What is this year's Chinese New Year Animal? What do these animals represent? How many are there?
There are twelve Chinese New Year Animals according to the Chinese Zodiac. Babies that are born under a particular Chinese New Year animal will adopt the characteristics of that animal. For example, children born in the year of the Dragon will inherit the energy, power and wisdom of the Dragon.
You can see in the table below which animal corresponds to which year. You will notice they rotate in 12-year cycles. You can look up the year you were born to find out which Chinese New Year animal is yours, and then click on your animal to find out what its qualities are!
Rat
1948
1960
1972
1984
1996
2008
2020
Ox
1949
1961
1973
1985
1997
2009
2021
Tiger
1950
1962
1974
1986
1998
2010
2022
Rabbit
1951
1963
1975
1987
1999
2011
2023
Dragon
1952
1964
1976
1988
2000
2012
2024
Snake
1953
1965
1977
1989
2001
2013
2025
Horse
1954
1966
1978
1990
2002
2014
2026
Goat/Sheep
1955
1967
1979
1991
2003
2015
2027
Monkey
1956
1968
1980
1992
2004
2016
2028
Rooster
1945
1957
1969
1981
1993
2005
2017
Dog
1946
1958
1970
1982
1994
2006
2018
Pig
1947
1959
1971
1983
1995
2007
2019
Because each Chinese New Year starts in late January or early February according to the lunar cycle, if your birthday falls into this period, your animal might be the previous year's animal. For example, if you were born in January 2010, even though 2010 is the Year of the Tiger, you are an Ox instead because the Year of the Tiger did not begin until February 14, 2010. You can check the exact dates for Chinese New Year here.
Each year we celebrate a different animal which according to the traditions, helps determine that year's fortune. That animal will be featured right and center in all the Chinese New Year celebrations for that year. You are likely to see displays around town in that animal's shape for example, like this Year of the Rooster lantern display in Shanghai:
...or these Year of the Pig decorations in Canton:
...and the streets fully decked up for the Year of the Horse in Singapore:
Coins and stamps for collectors are issued with that year's lucky animal throughout the world, as well as greeting cards and red envelopes.
Here's more on the Chinese Zodiac and how the 12 animals were selected.
More Chinese New Year Traditions and Celebrations
filling each day with peak of health...
abundance of happiness...
bountiful prosperity...
and Zen like serenity...
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