The twelve signs of Chinese horoscope are symbolised by twelve animals. It is believed that a person takes the characteristics of the animal in whose year they are born.There is also a cylce of five elements, therefore a complete Chinese horoscope cycle takes 60 years.

On 5 February 2000 the placid Year of the Rabbit makes way for the volatile Year of the Golden Dragon. Taking place once in every 60-year cycle, the Golden Dragon promises to be an exciting and auspicious year. Find out what the Year of the Golden Dragon has in store for you ...

It is claimed that the Chinese Lunar Calendar dates back to 2637 B.C. Every full Chinese astrological cycle passes through each of the twelve signs five times, each of which has one 'golden' year. The full cycle therefore takes 60 years. Legend has it that "Yu Huang Shang Di" -- the Jade Emperor, summoned all the animals to come to him before he departed from Earth. Only twelve of the animals came to bid him farewell, so the Jade Emperor honored them each with a year. The order was taken from the sequence that they appeared to him; first the Rat, then the Ox, the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.