It’s September, which means that we’ll soon say goodbye to another staggeringly fast-moving year while we rush headlong into 2019. And shortly after we ring in the New Year, the Chinese will be ringing in their own. In the Chinese zodiac calendar, 2019 is the Year of the Pig – the last sign in the ancient 12-year lunar cycle. The upcoming Year of the Pig has us thinking, is this sacred animal honored in any other cultures throughout the world?
Come to find out, pigs in their various forms – from wild boars to domesticated swine – have been used as powerful symbols of prosperity, wealth and abundance for thousands of years. So let’s take a walk through history and discover how the humble pig became a sacred icon in religion and culture all over the world.
Pigs in Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptian Priest kissing a pig before offering it as a sacrifice
In early Egyptian cultures, the pig was seen as the Great Mother, symbolizing abundance. The pig was sacred to Isis, the goddess of agriculture who personified fertility. It served as a sacrificial animal and votive to the gods throughout all of Ancient Egypt.
Pig symbolism in Ancient Greece
The sacrifice of a pig in Ancient Greece to the goddesses of agriculture
The Greeks would sacrifice pigs to agriculture and farming goddesses such as Gaia, Ares, and Demeter in order to ensure favorable growing seasons and successful crops. Aristotle himself wrote about pigs’ high intellect, calling them, “the animals most like people.”
Pigs were prominent in Celtic cultures
The obverse of a Celtic silver coin early 1st century BC
To the ancient Celts, the pig was an icon of fertility, strength, prosperity, and abundance. Celtic lore associated pigs with abundance because they were forever replenishing their numbers with large litters. Pigs were regularly sacrificed to the fertility moon goddesses Phaea and Ceridwen. On the other hand, the boar represented masculine power, courage, and strength in warriors, and the boar’s bristles were said to possess magical powers.
Native American pig totems
Native American Pueblo canteen circa 1875
Native American plains tribes considered the pig a harbinger of rain, which fertilized the earth. Therefore, the symbolic meaning of pigs in Native American culture is linked to, you guessed it, abundance, fertility, and agriculture.
Pigs in the Chinese zodiac
Chinese zodiac calendar
The Pig figures heavily in Chinese culture as a symbol of luck, prosperity, fortune, and wealth. The Year of the Pig is the last sign in the 12-year ancient Chinese lunar cycle. The birth years for people ruled by the Chinese Lunar pig include 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007 and 2019. Those born in the year of this sign are said to be honest, loyal, and generous.
Which brings us to…
Our September giveaway!
Were you born in the year of the pig? If not, what Chinese zodiac sign were you born under? Commenting below will serve as your entry for our September giveaway. Submit your comment (one comment only please) by September 30th, and one winner will be randomly selected on October 1st to receive a 2019 1/20 oz Gold Lunar Year of the Pig coin from the Perth Mint!
In 1996, the Perth Mint began a series of gold coins celebrating the Chinese zodiac. The inaugural Year of the Mouse began a 12-year cycle featuring a new animal each year. The first 12 years were called the Lunar I series. In 2008, the 12-animal cycle restarted to create the Lunar II series. Meticulously struck in .9999 pure gold, this stunning 1/20 oz 2019 Year of the Pig coin features a domesticated pig standing among a beautiful foliage backdrop.
Good luck!
*(Inappropriate comments will be deleted and disqualified.)
Pig family!
I was born 1971- year of the Pig! My husband 1959 -year of the Pig.
Hope upcoming 2019 Year of the Pig will bring health, prosperity, and wealth to everyone!
Cheers
Year if the Rabbit
1990 horse
Pigs are smart. We used to raise them
1968, Earth Monkey.
Lets Go Fgaw for some 24k!!
I was born May 1953 and so that Chinese zodiac sign was ‘The Water Snake’
1988 year of dragon. Working on collecting small amounts of gold and silver to leave my toddlers when they are older. Only have silver so far so this piece of gold would be an amazing addition to my collection for then
I am the year of the rat. June 1996
I’m a Scorpio watch out
September is my birth month
“RAT” is my birth year. 1 St of Chinese zodiac
Let me be the first to win gold
“NEVER FORGET 911”
I raised pigs on my Georgia farm for most of my life, they are fierce to protect thier young, impossible to kill out completely, can be gentle to those closest to them, and more intelligent than dolphins and can be a child’s best friend.
This is a beautiful way to describe them!
Year of the Monkey here.
1968 Monkey here.
Horse but I do love pork
Year of the Goat
1955 the sheep. Luv gyros.
Mmmm. Carnitas. This wood snake likes carnitas.
I was born in the year if the horse.
Pig = Bacon YUM!!!!
Strong as OX!
I was born year of the Goat. This goat sick o’ hay, he wants bacon :). Hope to win, good luck to everyone out there! (I know goats don’t eat bacon, btw).
Goats eat just about everything!
Year of the Dragon
My chinese zodiac sign is the Rooster. I guess it has to do with my continuous interest in precious metals!
Year of the Rabbit
Oink oink. Looks like I’m a pig too. Bon temp coucon!!
Im a dragon, dragon that free gold this way
A snake + a monkey = a rat and a dragon. My daughter has never forgiven me, my son loves me! What ya gonna do…? 😉
Pigs Represent Prosperity
1989 year of the snake. Id love my first piece of gold to be a free pig