What is my Chinese zodiac sign ? Read on , plus Lunar New Year traditions and symbolic representation of luck and successfulness .

The Lunar New Year is the most extremely anticipate holiday in many Asian country , include China , Vietnam , and Korea . Also recognize as the Spring Festival in China , it ’s a celebration of family as well as the future , based on the wheel of the moon . Each Lunar New Year is designate one of 12 Taiwanese zodiac signs , such as the bum , rabbit , or dog . Chinese folklore connect every fauna with its own personality traits , which are then ascribe to anyone born in that twelvemonth .

Each year , on the evening of the first new Sun Myung Moon of the lunar calendar , we usher in a fresh class and stigmatise the passage from one animal to the next . What might your brute reveal ? Learn about the Chinese zodiac signs — and what your animal says about your personality .

Lanterns, decorations and ornaments for the Chinese New Year celebration

Credit: d3sign/Getty Images

When Is Lunar New Year?

The precise date of the Lunar New Year varies each twelvemonth , landing sometime between January 21 and February 20 , look on when the first full moon occurs on the lunar calendar . Celebrated for thousands of yr as a new origin , this vacation is infused with an " out with the old , in with the new " spirit . To this day , the weeks around Lunar New Year remain full of spiritual , community of interests , and category celebrations all over the existence .

A few weeks before the first full moonlight of the twelvemonth , home clean their homes from top to bottom . The destination ? scrub away any lollygag bad destiny . If anyone owe debt , they ’re supposed to repay them , and if any friendship are estranged , the period preceding theLunar New Yearis say to be the time to rekindle them .

On the eve of the Lunar New Year , families assemble to share the boastful meal of the year , traditionally leaving an empty place setting for those who could n’t make it . A feast of foods is opine to take good circumstances , so Lunar New Year solemnisation heavy and modest often sport day of the month cake , peanuts , mucilaginous rice balls , lotus seeds , andraw fishsalads that remind celebrant to look hopefully ahead .

Lunar New Year meals carry recondite symbolism — two whole fish is served for nimiety , a whole wimp for prosperity , and bound rolls for wealth in the new year .

At the swelled meal , sometimes also referred to as Reunion Dinner , common dish include whole Pisces the Fishes , whole chicken , dumplings , noggin , glutinous rice patty , and fruit — each with celebratory import , often link to fortune .

The following Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , relatives exchange money - filled red envelopes . ( Children are often the recipients of these pecuniary gifts . ) The bright red color stand for luck , while the money represents well wishes for the come class . As eventide falls in some Ithiel Town , fireworks and biodegradable report lantern fill the skies .

close down crisp , bright fresh dollar bank bill into red envelope ; endeavor to avoid crease , onetime vizor .

What is my Chinese zodiac sign?

Unlikeastrological zodiac preindication , which categorize masses based on giving birth calendar month , Chinese zodiac signs concern to lunar birth year . It is trust that your lunar nascence twelvemonth — and the intent beast that belongs to your year — says a lot about your strengths , weakness , and talents .

Rat

Chinese zodiac star sign birth years:2020 , 2008 , 1996 , 1984 , 1972 , 1960 , 1948 , 1936 , 1924 , 1912 , 1900

Much like their symbolical fauna , those behave under the lunar zodiac of this animal can be cagey , but also relentlessly gay , make them sharp in business and adaptable in prominent groups . They run to be a minute picky , while excelling at creative pursuits , such as writing and art .

Ox

Chinese zodiac sign birth years:2021 , 2009 , 1997 , 1985 , 1973 , 1961 , 1949 , 1937 , 1925 , 1913 , 1901

Those born during the Year of the Ox stand out as natural leaders , devoting themselves to who ( and what ) they believe in . Since they often have strong views of right and wrong and value honestness , those with the ox sign may seem obstinate — a combination that foreshadow well for life history in police force and consulting .

Tiger

Chinese zodiac sign birth years:2022 , 2010 , 1998 , 1986 , 1974 , 1962 , 1950 , 1938 , 1926 , 1914 , 1902

Tiger polarity are known for their trust . courageous , smart , and accepting , they ’re solid drawing card , willing to fight for the underdogs . Although those born during tiger years can have a short fuse , their trait are well - accommodate to life history in politics and management .

Rabbit

Chinese zodiac signaling birth years:2023 , 2011 , 1999 , 1987 , 1975 , 1963 , 1951 , 1939 , 1927 , 1915 , 1903

Kind , sore , and thoughtful , rabbit signs aim to problem - clear and minimise difficulty , while also doing everything they can to avoid conflict . They like to intellect and think things through , so coney can hail off as unsure — but they ’re just attempt to find the good ways to live on their well biography . cony signs do well as writers and in business and educational pursuance .

Dragon

Taiwanese zodiac star sign nascence years:2024 , 2012 , 2000 , 1988 , 1976 , 1964 , 1952 , 1940 , 1928 , 1916 , 1904

Like their fervid mascot , folks from dragon years require to be in control and tend to exhibit a confident , decisive sprightliness . They have ample amounts of energy , which rubs off on — and inspires — those around them . Because they do n’t like being told what to do , dragon sign stand out in more individually - pore careers , like finance and computer architecture .

Snake

Formosan zodiac sign birth years:2025 . 2013 , 2001 , 1989 , 1977 , 1965 , 1953 , 1941 , 1929 , 1917 , 1905

Shrewd and visceral , the lunar zodiac describe those bear in theyear of the snakeaim to suss out the true statement ( and can therefore seem a minute suspicious ) . underlie their personality is an enviable level of savvy and drive , and Snake thrive on working alone , make them leading artists and counselor . They channelise clear of small talking and slide past the little swiftness bumps of life sentence .

Horse

Chinese zodiac signal birth years:2026 , 2014 , 2002 , 1990 , 1978 , 1966 , 1954 , 1942 , 1930 , 1918 , 1906

affirmative , intuitive , and active , horses are smashing at putting on a show . That think they ’re well - befit to work out as performer , enterpriser , or explorers — especially given their ability ( and propensity ) to pivot when things do n’t feel right . Rather than establish up , horses bank on their bowel , sum , and psyche to lead them in the next correct management .

Sheep

Chinese zodiac signal birth years:2027 , 2015 , 2003 , 1991 , 1979 , 1967 , 1955 , 1943 , 1931 , 1919 , 1907

Like their zodiac animate being , sheep signs can seem shy and often prefer to be follower . This stem from their lifelike inclination to be soft , considerate , and lovingness — attributes that bode well for vocation involve didactics , create , and perfect ( such as redaction or cleanup ) .

Monkey

Chinese zodiac sign nascency years:2028 , 2016 , 2004 , 1992 , 1980 , 1968 , 1956 , 1944 , 1932 , 1920 , 1908

Monkey signs are known for their fresh thought and intelligence . When stressed , they can show a snappishness and may struggle to think of others . But their competitory nature and flexibility fit out them well for function in byplay , sports , and trading .

Rooster

Chinese zodiac sign birth years:2029 , 2017 , 2005 , 1993 , 1981 , 1969 , 1957 , 1945 , 1933 , 1921 , 1909

Bright as a cockcrow , cock sign are main , ambitious , and almost always the well cut back in a bunch . Under pressure , they can be impatient , but at their core , cock are warm and sure-footed . These timber often contribute them to career as guides , speakers , and performing artist .

Dog

Chinese zodiac sign birth years:2030 , 2018 , 2006 , 1994 , 1982 , 1970 , 1958 , 1946 , 1934 , 1922 , 1910

Loyal and sharp , those deliver during dog year are like German Shepherds in human form . They extend a unequalled blending of courage and emotion , making them well - suited for work in medicine or the military .

Pig

Chinese zodiac sign nascence years:2031 , 2019 , 2007 , 1995 , 1983 , 1971 , 1959 , 1947 , 1935 , 1923 , 1911

For this Formosan zodiac mansion , think of Wilbur inCharlotte ’s Web . Pig signs are gentle and grace everyone around them with their generous , happy mettle . Among the most trusting of the Chinese zodiac signs , those born in pig age are all about honesty . They may seem slow - moving at time , but they ’re always enthusiastic , even when given tasks others might find uninteresting . They make excellent teachers and civil servants .

How Chinese Zodiac Signs Influence Daily Life

Chinese astrology has been observed for M of years , perhaps since the Qin dynasty . So it ’s no surprise that over time we have developed numberless belief , tradition , and recitation around the animate being sign of the zodiac and their characteristics .

To this day , our animate being signal are used in Asiatic culture to determine when ( and whom ) to marry , when to have a child , and even when tobuy a sign . After all , each lunar year holds unlike meaning — and not all year are golden for all animals . You may assume that when your Chinese zodiac sign comes around again , your year will be filled with fortune and successfulness but according to superstition , the opposite is true .

So , when your polarity repeats ( every 12 long time ) , instead of expecting good things , folklore suggests you work hard , make smart choices , and fatigue a hatful of Bolshevik .

The Chinese Zodiac . Wake Forest University - Timothy S. Y. Lam Museum of Anthropology .