An intrinsic part of Chinese culture is the zodiac. It's much different than the astrological signs you might be used to, and it has been around for thousands of years. If you're looking to get more familiar with the Chinese zodiac, we have all the facts you need to know. Then, figure out which sign you are and what that means!
There are 12 zodiac signs: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Each year is represented by one of these animals.
For instance, 2017 is the year of the rooster. So people born in 1969, 1981, 1993, and 2005 are celebrating their sign this year.
You can find out more about your animal and personality traits with this easy guide.
Each year has one of the five elements that goes with it as well. The elements are water, wood, earth, fire, and gold. For 2017, the element is fire.
Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar and usually begins in late January or early February. This definitely affects what sign you are supposed to be.
Even years are yin years, and odd years are yang years. But the year number is based on the order of the zodiac signs, not the actual year itself. Here are the year numbers: rat (one), ox (two), tiger (three), rabbit (four), dragon (five), snake (six), horse (seven), goat (eight), monkey (nine), rooster (10), dog (11), and pig (12). For example, the year of the rooster is always a yin year. Yin is associated with darkness, negativity, and the moon. Yang is associated with light, positivity, and the sun.
Basically, when you turn 12, 24, 36, 48, and so on, you should be especially careful during those years. For example, anyone who is a rooster should be cautious both personally and professionally since 2017 is their year.