What’s Your Chinese New Year Zodiac Animal?

Happy Chinese New Year 2024! Chinese New Year – also known as Lunar New Year and as the Spring Festival – essentially marks the tides of the new year and changing of the seasons. In 2024, it’s time to celebrate the next Chinese Zodiac animal: the Dragon. That’s right, this year is the Year of the Dragon (cue fiery roar).

In this article, PD rounds up each of the Chinese Zodiac animals so you can have a look at yours. We also tell you when Chinese New Year happens and why it shifts each year.

May the celebrations begin!

When is Chinese New Year 2024?

This time around, Chinese New Year begins on 10 February 2024 and the year will go through to 28 January 2025. The start of each year is always within a similar time frame – just not the exact same day. In 2023, for instance, it was 22 January.

Regardless, every year celebrates one of the 12 animal signs. 2023 was the Year of the Rabbit and before that we celebrated the Year of the Tiger in 2022. Of all the Chinese Zodiac animals, the Dragon is the only mythical creature, so perhaps 2024 is going to be spectacularly unique?

Why does the Chinese New Year date change every year?

Have you ever wondered why the Gregorian (solar/Western) calendar has a leap year every four years? It’s because the calendar is sorted according to the duration of Earth’s orbit around the sun. But the actual amount of time this takes flexes ever so slightly.

As a result, the calendar has the leap year to make room. Same goes for measuring a month. A month is how long it takes the moon to orbit the earth. The Western calendar fixes the days of a month, so they stay the same each year. But in truth it’s an average.

East and West calendars are both lunar solar calendars

The Chinese (or Eastern or Lunar) calendar is actually a lunar-solar calendar. A full year is counted as the time it takes the earth to orbit the sun.

This is the same as the Gregorian or Western calendar. However, it incorporates the flexibility of the moon and tracks the current orbit of the moon and the earth around the sun. As a result, the duration of the months can change.

That’s why the date for Chinese New Year changes every year. Now, let’s usher in the 12 zodiac signs to see if yours matches your personality.

12 Chinese Zodiac animal signs

As mentioned, the 2024 Chinese Zodiac animal is the Dragon. The 12 animals run in a particular order so your animal sign will appear every 12 years. In order, they are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

Chinese Zodiac animal elements

In addition to the Chinese Zodiac animal signs themselves, each sign runs through five elements: metal, water, wood, fire, and earth. So for instance, not only is this the Year of the Dragon but it’s the Year of the Wood Dragon. In 12 years’ time, when next the Year of the Dragon comes around again, it will be the Year of the Water Dragon. And so on.

Now we’ve explained that, what’s your Chinese Zodiac animal sign – and does it match your personality? Let’s look at the personality of each animal to find out. Going in sequential order, let’s begin with Year of the Rat (though you can jump ahead to Year of the Dragon if you’d like).

Year of the Rat

Firstly, the rat. Rats are kind, energetic and optimistic. They’re sensitive to the feelings of others and, as a result, are likeable to all. That said, rats can also be stubborn. And unfortunately, they aren’t always the best communicators so can occasionally come across as a bit rude despite having good intentions.  

Rats are highly adaptable and quick-witted, which helps them adjust well to most environments.

They’re also blessed with foresight and intelligence that enables them to navigate these new situations and make decisions for the best outcomes.

Rats are financial hoarders. While this looks great on your bank statement, the hoarding instinct occasionally reverts to a sudden outburst of irrational spending. Perhaps with the popularity of online shopping, many of us possess an inner rat.

Rat career

Given their sense of adaptation and independence, rats can be great freelancers. They’re often more inclined to working individually in fairly innovative fields. For example, Rats have a penchant and inclination for service industries, agriculture and finance.

• Birth years: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
• Strengths: versatile, intuitive, resourceful, intelligent, quick-witted, positive
• Weaknesses: stubborn, cowardly, trivial

Year of the Ox

Secondly we have the ox. Oxen are honest, heartfelt and kind. They make great leaders and can manage people well, as they have natural stamina and are compassionate. Oxen enjoy routine and respect the process involved in achieving the outcome, plus they’re tireless and persistent.

Because of their sincerity and sense of justice, Oxen gain the trust of people of all ranks in life. They carry their own weight and respect and believe that others can and should too.

Oxen seem to never let others down – they’re accountable and self-made. They also don’t seek the limelight and are the diametric opposite of attention seeking. Despite this, their hard work can earn them great recognition.

Ox career

Oxen have enormous capacity and can fulfil rational roles, for instance in law and politics and teaching. They tend to have a highly personalised and conscientious approach to their work.

• Birth years: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
• Strengths: faithful, generous, responsible, hard-working, determined
• Weaknesses: reserved, moderate, stubborn, circumspect

Year of the Tiger

Tigers are benevolent, kind and enjoy pastimes that use their imagination. For a tiger, work isn’t a means to an end – it’s an integral and engaging part of existence. Tigers are natural leaders. As a result, they do well in management roles.

They dare to love but also to hate; if you do something wrong you can expect them to openly say so.

They’re vital, energetic and feel powerful emotion. As a result, they can make bold, daring decisions that can sometimes be forceful or even cruel to others.

Don’t expect a Tiger to give up – it’s not part of their nature. They’re fearlessly brave and can overcome any hurdle or obstacle they encounter. In short, don’t try to cut the supermarket queue and take a Tiger’s place.

Tiger career

Tigers thrive in adventurous work that challenges them, like politics or economics. Tigers should avoid repetitive work, instead seeking our roles that for them have meaning and put their best abilities to work.

• Birth years: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
• Strengths: adventurous, ambitious, just, brave, passionate, optimistic
• Weaknesses: arrogant, impetuous, stubborn

Year of the Rabbit (Chinese New Year 2023)

The last Lunar New Year that marked Year of the Rabbit was 2023. Rabbits are elegant, gentle, and optimistic. Due to their gentle and calm outward temperament, they can surprise with their seemingly hidden strength and confidence.

Rabbits are highly self-disciplined and goal oriented. They can be hard on themselves but are gentle and tolerant of others.

Despite their mellow and courteous disposition, rabbits don’t trust easily. They aren’t gullible and they’re highly alert. Although very sociable, rabbits can struggle to share their emotions and can sometimes turn to escapism.

Rabbit career

Rabbits have great insight and can enjoy innovative work like arts and culture. They enjoy work where competition isn’t the guiding force, such as education, religion and agriculture.

• Birth years: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023
• Strengths: amiable, gentle, elegant, self-disciplined, gracious, generous
• Weaknesses: self-absorbed, volatile, conformist

Chinese New Year 2024 is the Year of the Dragon!

It’s time to celebrate the Year of the Wood Dragon!

Dragons have insight, power, and natural authority. Their capacity to achieve their goals seems almost charmed. They’re revered by all and are natural born leaders. What’s more, people have a natural inclination to follow Dragons through a sense of desire rather than obligation.

Dragons understand their own mind and can express themselves eloquently. They’re passionate and well-spoken, with great stores of energy and charm.

In other words, they have relentless drive and little to no penchant for that feeling known as exhaustion. Of the 12 signs, the Dragon is the only one represented by a mythical creature.

Dragon career

Dragons need room for their talent and imagination in their work. They have a great sense of justice and aesthetics and can thrive in art, politics, religion and even sales.

• Birth years: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
• Strengths: confident, resolute, strong, authoritative, dignified, honourable
• Weaknesses: indomitable, defeatist, malleable

Year of the Snake (Chinese New Year 2025)

While Snakes often have a bad rap, there’s more to them than meets the eye. The Snake is loyal, humorous, sophisticated and has great acumen. On the flip side, you can also expect some cattiness from your Snake friends.

Avoid chit-chat with Snakes – they’re all about the bigger picture. While they may appear to be calm, they have a super-fast internal processor.

However they may appear, behind the scenes they’re alert and observant, taking note of everything. Snakes are cool and considered. They’re able to think on their feet (even though they don’t have any). When chaos ensues, they can problem solve while those around them panic. They’re the veritable eye of the storm.

Snake career

Snakes are autonomous in their approach to work. They’re logical, insightful and innovative and as a result do well in fields of communication, psychological health, politics and art. They don’t do well in monotonous roles.

• Birth years: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
• Strengths: inspired, talented, calm, modest, perceptive, intelligent
• Weaknesses: obstinate, indifferent, sceptical, possessive

Year of the Horse

The Horse is energetic and enthusiastic. They’re open about their feelings and, happily, this works well for them socially.

In addition to being brave, independent, and strong, they have a keen eye for the true meaning of things. This quality gives them an understanding and sensitivity to the emotions of those around them.

Horses believe in living for truth and value, rather than for gain. They’re highly energetic, studious and athletic.

Although Horses have many strengths, one of their weaknesses is that they’re blind to their own flaws. They’re emotionally volatile and quick to anger, but also quick to make good.

Horse career

Horses enjoy adventurous and explorative fields. They can amass great success due to their superb strength or suffer failure from being impulsive. Horses perform well in literary, arts and business, and fields in general that allow freedom to explore their talent without restriction.

• Birth years: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
• Strengths: brave, strong, talented, energetic, enthusiastic and independent
• Weaknesses: overly ambitious, overconfident, and sometimes overly sophisticated

Year of the Goat

Goats are highly perseverant. Give them a difficult work project and, where others have given up, they’ll overcome the obstacles. They make well-considered choices and are resilient and motivated.

They’re empathetic and get along well with most people yet are cautious with strangers. They have a natural penchant for organising home and work.

When things go wrong, Goats can be passive and, as a result, wait too long to react – becoming defensive at the last minute. As a result of this inability to speak up, they can tend towards pessimism.

Goat career

Goats are considered in their decisions and good critical thinkers. This gives them natural leanings towards professions like health, education and editorial work. They don’t enjoy competition and prefer work that has a routine. They’re creative thinkers too and can enjoy fields like literature and art, which they pursue studiously.

• Birth years: 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027
• Strengths: gentle, calm, creative, social, considerate, resilient
• Weaknesses: negative, passive, impractical, stubborn

Year of the Monkey

Monkeys are intelligent, sociable, and well regarded throughout life. In their younger years, they’re appreciated by their teachers and parents and as adults by their colleagues.

Monkeys do well in the workplace as they’re willing to take initiative and face challenges.

On the flipside, Monkeys don’t like seeing others perform better than them – they’re highly competitive with leanings of arrogance. Jealousy can sometimes result in Monkeys showing disrespect.

Happily, Monkeys are open to hearing other people’s critiques of them and happy to learn from them. They’re willing to learn from their mistakes and triumph through calm and logical thinking.

Monkey career

Highly energetic, Monkeys can do well in jobs requiring physical stamina, like sports. Monkeys are also logical thinkers who enjoy a challenge and therefore can enjoy roles in business, law, finance or politics.

• Birth years: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028
• Strengths: intelligent, brave, rebellious, talented, smart, humorous, sociable
• Weaknesses: boastful, manipulative, opportunistic, impatient, conceited

Year of the Rooster

Another Chinese New Year animal is the Rooster. Roosters are great communicators, and so can manage teams well. They’re honest, intelligent, and ambitious. They enjoy their work and are decisive and direct in their approach.

Roosters are perfectionists and if they disapprove of something will tell you right away.

They can have unexpectedly savage tempers if someone tries to obstruct them. However, regardless of the short-term outcome, they’ll usually get everyone onside in the end.

Roosters love their families – to them, family is a wonderful sanctuary. If you’re a Rooster, your feelings about family are ‘the bigger the better’. 

Rooster career

Roosters understand other people’s aesthetics and because of this they make great curators and facilitators. Their ability to lead means they make good entrepreneurs and business partners.

• Birth years: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029
• Strengths: independent, capable, loving, dignified, decisive
• Weaknesses: impatient, critical, conservative, selfish

Year of the Dog

Dogs are our BFF’s, so it’s no surprise that the leading quality of the Dog is loyalty. This Zodiac animal is honest and will stay by your side, giving a helping paw and good advice.

They’re popular in social circles, unsurprisingly. In other words – everyone needs a friend who’s a Dog (don’t we know it)! That said, Dogs are cautious about giving themselves over to friendship and do so slowly. However, once your friend, they will be forever.

Not only are Dogs loyal to those they love most, they’re also loyal to their work.

Dogs can sometimes blame their foibles on others. They can be too quick to criticise without fully grasping the full measure of a situation. Although they won’t show it, they can feel worried and anxious. When they decide on something, they pursue it doggedly.

Dog career

Dogs have a natural sense of justice and can do well in the fields of law, education and planning. Their natural perseverance gives them the tenacity to handle competitive environments, like sales, marketing and blogging.

• Birth years: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030
• Strengths: honest, loyal, brave, responsible, intelligent
• Weaknesses: conservative, stubborn

Don’t own a doggo yet? Read how to buy a puppy safely in New Zealand.

Year of the Pig

Finally, the Pig. The Pig isn’t a big spender but knows how to spend just enough to pamper themselves. They’re highly realistic and you can depend on them to follow through with what they promise.

Pigs are unpretentious, sincere and generous with lending a helping hand. And they’re enthusiastic, even if the task at hand seems laborious.

However, Pigs aren’t always able to tell when someone is being insincere; hence, they can end up being deceived.

If Pigs had an anthem it would have to be Madonna’s Material Girl. For example, they appreciate their worldly possessions, and the sense of security these bring (who could blame them). As a result, a Pig will often use this material-girl-ethic to motivate themselves to work hard.

Pig career

Pigs have innovative ideas and the capacity for entrepreneurship. They benefit from sharing their workload and do well with the right business partners. Pigs are great planners and coordinators and have a flair for interpersonal relationships, so tend to do well in fields of education, charity, and hospitality.

• Birth years: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031
• Strengths: diligent, sincere, positive, responsible, compassionate, generous
• Weaknesses: easily influenced, self-indulgent

Do the animal personality quiz for Chinese New Year

Now you’ve learned all about your Chinese Zodiac animal for the Lunar New Year, are you keen to learn more about your inner fluff-ball? Well, we’ve put together an animal personality quiz that tells you which dog or cat breed matches your personality.

Find out what you are and share it with your friends – click below:

Your pet’s sign this Chinese New Year

Whether your fur kid’s sign is a cat or a dog, their main strength is probably unconditional love for you 😊. Their weaknesses could range from accidents, illness to diabetes in dogs and cats. Luckily, you can get cat insurance or dog insurance to protect them against these and more.

With cover for accidents, illnesses, allergies, third party liability and more, it’ll help safeguard your savings and your pet for the rest of their life. With PD Insurance you get multi-award winning cover and when you buy online you get one or more months of FREE pet insurance.