This year, Chinese New Year is falling on February 16, 2018. This day is important in Chinese culture. The holidays run for 15 days, starting from the first day of a new moon and ending with the full moon. The Lantern Festival happens then, with lantern displays and a parade at night. Chinese New Year tradition- In many places, there is a dragon dance too on this day.
Facts about Chinese New Year
In Chinese New Year, the date of the new year changes every year, because the Chinese base their calendar on lunar years. The date depends on the day when a new moon rises.
The Chinese New Year calendar has a 12 years cycle. Each year is based on the name of an animal. 2018 will be the Chinese Year of the dog.
Story behind Chinese New Year
A long time ago in China, Buddha wanted a way to measure time. So he invited all the animals to race against each other in crossing a river. 12 animals could do this successfully and the Emperor rewarded these 12 animals by naming a year after each one of them, in the order in which they had crossed the river. So, Chinese New Year starts with the year of the Rat, followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
Chinese Zodiac Animal Years
Depending on the year that you are born in, you are supposed to have qualities of the animal representing that year. Discover your animal sign with the help of your birth year
| Birth Year | Animal Sign | Quality Traits |
| 1996, 2008 | Rat | Imaginative, generous, observant, intelligent, secretive |
| 1997, 2009 | Ox | Leaders, confident, disciplined, strong, impatient |
| 1998,2010 | Tiger | Sensitive, emotional, competitive, natural leaders, courageous |
| 1999,2011 | Rabbit | Wise, thoughtful, affectionate, selfish, quiet, intelligent |
| 2000,2012 | Dragon | Enthusiastic, perfectionist, intelligent, self-confident, proud |
| 2001,2013 | Snake | Possessive, proud, thinker, secretive, wise |
| 2002,2014 | Horse | Witty, friendly, cheerful, popular, impatient, alert |
| 2003,2015 | Sheep | Intelligent, well-mannered, creative, dependent, shy |
| 2004,2016 | Monkey | Intelligent, witty, social, talkative, restless, mischievous |
| 2005,2017 | Rooster | Hard working, courageous, dreamers, practical, bossy |
| 2006,2018 | Dog | Honest, reliable, logical, anxious, introverts |
| 2007,2019 | Pig | Sincere, friendly, intellectual, honest, lazy, innocent |
More Information:
What do you know about the Dragon Boat Festival?
To know more interesting festivals facts, click here
@Nupur Maskara Thanks 🙂
That’s good to know, Bumblebeee. Roar away.
i am a tiger !!!
,sensitive, courageous, emotional , a natural leader and a bit competitive
AND i LOVE being one
from bumblebeee
Hi Haripriya, have you watched our Fun Facts on China video?
i like china soo much can u gather more info about it