Each Chinese New Year begins on the day of first new moon. In the western year 2005, the new moon began on February 9. It was the Chinese year 4702. In actuality, most Chinese began using the western, or solar, calendar in the early twentieth century, except on important holidays. Many of the calendars in China show both the solar dates of the western calendar and the lunar dates of the Chinese calendar. Chinese astrology is based on the twelve cycles of the moon. The Chinese zodiac consists of twelve animals, rather than the solar signs used in the west. In the Chinese calendar each period lasts for a full cycle of the moon, from new to full. There are twelve complete lunar cycles in a Chinese zodiac year, but one animal symbolizes the entire year. According to their calendar, the Chinese complete a cycle every twelve years. So if you were born in the year of the rat, you would celebrate your zodiac birthday every twelve years, and your Chinese zodiac sign would be the rat. In the west your astrological sign appears once each year.

The calendar and its animals were created from an ancient legend. It tells us that the animals were all fighting about who was going to be in the prime (first) position on the Chinese calendar. The gods devised a test in which the animals would compete for their position by swimming across a river. Another version says that the Buddha requested visits by the animals before he left earth. He named the moon cycles after the animals in order of appearance. So the Chinese zodiac symbol is a circle divided into twelve equal sections; think of it as if you were marking off slices of a pie. There is a picture of the animal representing that Chinese zodiac sign in each section. The calendar’s use dates clear back to 2600 BC. As you can see the Chinese calendar with its Chinese zodiac symbols is most interesting indeed. If you look up your Chinese Zodiac Sign, you will enjoy the time learning more about yourself.

The signs of the Zodiac can give us great insights inside our day to day lifestyles, as well as the numerous skill sets and special traits we possess. You’ll be able to learn lots of useful information about your self as a result of reading about your particular Zodiac sign. Every zodiac sign reflects a different side of your character, despite the fact that many of them will be more emphasized when compared with others. Influenced by the birth date, place of birth and time of your birth, an astrologist can give you an alarmingly accurate portrait of your temperament. All the Zodiac signs are also designated into elements. Precisely how these elements relate with each other is particularly crucial when using astrology to find out a love match. Astrologists believe that each person is compatible or incompatible with others determined by their birth dates. To determine this compatibility, your element group is compared to the various other element groups inside the zodiac chart.

Those born under the signs Aries, Sagittarius or Leo belong to the element of fire which represents enthusiasm as well as strong will. The earth element includes Capricorn, Virgo and Taurus which represents efficient and material concerns. Libra, Gemini and Aquarius come from the air element and represent abstract thought. The water element contains Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces and represents feelings, inner thoughts and empathy. Your Zodiac sign compatibility can offer info that will help you lead a much happier existence by bringing to your attention your strengths and weaknesses. Any sign can go with any other sign, some just go together more naturally. In the end it’s love, understanding, and commitment that makes it work.