The Lunar New Year begins today and will be celebrated across the globe with gifts, fireworks, and dragon and lion dances, culminating on the 15th day with a lantern festival.
Also known as Spring Festival and Chinese New Year, celebrations are held across the globe.
The date changes every year, beginning with the new moon that appears between January 21 and February 20. It’s customary for families to clean their house, give money to each other and decorate with elegant red paper.
In Chinese tradition, each year is represented by one of 12 different animals, which feature in the Chinese zodiac, each with its own characteristics and significance.
2024 marks the change from the Year of the Rabbit to the Year of the Dragon. The Year of the Dragon symbolises power, honour, luck and success.
According to Chinese folklore, the Jade Emperor named each year after the first 12 animals who crossed the finish line following a race across a river.
Here, we’ve named each animal, the years they represent and their characteristics.
Rat
1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
Known for its cleverness and adaptability
Ox
1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
Hard work, reliability, and strength
Tiger
1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
Bravery, competitiveness, and unpredictability
Rabbit
1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023
Gentleness, patience and kindness
Dragon
1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
Luck, strength and nobility
Snake
1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
Wisdom, intelligence and charm
Horse
1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
Energy, freedom and dynamic nature
Goat
1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
Creativity, peace and generosity
Monkey
1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
Cleverness, curiosity and mischief
Rooster
1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
Honesty, confidence and punctuality
Dog
1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
Loyalty, honesty and kindness
Pig
1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
Generosity, diligence and compassion