Celebrate Chinese New Year With 20 Lucky Pig Tattoos

2019 is the Year of the Pig

Chinese New Year is an annual festival that celebrates the beginning of the new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. In 2019, Chinese New Year begins on February 5th and ends fifteen days later on the 20th. During those 15 days, people who observe the holiday will enjoy traditional food, engage in practices such as exchanging red envelopes and gifts, as well as setting off fire works to ward off evil deities

But, one of the most well known aspects of Chinese New Year is the Chinese zodiac. Unlike Western astrology, which features a different sign per 30 degree sector of the ecliptic, Chinese astrology assigns an animal to each year in a 12-year-cycle.

Last year Chinese New Year initiated the year of the dog and this year, they will celebrate the pig. The pig is the 12th and last animal of the Chinese zodiac, as according to myths the pig was the last to arrive when the Jade emperor called for the great meeting.

Like the Western zodiac, every sign of the Chinese zodiac has prescribed characteristics. People born in the year of the pig are said to be optimistic, social, loyal and honest. Past years of the pig include 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971 and 1959—with the next one slated for 2031.

And in honor of the upcoming Chinese New Year and the Year of the Pig, what better way to celebrate than with 20 very lucky pig tattooed. Okay, we can’t technically say that they’re lucky but the tattoos themselves are pretty awesome. Take a look at our prize winning pigs in the gallery below, then let us know your favorite pig of the pack in the comments section on Facebook.