Chinese people associate each animal sign with certain characteristics. It's believed that people born in a given year have the personality of that year's animal . For example, if you're born after January 27 in 1998, your Chinese zodiac sign is the Tiger as 1998 was a year of the Tiger (beginning at Chinese New Year). The Chinese zodiac includes 12 animal signs, in order they are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, marks the transition from one animal to the next—2024 is the year of the Dragon, which began on February 10th, 2024, and ends on February 24th, 2024. The Chinese term “Ben Ming Nian” means this year is the same animal sign as your birth year and it is a reset of the 12-year cycle for your zodiac sign. Your animal year is notorious for being In the Chinese calendar, each year is depicted by one of twelve animals in a repeating cycle known as the Chinese zodiac. Each animal is believed to influence the personality traits, characteristics, and destiny of individuals born in that year. Chinese Calendar Years and Animals. Below is a handy graph to show you which of the Chinese year In Chinese culture, the 2021 Lunar New Year on February 12 ushers in the Year of the Ox, after a particularly challenging Year of the Rat in 2020. Twelve animals represent the Chinese zodiac signs (or sheng xiao, translating to "born + resemblance"); in order, they’re the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (or Sheep), Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. For the starting date of a zodiac year, there are two schools of thought in Chinese astrology: Chinese New Year or the Start of Spring. Chinese New Year, day 1 of the Chinese lunar year, falls somewhere in the period January 21 st to February 20 th. The Start of Spring is the 1 st of the 24 Solar Terms, beginning on February 3 rd or 4 th. Most This categorization integrates animal characteristics with Chinese cosmology. Symbolism of Animals. Rat. Chinese New Year Dates and Zodiac Signs (2000-2050) Year However, deciding which animals and their order proved to be a challenging choice. Aha! A fun solution sprung to mind: a spirited race across a roaring river! The first 12 animals to scramble across would be celebrated, each earning a special spot on the new calendar in the order they finished. The Four Animal Trines in Chinese Horoscope. Chinese horoscope and astrology illustrates every year by the specifications of certain animal signs. These four animal trines are represented with different animals in Chinese Astrology. Here are some attributes of these trines describing their qualities and personalities: Additionally, the good or bad luck of a year depends on Chinese astrology and whether the current year shares the same animal as the year a person is born. For example, “ Ben Ming Nian ” is the term for a year with an identical animal to your birth year, and is considered bad luck; “ Tai Sui ” refers to a year where Jupiter is not in a Today, billions of Chinese around the world will be welcoming in the New Year, as the Year of the Dragon makes way for the Year of the Snake - the sixth animal in the 12-year cycle. All of the 12 The Chinese zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao or Shu Xiang, features 12 animal signs in this order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. 2025 is the Year of the Snake according to Chinese zodiac, starting from the 2025 Chinese New Year on Jan. 29th and lasting to 2026 Lunar New Year's Eve on Feb. 16. 2026 is the Year of the Horse. Rat is the 1st animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, coming after the Pig and before the Ox. Recent years of the Rat include 2020, 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, and 1948, with the next Rat year in 2032 (Year of the Water Rat). It corresponds with the first branch of the earthly branch symbol zi. Rat is the 1st animal in the Chinese Snake is the 6th animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac signs, coming after the Dragon and before the Horse. Recent years of the Snake include 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, and 1941, with the next Snake year in 2025 (Year of the Wood Snake). Snake is associated with the earthly branch symbol si. Ox is the second animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, coming after the Rat and before the Tiger.Recent years of the Ox include 2021, 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, and 1949, with the next Ox year in 2033 (Year of the Water Ox). Just like sun signs in Western astrology, certain characteristics are linked with each Chinese New Year animal. Though most popular charts emphasize only the positive, remember that with every positive there also comes a negative. Starting on January 29, 2025 (Chinese New Year) and ending on February 16, 2026 (Chinese New Year’s Eve) the Year of the Wood Snake is a fascinating period in the Chinese zodiac cycle. According Celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 from January 29 to February 12, marking the Year of the Wood Snake. Enjoy family gatherings, traditional dishes, and vibrant parades during this 15-day festival. 2025 is the Year of the Snake according to the Chinese zodiac calendar, a 12-year cycle represented by animals. Each year is associated with a specific animal, influencing the characteristics of That’s because each year is represented by an animal, called a Chinese zodiac sign, and legend has it that people born under that sign have similar traits to the animal. (The year 2024—starting February 10—is the Year of the Dragon.) These ancient zodiac signs probably weren’t based on real animal species.
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