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What is Chinese astrology?

Chinese friends and relatives remember events, birth years and birthdays according to the respective animal for that year. Matchmakers line up prospective spouses based on astrological compatibility charts. Auspicious dates are chosen to open businesses and get married based on Chinese astrology. Astrologers can make divinations according to the day, time of day, even from minutes. But what is it all about?

Chinese astrology and fortune telling have been practised for thousands of years the origins of the practice are hard to determine. The Chinese year is based on the lunar calendar and dates from over 2000 years BC - the time of the Yellow Emperor. Diviners practised their divinations by reading the cracked lines of tortoise shells or animal scapulas heated over fire to provide predictions for emperors. Once a writing system developed it merged with the philosophy of personages like Confucius, Lao Zi, and the Yi Jing (I Ching; The Book of Changes) and out of this grew the practice of fortune telling.

Why does Chinese New Year fall on different dates?

The first day of the first month of the lunar calendar - Chinese New Year is based on the Chinese calendar which follows the cycles of the moon. It falls on the second new moon after the Winter Solstice (the latter of which is based on the solar calendar; of course the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is the Summer Solstice in our Southern Hemisphere). Therefore the date (solar calendar) of Chinese New Year can vary from 30 to 59 days after the solstice - from 21 January to 20 February. In a traditional agricultural society, seasons were very important. Chinese New Year which is also called Spring Festival heralds the arrival of spring. Ancient astronomers were able to break up the year into intervals shorter than seasons (about 15 days each) which was of great benefit to farmers.

Why is my sign a rabbit (or a snake), etc?

Some attribute the line of animals to Buddha who invited all of the animals to a meeting but only 12 animals came: the rat was first, the ox second, tiger third, and pig last; or in another rendition: he invited all the animals to swim over the Heavenly River and of the 12 animals who attempted it, they arrived in the order rat first and pig last. Buddha then gave each of the animals its own year as well as its own unique characteristics based on the nature of that animal, for example the diligent ox and the artistic goat. Another legend has a goddess inviting all of the earth's animals to farewell her as she left for the Heavens and only 12 turned up! A famous scholar, Chu Hsi (1130 - 1200), suggested that the order of animals comes from the hour of the day during which each is active: rat from 11 pm to 1 am (first); horses from 11 am to 1 pm (7th), and so on. There are other legends as well. By reading more about your sign, no doubt some of the traits will ring true.

Crackers, lanterns, action

Chinese people undertake various festivities and rituals around the Chinese New Year, in particular. Whether they are superstitious or not, most follow practices such as cleaning the house, wearing new clothes, visiting relatives, leaving offerings for various gods, giving bonuses to employees or shiny red envelopes with new notes to children. In China the most popular activity is to watch a New Year television spectacular - a huge variety show held on New Year's Eve.

The New Year festivities traditionally start with a family dinner on New Year's Eve and conclude with a lantern festival on the 15th day of the lunar new year when people make and hang up intricate lanterns. Nowadays, a seven-day new year holiday is granted throughout China. Chinese communities around the world celebrate with street festivals, concerts, and get togethers. Dragon and lion dancing, fireworks and crackers typically accompany the celebrations as the new year is welcomed. We hope you enjoy the action, wherever you are.

What sign am I?

If your birthday falls between 21 January and 20 February, you will need to check carefully as dates vary from year to year (as mentioned above). Dates below are inclusive.

FROM TO SIGN
23 January 2012 9 February 2013 Dragon
3 February 2011 22 January 2012 Rabbit
14 February 2010 2 February 2011 Tiger
26 January 2009 13 February 2010 Ox
7 February 2008 25 January 2009 Rat
18 February 2007 6 February 2008 Pig
29 January 2006 17 February 2007 Dog
9 February 2005 28 January 2006 Rooster
22 January 2004 8 February 2005 Monkey
1 February 2003 21 January 2004 Goat (or Sheep)
12 February 2002 31 January 2003 Horse
24 January 2001 11 February 2002 Snake
5 February 2000 23 January 2001 Dragon
16 February 1999 4 February 2000 Rabbit
28 January 1998 15 February 1999 Tiger
7 February 1997 27 January 1998 Ox
19 February 1996 6 February 1997 Rat
31 January 1995 18 February 1996 Pig
10 February 1994 30 January 1995 Dog
23 January 1993 9 February 1994 Rooster
4 February 1992 22 January 1993 Monkey
15 February 1991 3 February 1992 Goat
27 January 1990 14 February 1991 Horse
6 February 1989 26 January 1990 Snake
17 February 1988 5 February 1989 Dragon
29 January 1987 16 February 1988 Rabbit
9 February 1986 28 January 1987 Tiger
20 February 1985 8 February 1986 Ox
2 February 1984 19 February 1985 Rat
13 February 1983 1 February 1984 Pig
25 January 1982 12 February 1983 Dog
5 February 1981 24 January 1982 Rooster
16 February 1980 4 February 1981 Monkey
28 January 1979 15 February 1980 Goat
7 February 1978 27 January 1979 Horse
18 February 1977 6 February 1978 Snake
31 January 1976 17 February 1977 Dragon
11 February 1975 30 January 1976 Rabbit
23 January 1974 10 February 1975 Tiger
3 February 1973 22 January 1974 Ox
15 February 1972 2 February 1973 Rat
27 January 1971 14 February 1972 Pig
6 February 1970 26 January 1971 Dog
17 February 1969 5 February 1970 Rooster
30 January 1968 16 February 1969 Monkey
9 February 1967 29 January 1968 Goat
21 January 1966 8 February 1967 Horse
2 February 1965 20 January 1966 Snake
13 February 1964 1 February 1965 Dragon
25 January 1963 12 February 1964 Rabbit
5 February 1962 24 January 1963 Tiger
15 February 1961 4 February 1962 Ox
28 January 1960 14 February 1961 Rat
8 February 1959 27 January 1960 Pig
18 February 1958 7 February 1959 Dog
31 January 1957 17 February 1958 Rooster
12 February 1956 30 January 1957 Monkey
24 January 1955 11 February 1956 Goat
3 February 1954 23 January 1955 Horse
14 February 1953 2 February 1954 Snake
27 January 1952 13 February 1953 Dragon
6 February 1951 26 January 1952 Rabbit
17 February 1950 5 February 1951 Tiger
29 January 1949 16 February 1950 Ox
10 February 1948 28 January 1949 Rat
22 January 1947 9 February 1948 Pig
2 February 1946 21 January 1947 Dog
13 February 1945 1 February 1946 Rooster
25 January 1944 12 February 1945 Monkey
5 February 1943 24 January 1944 Goat
15 February 1942 4 February 1943 Horse
27 January 1941 14 February 1942 Snake
8 February 1940 26 January 1941 Dragon
19 February 1939 7 February 1940 Rabbit
31 January 1938 18 February 1939 Tiger
11 February 1937 30 January 1938 Ox
24 January 1936 10 February 1937 Rat
4 February 1935 23 January 1936 Pig
14 February 1934 3 February 1935 Dog
26 January 1933 13 February 1934 Rooster
6 February 1932 25 January 1933 Monkey
17 February 1931 5 February 1932 Goat
30 January 1930 16 February 1931 Horse
10 Febraury 1929 29 January 1930 Snake
23 January 1928 9 February 1929 Dragon
2 February 1927 22 January 1928 Rabbit
13 February 1926 1 February 1927 Tiger
24 January 1925 12 February 1926 Ox
5 February 1924 23 January 1925 Rat
16 February 1923 4 February 1924 Pig
28 January 1922 15 February 1923 Dog
8 February 1921 27 January 1922 Rooster
20 February 1920 7 February 1921 Monkey
1 February 1919 19 February 1920 Goat
11 February 1918 31 January 1919 Horse

To find out more about this year: Year of the Dragon

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