The Chinese Lunar Calendar is divided into six 12 year cycles. Each year is named after a different animal.

The Chinese believe that the animal ruling the year in which a person is born has a strong influence on their personality, physical and mental attributes, and the degree of success and happiness achievable throughout their lives.

You'll find information on this page about:

* How & why the animals were    picked

* Chinese New Year traditions

* Which animal are you?

(just click on the subject and you'll go straight there)

Chinese astrology is not like western astrology. The whole idea of it is to be informed of what may come and how you can apply cures and enhancers to avoid potential problems and by having the information in advance, you can avoid many of the problems that are forecast.

The information will also assist you to be prepared and to make informed decisions that may affect your well being and endeavors. It is important that you know when and how to avoid the bad influences during the year.

Discover your Chinese New Year predictions for 2010

The Year of the Tiger - just click here

* How & why the animals were picked

Chinese legend has 2 theories about how and why the animals were picked to be part of the horoscope.

Theory #1: Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he departed earth. Only twelve came to bid him farewell and as a reward he named a year after each one in the order that they arrived.

Theory #2: The animals quarreled as to who would head the horoscopes cycle of years.

The gods were asked to decide, and they held a contest; whoever could reach the opposite bank of the river would be first. The rest of the animals would receive their horoscope years, according to the position in which they finished.

The animals jumped in, and unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped on its back.

Just as the ox was about to leap ashore, the rat jumped off its back and won the race.

After the rat comes the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, lamb, monkey, rooster and dog, with the lazy pig coming last.

* Chinese New Year Traditions

The Lunar New Year begins with it many such legends, myths and superstitions as mentioned above.

It also has significant meaning for the way in which people prepare for the new lunar year.

Here is how the Chinese prepare themselves for a WEALTHY year ahead - you might want to follow suit.

The beliefs and customs include:

Cleaning house: The entire house should be cleaned before New Year’s Day. On New Year’s Eve, all brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and other cleaning equipment is put away.  Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year’s Day, for fear that good fortune will be swept away.

Clear your debts: All debts have to be paid by this time. Nothing should be loaned on this day, as anyone who does so will be lending all the year.

Wash yourself: But don’t wash your hair. Why? Because it could wash away your good luck for the new lunar year. Wait a few days first.  

New clothing: Traditionally, children wear new clothing on New Year’s Day. This includes socks, shoes and even underwear. This is so they can have a “fresh” start to the New Year.

Vegetarian for a day: On New Year’s Day it is traditional for Chinese families to only eat vegetarian foods. No animals are killed then, and people do not eat animals. The idea is to be kind to animals, at least for one day!  

Lucky, red envelope: Parents give their children little red envelopes on New Year’s Eve. These contain a gift of money. Sometimes they will ask the children to place their envelope under their pillow so they will have money from the first moment of the New Year until the last day of that year.

Bonus money: Business will normally give their employees double pay the week before new years. But when they start work again the boss can get rid of an employee. When they sit down for lunch if the boss offers an employee a chicken drumstick, the employee knows not to come back.

Flowers: After a family dinner on New Year’s Eve, Hong Kong residents will wander down to the Flower Market, which is open all night until dawn on New Year’s Day. In Chinese philosophy, if there are flowers blossoming that means good fortune.

The beginning of the Chinese New Year can start any time between late January and the middle of February.

What Chinese astrological animal are you? Check your birth date and then discover your future for the next 12 months by clicking here

A study of Chinese horoscopes is a fun pastime, and you should never make crucial decisions based on the information given here about Chinese animal signs … use your intuition instead!

Have a good year and GOOD LUCK.

Discover your Chinese New Year predictions for 2010

The Year of the Tiger - just click here