While Western astrology is based on the month you were born, the Chinese zodiac follows a twelve-year cycle, with each year linked to an animal. It is a tradition with a long history in China and across East Asia, and it remains a big part of Lunar New Year celebrations.
How to find your animal
Your animal is determined by your birth year – but with one important detail. The Chinese year begins with the Lunar New Year, which falls between January 21 and February 20. If you were born in January or early February, you may belong to the previous year’s animal.
For example, the years 2000, 2012 and 2024 are Dragon years, while 2001, 2013 and 2025 are Snake years. The animals repeat every twelve years in the same order.
The twelve animals in order
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. A traditional folk story says the order was decided by a great race, in which the clever Rat rode on the Ox’s back and jumped ahead at the finish line.
