It’s the lunar new year and wishing everyone a prosperous and healthy year. It’s also the year of the Fire Horse. Curious about the animals that appear in lunar New year? I was! Turns out I’m an Ox so here’s a useful article on the different animals of the lunar calendar.
Animals of the Chinese Calendar
The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, originated as a celebration of crop ripening along China’s Yellow River. The date shifts annually because the traditional Chinese calendar follows a lunar cycle.
Origin Story
The 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac come from an ancient Chinese poem about mythical animals that descended from heaven to help people celebrate spring and new crops. The animals appeared every two hours over a 24-hour period, symbolizing a lifetime. They appeared in order from Rat to Pig, which later inspired the popular children’s tale of the animals racing.
The 12-Year Cycle
The Chinese New Year animals rotate on a 12-year cycle, with each animal also represented by five elementary elements (earth, wood, fire, water, metal). For example, 2024 was the year of the Wood Dragon, and 2025 is the year of the Wood Snake.
The 12 Animals and Their Traits
Rat (1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032) – Ambitious and honest but prone to spending freely
Ox (1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033) – Bright, patient, and inspiring
Tiger (1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034) – Aggressive, courageous, candid, and sensitive; a symbol of power
Rabbit (1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035) – The luckiest sign; talented, articulate, and peace-seeking
Dragon (1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036) – Strong, independent, great leader; the most famous zodiac animal
Snake (1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037) – Wise, intense, and beautiful but can be vain
Horse (1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026, 2038) – Popular, attractive, warm-hearted, and needs companionship
Sheep/Goat (1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039) – Timid, elegant, creative, and compassionate
Monkey (1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, 2040) – Mischievous, intelligent, and a great influencer
Chicken/Rooster (1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041) – Pioneer spirit, devoted to work, often well-dressed
Dog (1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042) – Loyal, honest, generous but can be stubborn
Pig (1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043) – Noble, considerate, symbol of luck and wealth
Each animal also has compatibility with certain other animals and conflicts with others, creating a complex system of relationships within the zodiac.
Leanbh Pearson 