The Chinese Zodiac signs are a 12-year cycle used for dating the years. They represent a cyclical concept of time, rather than the Western linear concept of time. The Chinese Lunar Calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, and is constructed in a different fashion than the Western solar calendar. In the Chinese calendar, the beginning of the year falls somewhere between late January and early February.

The Chinese Lunar year is associated with one of the twelve animals: the Rat, the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog and the Pig. Their qualities "animate" the year and color it with their distinct natures.

Chinese zodiac has a long history rooted in mythology. Once upon a time, there hadn’t been a system to keep track of time, so The Jade King decided to a develop a calendar system. One day, he summoned the Earth God to hold a race for the animals inhabiting the earth. So the Earth God gathered all the animals, and announced that the first twelve animals to cross the river would be in the Chinese zodiac calendar, All the animals want to win the race. After the announcement, Rat was the first one cross the river and then, the ox was the second, and the meticulous Pig was the last one arrived and was given the twelfth spot. In the end the Jade King was quite pleased with the results and gladly gave each animal a year of its own, bestowing the nature and characteristics of each animal to those born in that year. Regardless of the specific version of Chinese Zodiac history to which you subscribe, the Chinese Zodiac has amazed and entertained people around the world for thousands of years.