Chinese Years

Chinese Years

The Chinese Lunar New Year is the longest chronological record in history, dating from 2600BC, when the Emperor Huang Ti introduced the first cycle of the zodiac. Like the Western calendar, the Chinese Lunar Calendar is a yearly one, with the start of the lunar year being based on the cycles of the moon. Therefore, because of this cyclical dating, the beginning of the year can fall anywhere between late January and the middle of February. A complete cycle takes 60 years and is made up of five cycles of 12 years each. The Chinese Lunar Calendar names each of the twelve years after an animal. One legend has it that the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he departed from the Earth. Only twelve came to bid him farewell and as a reward he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. There are other explanations. The Chinese believe the animal ruling the year in which a person is born has a profound influence on personality, saying: "This is the animal that hides in your heart."
Rat	1900	1912	1924	1936	1948	1960	1972	1984	1996	2008
Ox	1901	1913	1925	1937	1949	1961	1973	1985	1997	2009
Tiger	1902	1914	1926	1938	1950	1962	1974	1986	1998	2010
Rabbit	1903	1915	1927	1939	1951	1963	1975	1987	1999	2011
Dragon	1904	1916	1928	1940	1952	1964	1976	1988	2000	2012
Snake	1905	1917	1929	1941	1953	1965	1977	1989	2001	2013
Horse	1906	1918	1930	1942	1954	1966	1978	1990	2002	2014
Sheep	1907	1919	1931	1943	1955	1967	1979	1991	2003	2015
Monkey	1908	1920	1932	1944	1956	1968	1980	1992	2004	2016
Rooster	1909	1921	1933	1945	1957	1969	1981	1993	2005	2017
Dog	1910	1922	1934	1946	1958	1970	1982	1994	2006	2018
Boar	1911	1923	1935	1947	1959	1971	1983	1995	2007	2019

The Chinese New Year has a great tradition, swathed in traditions and rituals. It is popularly recognised as the Spring Festival and celebrations last 15 days. Preparations tend to begin a month from the date of the Chinese New Year (similar to a Western Christmas), when people start buying presents, decoration materials, food and clothing. A huge clean-up gets underway days before the New Year, when Chinese houses are cleaned from top to bottom, to sweep away any traces of bad luck, and doors and windowpanes are given a new coat of paint, usually red. The doors and windows are then decorated with paper cuts and couplets with themes such as happiness, wealth and longevity printed on them. The eve of the New Year is perhaps the most exciting part of the event, as anticipation creeps in. Here, traditions and rituals are very carefully observed in everything from food to clothing. Dinner is usually a feast of seafood and dumplings, signifying different good wishes. Delicacies include prawns, for liveliness and happiness, dried oysters (or ho xi), for all things good, raw fish salad or yu sheng to bring good luck and prosperity, Fai-hai (Angel Hair), an edible hair-like seaweed to bring prosperity, and dumplings boiled in water (Jiaozi) signifying a long-lost good wish for a family. It's usual to wear something red as this colour is meant to ward off evil spirits - but black and white are out, as these are associated with mourning. After dinner, the family sit up for the night playing cards, board games or watching TV programmes dedicated to the occasion. At midnight, the sky is lit up by fireworks. On the day itself, an ancient custom called Hong Bao, meaning Red Packet, takes place. This involves married couples giving children and unmarried adults money in red envelopes. Then the family begins to say greetings from door to door, first to their relatives and then their neighbours. Like the Western saying "let bygones be bygones," at Chinese New Year, grudges are very easily cast aside. The end of the New Year is marked by the Festival of Lanterns, which is a celebration with singing, dancing and lantern shows. Although celebrations of the Chinese New Year vary, the underlying message is one of peace and happiness for family members and friends.


Rat	(Alternatives symbols are: Mouse) Rats are said to be imaginative, charming and very generous to those they love - although they do have a tendency to be quick-tempered and over-critical.
	1900	31 January 1900 - 18 February 1901	Metal
	1912	18 February 1912 - 5 February 1913	Water
	1924	5 February 1924 - 23 January 1925	Wood
	1936	24 January 1936 - 10 February 1937	Fire
	1948	10 February 1948 - 28 January 1949	Earth
	1960	28 January 1960 - 14 February 1961	Metal
	1972	15 February 1972 - 2 February 1973	Water
	1984	2 February 1984 - 19 February 1985	Wood
	1996	9 February 1996 - 6 February 1997	Fire
	2008	7 February 2008 - 25 January 2009	Earth
	Famous people born in the Year Of The Rat: Ron Moody Marlon Brando Burt Reynolds Ursula Andress Englebert Humperdinck

Ox	(Alternatives symbols are: Bull, Cow or Buffalo) Oxen are born leaders, inspiring confidence in everyone they come into contact with. However, they can be too demanding.
	1901	19 February 1901 - 7 February 1902	Metal
	1913	6 February 1913 - 25 January 1914	Water
	1925	24 January 1925 - 12 February 1926	Wood
	1937	11 February 1937 - 30 January 1938	Fire
	1949	29 January 1949 - 16 February 1950	Earth
	1961	15 February 1961 - 4 February 1962	Metal
	1973	3 February 1973 - 22 January 1974	Water
	1985	20 February 1985 - 8 February 1986	Wood
	1997	7 February 1997 - 27 January 1998	Fire
	2009	26 January 2009 - 14 February 2010	Earth
	Famous people born in the Year Of The Ox: Jack Lemmon Tony Benn Charlie Drake Shirley Bassey Jack Nicholson

Tiger	(Alternatives symbols are: None) Tigers are said to be bold and adventurous, and are bestowed with initiative and charm. However, they have a tendency to be risk takers, making them act before they think about the consequences.
	1902	8 February 1902 - 28 January 1903	Water
	1914	26 January 1914 - 13 February 1915	Wood
	1926	13 February 1926 - 1 February 1927	Fire
	1938	31 January 1938 - 18 February 1939	Earth
	1950	17 February 1950 - 5 February 1951	Metal
	1962	5 February 1962 - 24 January 1963	Water
	1974	23 January 1974 - 10 February 1975	Wood
	1986	9 February 1986 - 28 January 1987	Fire
	1998	28 January 1998 - 15 February 1999	Earth
	2010	14 February 2010 - 2 February 2011	Metal
	Famous people born in the Year Of The Tiger: David Bailey Michael Ball Stanley Baxter Chuck Berry Richard Branson Mel Brooks Tom Cruise Jodie Foster Elliot Gould Bruce Oldfield Lord David Owen Oliver Reed Pam Shriver Pamela Stephenson

Rabbit	(Alternatives symbols are: Hare) Rabbits are affectionate, co-operative and pleasant, with lots of friends. But they can get too sentimental and seem superficial.
	1903	29 January 1903 - 15 February 1904	Water
	1915	14 February 1915 - 2 February 1916	Wood
	1927	2 February 1927 - 22 January 1928	Fire
	1939	19 February 1939 - 7 February 1940	Earth
	1951	6 February 1951 - 26 January 1952	Metal
	1963	25 January 1963 - 12 February 1964	Water
	1975	11 February 1975 - 30 January 1976	Wood
	1987	29 January 1987 - 16 February 1988	Fire
	1999	16 February 1999 - 4 February 2000	Earth
	2011	3 February 2011 - 22 January 2012	Metal
	Famous people born in the Year Of The Rabbit: Germaine Greer Neil Sedaka Francis Ford Coppola Nanette Newman

Dragon	(Alternatives symbols are: None) Dragons tend to be popular individuals who are always full of life and enthusiasm, with a reputation for being fun-loving.
	1904	16 February 1904 - 3 February 1905	Wood
	1916	3 February 1916 - 22 January 1917	Fire
	1928	23 January 1928 - 9 February 1929	Earth
	1940	8 February 1940 - 26 January 1941	Metal
	1952	27 January 1952 - 13 February 1953	Water
	1964	13 February 1964 - 1 February 1965	Wood
	1976	31 January 1976 - 17 February 1977	Fire
	1988	17 February 1988 - 5 February 1989	Earth
	2000	5 February 2000 - 23 January 2001	Metal
	2012	23 January 2012 - 9 February 2013	Water
	Famous people born in the Year Of The Dragon: Vidal Sassoon Fats Domino Bob Monkhouse Jimmy Tarbuck Al Pacino

Snake	(Alternatives symbols are: None) People born in the year of the Snake are romantic and deep-thinking, wise and charming, although they tend to dismiss others too quickly and are a bit stingy with money.
	1905	4 February 1905 - 24 January 1906	Wood
	1917	23 January 1917 - 10 February 1918	Fire
	1929	10 February 1929 - 29 January 1930	Earth
	1941	27 January 1941 - 14 February 1942	Metal
	1953	14 February 1953 - 2 February 1954	Water
	1965	2 February 1965 - 20 January 1966	Wood
	1977	18 February 1977 - 6 February 1978	Fire
	1989	6 February 1989 - 26 January 1990	Earth
	2001	24 Jan 2001 - 11 February 2002	Metal
	2013	10 February 2013 - 30 Jan 2014	Water
	Famous people born in the Year Of The Snake: Jean Simmons Val Doonican Sir Roger Bannister Burt Bacharach Neil Diamond Paddy Ashdown Vivienne Westwood Bob Dylan

Horse	(Alternatives symbols are: None) If you are born in the Year of the Horse then you are amazingly hard working and very independent. Although you are intelligent and friendly, you can sometimes be a bit selfish.
	1906	25 January 1906 - 12 February 1907	Fire
	1918	11 February 1918 - 31 January 1919	Earth
	1930	30 January 1930 - 16 February 1931	Metal
	1942	15 February 1942 - 4 February 1943	Water
	1954	3 February 1954 - 23 January 1955	Wood
	1966	21 January 1966 - 4 February 1967	Fire
	1978	7 February 1978 - 27 January 1979	Earth
	1990	27 January 1990 - 14 February 1991	Metal
	2002	12 February 2002 - 31 January 2003	Water
	2014	31 January 2014 - 18 February 2015	Wood
	Famous people born in the Year Of The Horse: Robert Wagner Rolf Harris Helmit Kohl Clint Eastwood Barbara Streisand John Thaw Aretha Franklin

Sheep	(Alternatives symbols are: Lamb or Goat) Those born in the Year of the Sheep are said to be charming, elegant and artistic, who like material comforts. A bit of a worrier they also have a tendency to complain about things.
	1907	13 February 1907 - 1 February 1908	Fire
	1919	1 February 1919 - 19 February 1920	Earth
	1931	17 February 1931 - 5 February 1932	Metal
	1943	5 February 1943 - 24 January 1944	Water
	1955	24 January 1955 - 11 February 1956	Wood
	1967	9 February 1967 - 29 January 1968	Fire
	1979	28 January 1979 - 15 February 1980	Earth
	1991	15 February 1991 - 3 February 1992	Metal
	2003	1 February 2003 - 21 January 2004	Water
	2015	19 February 2015 - 7 February 2016	Wood
	Famous people born in the Year Of The Sheep: Gene Hackman Mikhail Gorbachev Leonard Nimoy Prunella Scales John Major George Harrison

Monkey	(Alternatives symbols are: None) If you are born in the Year of the Monkey, you are very intelligent, well-liked by everyone, and will have success in any field you choose.
	1908	2 February 1908 - 21 January 1909	Metal
	1920	20 February 1920 - 7 February 1921	Water
	1932	6 February 1932 - 25 January 1933	Wood
	1944	25 January 1944 - 12 February 1945	Fire
	1956	12 February 1956 - 30 January 1957	Earth
	1968	30 January 1968 - 16 February 1969	Metal
	1980	16 February 1980 - 4 February 1981	Water
	1992	4 February 1992 - 22 January 1993	Wood
	2004	22 January 2004 - 8 February 2005	Fire
	2016	8 February 2016 - 27 January 2017	Earth
	Famous people born in the Year Of The Monkey: Sacha Distel Elisabeth Taylor Omar Sherif Jimmy Page Roger Daltrey George Lucas

Rooster	(Alternatives symbols are: Chicken) The sign of the Rooster indicates a person who is hard-working and definite about their decisions. Roosters are not afraid to speak their minds and can therefore sometimes come across as boastful.
	1909	22 January 1909 - 9 February 1910	Earth
	1921	8 February 1921 - 27 January 1992	Metal
	1933	26 January 1933 - 13 February 1934	Water
	1945	13 February 1945 - 1 February 1946	Wood
	1957	31 January 1957 - 17 February 1958	Fire
	1969	17 February 1969 - 5 February 1970	Earth
	1981	5 February 1981 - 24 January 1982	Metal
	1993	23 January 1993 - 9 February 1994	Water
	2005	9 February 2005 - 28 January2006	Wood
	2017	28 January 2017 - 15 February 2018	Fire
	Famous people born in the Year Of The Rooster: Michael Aspel Yoko Ono Rod Stewart Mia Farrow Eric Clapton

Dog	(Alternatives symbols are: None) Dogs are honest and faithful to those they love but they tend to worry too much and find fault with others.
	1910	10 February 1910 - 29 January 1911	Metal
	1922	28 January 1922 - 15 February 1923	Water
	1934	14 February 1934 - 3 February 1935	Wood
	1946	2 February 1946 - 21 January 1947	Fire
	1958	18 February 1958 - 7 February 1959	Earth
	1970	6 February 1970 - 26 January 1971	Metal
	1982	25 January 1982 - 12 February 1983	Water
	1994	10 February 1994 - 30 January 1995	Wood
	2006	29 January 2006 - 17 February 2007	Fire
	2018	16 February 2018 - 4 February 2019	Earth
	Famous people born in the Year Of The Dog: Shirley MacLain Henry Cooper Sylvia Sims Dolly Parton Liza Minelli Jane Asher

Boar	(Alternatives symbols are: Pig) People born in the Year of the Boar are honest and tolerant and make good friends, but tend to expect the same from everyone else, and more often than not they end up disappointed.
	1911	30 January 1911 - 17 February 1912	Metal
	1923	16 February 1923 - 4 February 1924	Water
	1935	4 February 1935 - 23 January 1936	Wood
	1947	22 January 1947 - 9 February 1948	Fire
	1959	8 February 1959 - 27 January 1960	Earth
	1971	27 January 1971 - 14 February 1972	Metal
	1983	13 February 1983 - 1 February 1984	Water
	1995	31 January 1995 - 18 February 1996	Wood
	2007	18 February 2007 - 6 February 2008	Fire
	2019	5 February 2019 - 24 January 2020	Earth
	Famous people born in the Year Of The Boar: Bamber Gascoigne Dudley Moore David Bowie Elton John Gerry Rafferty

Last Modified: 17/10/07