January 31, 2011

Chinese New Year


Chinese New Year or the Chinese Lunar New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays, which is also known as "Spring Festival". The festival begins on the first day of the first month in the traditional Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day. Chinese New Year's Eve, a day where Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner, is known as Chú Xi (除夕) or "Eve of the Passing Year."

AnimalBranchNew Year dates
鼠 Rat子 ZǐFebruary 19, 1996February 7, 2008
牛 Ox丑 ChǒuFebruary 7, 1997January 26, 2009
虎 Tiger寅 YínJanuary 28, 1998February 14, 2010
兔 Rabbit卯 MǎoFebruary 16, 1999February 3, 2011
龍 Dragon辰 ChénFebruary 5, 2000January 23, 2012
蛇 Snake巳 SìJanuary 24, 2001February 10, 2013
馬 Horse午 WǔFebruary 12, 2002January 31, 2014
羊 Sheep未 WèiFebruary 1, 2003February 19, 2015
猴 Monkey申 ShēnJanuary 22, 2004February 8, 2016
雞 Rooster酉 YǒuFebruary 9, 2005January 28, 2017
狗 Dog戌 XūJanuary 29, 2006February 16, 2018
豬 Pig亥 HàiFebruary 18, 2007February 5, 2019
The lunisolar Chinese calendar determines Chinese New Year dates. The calendar is also used in countries that have adopted or have been influenced by Han culture (notably the Koreans, Japanese and Vietnamese) and may have a common ancestry with the similar New Years festivals outside East Asia (such as Iran, and historically, the Bulgars lands).



The Rabbit () (also translated as Hare) is the fourth animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. The Year of the Rabbit is associated with the earthly branch symbol . Persons born within these date ranges can be said to have been born in the "Year of the Rabbit," while also bearing the following elemental sign:

  • 29 January 1903 – 15 February 1904: Water Rabbit
  • 14 February 1915 – 2 February 1916: Wood Rabbit
  • 2 February 1927 – 22 January 1928: Fire Rabbit
  • 19 February 1939 – 7 February 1940: Earth Rabbit
  • 6 February 1951 – 26 January 1952: Metal Rabbit
  • 25 January 1963 – 12 February 1964: Water Rabbit
  • 11 February 1975 – 30 January 1976: Wood Rabbit
  • 29 January 1987 – 16 February 1988: Fire Rabbit
  • 16 February 1999 – 4 February 2000 Earth Rabbit
  • 3 February 2011 – 22 January 2012: Metal Rabbit
  • 2023 – 2024: Water Rabbit
  • 2035 – 2036: Wood Rabbit
  • 2047 – 2048: Fire Rabbit

Gong Hey Fat Choy!


Source: Wikipedia on Chinese New Year & year of Rabbit.

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