| Each Chinese New Year begins on the day of first | | | | party-loving, quick-witted, stubborn, good at politics and |
| new moon. In the western year 2005, the new moon | | | | business, can be mean |
| began on February 9. It was the Chinese year 4702. In | | | | - Ox- Quiet, quick to anger, excellent memories, |
| actuality, most Chinese began using the western, or | | | | hard-working, family loyalty, creative, skilful hands, |
| solar, calendar in the early twentieth century, except on | | | | responsible, self-confident |
| important holidays. Many of the calendars in China | | | | - Tiger- Leaders, courageous, territorial, possessive, |
| show both the solar dates of the western calendar | | | | fighters, generous and selfish, magnetic, passionate, |
| and the lunar dates of the Chinese calendar. Chinese | | | | works solo, dynamic |
| astrology is based on the twelve cycles of the moon. | | | | - Rabbit- Sweet-natured, conservative, artistic, tasteful, |
| The Chinese zodiac consists of twelve animals, rather | | | | sentimental, emotional, shy, faithful to partners, romantic, |
| than the solar signs used in the west. In the Chinese | | | | avoid fighting |
| calendar each period lasts for a full cycle of the moon, | | | | - Dragon- Regal, leader, centre of attention, powerful, |
| from new to full. There are twelve complete lunar | | | | lucky, aggressive, dynamic, big ego, snobbish, tyrannical |
| cycles in a Chinese zodiac year, but one animal | | | | - Snake- Charming, popular, lies easily, possessive, |
| symbolizes the entire year. According to their calendar, | | | | hates rejection, deep thinker, well-mannered, lazy, |
| the Chinese complete a cycle every twelve years. So | | | | romantic, insecure |
| if you were born in the year of the rat, you would | | | | - Horse- Crowd lover, rebellious, energetic, selfish, |
| celebrate your zodiac birthday every twelve years, | | | | self-centered, good with money, cunning, lacks |
| and your Chinese zodiac sign would be the rat. In the | | | | self-confidence |
| west your astrological sign appears once each year. | | | | - Sheep or goat- Artistic, creative, lazy, disorganized, |
| The calendar and its animals were created from an | | | | charming, well-mannered, dreamy, pessimistic, romantic, |
| ancient legend. It tells us that the animals were all | | | | worrier, not good in business |
| fighting about who was going to be in the prime (first) | | | | - Monkey- Charming, witty, clever, emotional, |
| position on the Chinese calendar. The gods devised a | | | | unscrupulous, love food but not gluttons, deceptive, |
| test in which the animals would compete for their | | | | funny, lucky |
| position by swimming across a river. Another version | | | | - Rooster- Straight-forward, honest, flashy dresser, |
| says that the Buddha requested visits by the animals | | | | loyal, honest, dreamer, psychic, busy, loves a bargain, |
| before he left earth. He named the moon cycles after | | | | observers |
| the animals in order of appearance. So the Chinese | | | | - Dog- Traditional, loyal, sincere, intelligent, private, |
| zodiac symbol is a circle divided into twelve equal | | | | judgmental, serious, anxious, likes solitude, champions |
| sections; think of it as if you were marking off slices of | | | | causes |
| a pie. There is a picture of the animal representing that | | | | - Pig or boar- Loving, caring, chivalrous, sincere, |
| Chinese zodiac sign in each section. The calendar's | | | | honourable, easy to take advantage of, belief in |
| use dates clear back to 2600 BC. | | | | goodness, love food, romantic, jealous |
| The animals used in Chinese astrology are rat, ox, tiger, | | | | As you can see the Chinese calendar with its Chinese |
| rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep (goat), monkey, | | | | zodiac symbols is most interesting indeed. If you look |
| rooster, dog, and boar (pig). Persons born during their | | | | up your Chinese Zodiac Sign, you will enjoy the time |
| cycle are said to take on their animal traits: | | | | learning more about yourself. |
| - Rat- Perfectionist, charming, aggressive, secretive, | | | | |