The Chinese zodiac is an ancient cultural tradition, known by most of us as illustrations of the animals they use for each sign. Do you know yours?
Recurring every 12 years, the animals of the Chinese zodiac are used to describe people's traits, fortune, and even career strengths or weaknesses. This system has been used in Chinese culture for over 2,000 years and is integrated into everyday life. Simply look below and find your birth year!
Courtesy of ChineseNewYear.net
What are the different symbols?
Rat (1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, etc.): People born in the year of the Rat are organized, usually successful, and very sensitive to their surroundings. They enjoy saving and collecting things.
Ox (1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, etc.): Extremely persistent, people born in the year of the Ox are known as hard workers. They tend to bottle up their feelings, so it can be surprising when they lose their tempers and explode.
Tiger (1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, etc.): People born in the year of the Tiger are natural leaders and generally very independent. Their Achilles heel, though, is a sense of recklessness.
Rabbit ( 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, etc.): Quiet, intelligent, and somewhat fastidious are terms used to describe people born in the year of the Rabbit. They are equally careful in love as well, and often match up with their soulmates.
Dragon (1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, etc.): People born in the year of the Dragon are marked by a sense of wanderlust and adventure. Once they set their minds to something, they are unstoppable.
Snake (1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, etc.): While people born in the year of the Snake can be seen as lazy, they are actually very determined internally.
Horse (1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, etc.): Considered the cheerleading type, people born in the year of the Horse are very outgoing and positive. They may, however, be bad at keeping secrets!
Goat (1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, etc.): Still waters run deep. This is especially true of people born in the year of the Goat. Outwardly patient and kind, they are great at persuading others and getting what they want.
Monkey (1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, etc.): People born in the year of the Monkey are known for their energy and joie de vivre. They tend to spoil their kids, however, and are not that attentive to things that don't interest them.
Rooster (1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, etc.): Cunning and creative, people born in the year of the Rooster are forces to be reckoned with. They make great friends and are also excellent at planning.
Dog (1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, etc.): Like their namesakes, people born in the year of the Dog are generally very loyal and quietly content. They tend to be somewhat conservative and see things in black and white.
Pig (1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, etc.) Last but certainly not least, people born in the year of the Pig are usually wealthy or "fixers." Give them a problem and they'll help you solve it. Sometimes, though, their tempers get the best of them.
For more information about the Chinese zodiac and Chinese New Year traditions, visit ChineseNewYear.net.
Do you celebrate Chinese New Year? What is your Chinese zodiac sign? Let us know in the comments below!