Chinese Year Signs..
Like the more familiar Zodiac signs, there are 12 Chinese year signs, but, whereas a Zodiac sign lasts for about one month, a Chinese year lasts longer. Each 'year' does not run for exactly 12 months and a Chinese year can start anytime in January or February.
The Chinese New Year that starts on 7th February 2008 is the 4706th year in the Chinese calendar, and is the Year of the Rat. The dates of other years are shown below, together with links to pages with the characteristics of babies born during those years.
So why 12 different years, and why the particular animals shown below? Legend says that when Buddha was about to leave the earth he called all the animals together so that he could say goodbye. However, only 12 turned up so, to reward their loyalty, he vowed that each year from then on would bear the name of one of the animals.
7 February 2008 - 25 January 2009: Rat
19 February 2007 - 6 February 2008 Pig
29 January 2006 - 18 February 2007: Dog
9 February 2005 - 28 January 2006: Rooster
22 January 2004 - 8 February 2005: Monkey
1 February 2003 - 21 January 2004: Goat
12 February 2002 - 31 January 2003: Horse
24 January 2001 - 11 February 2002: Snake
5 February 2000 - 23 January 2001: Dragon
6 February 1999 - 4 February 2000: Rabbit
28 January 1998 - 5 February 1999: Tiger
8 February 1997 - 27 January 1998: Ox
19 February 1996 - 7 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 February 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