Chinese New Year is a traditional holiday celebrated in China. It marks the start of the new year in accordance with the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

Officially called the Spring Spring Festival, celebrations of the festival dates back thousands of years. Festivities include red decorations and loud noises said to scare away the beast of Nian. The festival has evolved over China’s history with modern celebration including giving red envelopes which include money and celebrating with family. 

Chinese New Year took place this year on February 12th. The date shifts each year in relation to the cycle of the moon. 

This year’s Spring Festival introduced the world to the year of the Ox.

“Oxen are the hard workers in the background, intelligent and reliable, but never demanding praise” writes ChineseNewYear.net The Chinese Zodiac is comprised of twelve animals that rotate yearly. The Travel China Guide describes the animal and years associated with each animal. 

Read below to find out your animal and year and let us know in the comments.

Rat

Birth Years: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020

Personality: spirit, wit, alertness, delicacy, and flexibility.

Ox

Birth Years:1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021

Personality: Industrious, cautious, hold their faith firmly, and always glad to offer help

Tiger

Birth Years: 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010

Personality: Adventurous, ambitious and have a strong sense of justice, but maybe also a little arrogant and impetuous

Rabbit

Birth Years:1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

Personality: gentle and approachable. They have a decent, noble, and elegant manner.

Dragon

Birth Years:1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012

Personality: Determined, ambitious, independent, energetic, sincere, and enjoy great popularity among friends.

Snake

Birth Years:1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013

Personality: rational, calm, thoughtful, and loyal to loved ones.

Horse

Birth Years:1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014

Personality: brave, strong, talented, and independent.

Sheep

Birth Years: 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015

Personality: gentle, calm, and decent, while sometimes they can be naïve and emotional.

Monkey

Birth Years:1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016,

Personality: lively, quick-witted, righteous, brave, and humorous.

Rooster

Birth Years: 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017

Personality: honest, bright, communicative, and ambitious.

Dog

Birth Years:1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018

Personality: Brave, loyal, responsible, clever, lively.

Pig

Birth Year:1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

Personality: Generous, Compassionate, easily fooled