begins on Saturday 28th January 2017, so you can join in and welcome the New Year too.

2017 is the year of the rooster, but for those born in this zodiac year (and 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993 or 2005), it's an unlucky one.

In Chinese astrology, people in their matching zodiac year are said to offend the God of Age (Tai Sui) - but there are some things you can do to ward off bad luck if you were born in the year of the rooster:

• Wear red – Red is one of the luckiest colours in Chinese culture. The colour stands for success, happiness and prosperity, and wearing red during your matching zodiac year may bring you good luck if bought for you by friends or family.

• Change direction – In Chinese culture, adjusting the direction of furniture, the workplace and even the location of property can bring good fortune. In 2017, Tai Sui is believed to be in the west, which means Roosters should adjust furniture to face the east to bring in good fortune.

• The colour brown and yellow – These are the Rooster's lucky colours which may also bring about good fortune in 2017. If you're looking to redecorate this year, why not try a splash of yellow to brighten up your kitchen or accessorise with brown wooden furnishings throughout your home?

Other lucky traditions within Chinese culture:

• The number 8 – This number is considered to be lucky as the pronunciation of 'Ba' sounds similar to the word, 'Fa' which means wealth and success. It's the luckiest number in Chinese culture.

• The number 4 – Commonly regarded as the unluckiest number in Chinese culture, the number 4 is associated with death because of the way the two words sound. Many Chinese buyers avoid properties with the house number 4, like the western superstition of the number 13.

• Cleaning – In the build-up to the Chinese New Year, families often get together to clean their houses and sweep away bad luck. Doors and windows are dressed with red decorations to bring health and happiness for the year ahead.

• Location – In Chinese culture, the location of your home can determine the luck of the household and houses facing roads with heavy traffic are believed to bring about negative energy.

• Feng Shui – A tradition that is long believed to bring positive energy into the home! This Chinese practice harmonises the environment to create a peaceful living space and is popular amongst many interior designers.

2017 may be a turbulent year for the rooster, but for everyone else the Chinese New Year may bring about good fortune.  Why not try your luck at comparing quotes if you're moving home or looking for a Licensed Conveyancer or Chartered Surveyor?