Chinese Zodiac

Each is Chinese New Year is linked to one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/ will help you figure out which is your Chinese zodiac animal and discover what famous people also share your sign.

NOTE: Since the Chinese New Year is determined by the Lunar calendar, the last day of the Chinese New Year is not December 31st and the first day of the year is not January 1st. The New Year usually begins between January 21st and February 20th. If you have a birthday that occurs in January or February, please consult a Chinese zodiac calculator to figure out your sign.

There are endless variations of the folklore story explaining how the order of the animals of the zodiac were chosen. Below is a popular telling of tale:

When it came time for the Jade Emperor in heaven to decide the order of the zodiac, he invited all the animals to participate in a race. The order of the zodiac would be decided by the order in which animals finished the race.

When the competition started, the ox was leading the pack, but the rat jumped on his back. Since the rat was so light and small, the ox did not realize that the rat was hitching a ride. As the ox approached the finish line, the rat leap off his back and was crowned as the first animal to complete the race.

After all the creatures finished the race, the order was finalized: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

According to legend, those born in a particular year of an animal are said to possess particular character traits associated with that animal. The Rat

Years: 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

Positive Character Traits: Charming and ambitious

Negative Character Traits: Short-tempered and sometimes sneaky

Most Compatible with: Dragon, Monkey, Ox

Famous People Who Have This Sign: Ugly Betty star America Ferrera, dancer Gene Kelly, chefs Mario Batali and Julia Child, actors David Duchovny and Hugh Grant The Ox

Years: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009

Positive Character Traits: Dependable, trust-worthy, patient

Negative Character Traits: Stubborn, hot-tempered in an argument

Most Compatible with: Snake, Rooster, Rat

Famous People Who Have This Sign: Actor Adrien Brody, President Gerald Ford, singer Melissa Etheridge, New Orleans Saints football player Reggie Bush, actress Keira Knightley, model Tyra Banks The Tiger

Years: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010

Positive Character Traits: Caring, thoughtful, courageous

Negative Character Traits: Rebellious against authority, makes hasty decisions

Most Compatible with: Horse, Dragon, Dog

Famous People Who Have This Sign: Actress/director Jodie Foster, actor Tom Cruise, biologist Jonas Salk, singer Alanis Morisette The Rabbit

Years: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

Positive Character Traits: Kind, gentle, naturally lucky, even-tempered

Negative Character Traits: Overly sentimental

Most Compatible with: Sheep, Pig, Dog

Famous People Who Have This Sign: Playwritght Arthur Miller, hairdresser Vidal Sassoon, actresses Lisa Kudrow, Drew Barrymore, and Angelina Jolie, soccer star David Beckham The Dragon

Years: 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012

Positive Character Traits: Intelligent, enthusiastic, brave

Negative Character Traits: Easily tricked, likes to gossip

Most Compatible with: Rat, Snake, Monkey, Rooster

Famous People Who Have This Sign: Authors Roald Dahl and Amy Tan, musician Ringo Starr, actor Russell Crowe, actress Reese Witherspoon The Snake

Years: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013

Positive Character Traits: Romantic, wise, strong intuition

Negative Character Traits: Vain, stingy when it comes to money

Most Compatible with: Ox and Rooster

Famous People Who Have This Sign: Musician Dizzy Gillespie, tv and radio personality Dick Clark, author J.K. Rowling, actress Sarah Jessica Parker, actor Charlie Sheen The Horse

Years: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014

Positive Character Traits: Hardworking, cheerful, popular

Negative Character Traits: Rarely listens to advice, can be a chatterbox

Most Compatible with: Tigers, Dogs, Sheep

Famous People Who Have This Sign: Politician Nelson Mandela, singer Aretha Franklin, Grey’s Anatomy actress Katherine Heigl, actress Halle Berry, actor Kiefer Sutherland, action star Jackie Chan The Goat (Ram or Sheep)

Years: 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015

Positive Character Traits: Elegant, artistic, compassionate

Negative Character Traits: First to complain about something, pessimistic

Most Compatible with: Rabbit, Pig, Horse

Famous People Who Have This Sign: Singer Nat King Cole, musician Yo-Yo Ma, actress Nicole Kidman, actor/comedian Will Ferrell, author Toni Morrison The Monkey

Years: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016

Positive Character Traits: Witty, inventive, good memory

Negative Character Traits: Gets discouraged easily if faced with difficulties, can be distrustful of others

Most Compatible with: Dragon and Rat

Famous People Who Have This Sign: Author John Updike, singer Diana Ross, actresses Naomi Watts and Lucy Liu, actors Will Smith and Ryan Gosling The Rooster

Years: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017

Positive Character Traits: Deep thinker, confident, determined

Negative Character Traits: Can be a bit of a loner, can be very outspoken

Most Compatible with: Ox, Snake, Dragon

Famous People Who Have This Sign: Comedian Rodney Dangerfield, TV personality Larry King, singer Gloria Estefan, actresses Cate Blanchett and Natalie Portman, actor Jack Black The Dog

Years: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018

Positive Character Traits: Loyal, honest, can keep a secret

Negative Character Traits: Sharp tongue, hard on others

Most Compatible with: Horse, Tiger, Rabbit

Famous People Who Have This Sign: Singer/actress Judy Garland, fashion designer Giorgio Armani, actresses Michelle Pfeiffer and Kirsten Dunst, actor Matt Damon The Pig (or Boar)

Years: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

Positive Character Traits: Tolerant, determined, kind to loved ones

Negative Character Traits: Can be a bit materialistic, overly trusting

Most Compatible with: Rabbits and Sheep

Famous People Who Have This Sign: Politician Henry Kissinger, country singer Loretta Lynn, House star Hugh Laurie, actor Ewan McGregor, cyclist Lance Armstrong, pop star Carrie Underwood