Since 7 February 2002.

Western and Eastern astrology both have twelve signs, but the Chinese signs do not mirror those of the Western zodiac. The Chinese use a lunar calendar based on the moon's cycle. As a result, the dates that the signs encompass change yearly. But just like Western astrology, each sign has its own definitive characteristics and traits.

The 12 Animal Signs
The twelve signs of the 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 cycle of five elements - wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Therefore a complete Chinese horoscope cycle takes 60 years.

How it all began
It is believed that the Chinese Lunar Calendar dates back to 2637 BC. Every complete Chinese astrological cycle passes through each of the twelve signs five times, each of which has one 'golden' year. The entire cycle therefore takes 60 years. Legend has it that the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he departed from Earth. Only twelve of the animals came to bid him farewell, so Buddha honoured each of them with a year. The order was taken from the sequence in which they appeared to him - first the Rat, then the Ox, the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.


 


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