Snake or Monkey: What Are You? Chinese New Year Animals & Their Meanings

Chances are you’ll have heard the phrase “the year of the snake” bandied about a fair bit today. Why? Well, today is the first day of the Chinese new year and (surprise, surprise) over in China, they’re entering the year of the snake.

We’re all familiar with the wheel of the zodiac and chances are you know what your star sign is. For example, you know if you’re a Gemini, a Taurus or a Saggi but in China, the zodiac is completely different. Rather than being born under a specific star sign, you’re born under a specific animal and this animal has a profound influence on your personality and destiny.

Curious to find out what animal you are? Here are the twelve Chinese zodiac animals and what they mean. Simply find your year of birth and you’re all set...

2013 is the year of The Snake in China

The Rat
Birth years: 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
Most compatible with: Dragon and Monkey signs
Characteristics: Super-intelligent, well-educated, adaptable, quick-witted, charming, outgoing and sociable. Some Rats are particularly gifted when it comes to art, writing, music and other creative pursuits.

The Ox
Birth years: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
Most compatible with: Snake and Rooster signs
Characteristics: Loyal, reliable, perfectionists and good friends. Oxen are reasonable and make fantastic businesspeople.

The Tiger
Birth years: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Most compatible with: Horse and Dog signs
Characteristics: Enthusiastic, confident, charismatic and bubbly. Tigers make fantastic leaders and are very ambitious when it comes to their career. They usually hold positions of power.

The Rabbit
Birth years: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Most compatible with: Sheep and Boar signs
Characteristics: Trustworthy, empathic, modest, sincere, honest and diplomatic. Rabbits are soft, gentle and very easy to get along with.

The Dragon
Birth years: 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
Most compatible with: Rat and Monkey signs
Characteristics: Lucky, creative, eccentric, chatty, outgoing and friendly. Dragons are incredibly artistic and are often drawn to the spiritual.

The Snake
Birth years: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
Most compatible with: Rooster and Ox signs
Characteristics: Philosophical, organised, intelligent and well-dressed. Snakes are elegant and good at making decisions

The Horse
Birth years: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
Most compatible with: Dog and Tiger signs
Characteristics: Adaptable, loyal, brave, adventurous and determined. Horses are usually very successful in the personal and professional lives.

The Sheep
Birth years: 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
Most compatible with: Boar and Rabbit signs
Characteristics: Warm, homely, friendly, charming and family-orientated. Sheep love spending time with their nearest and dearest and are likely to have large families.

The year of The Snake is considered to be very lucky

The Monkey
Birth years: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
Most compatible with: Dragon and Rat signs
Characteristics: Quick-witted, cheeky, charming, adaptable, lively and smart. Like Dragons, Monkies tend to be incredibly lucky.

The Rooster
Birth years: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
Most compatible with: Snake and Ox signs
Characteristics: Honest, energetic, smart, flamboyant, flexible, confident. Roosters tend to be show-offs, but underneath it all they have kind hearts.

The Dog
Birth years: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
Most compatible with: Tiger and Horse signs
Characteristics: Loyal, sociable, courageous, diligent, lively and adaptable. Dogs make fantastic friends and enjoy being sociable.

The Boar
Birth years: 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
Most compatible with: Sheep and Rabbit signs
Characteristics: Honorable, philanthropic, sincere, sociable and determined. Boars are happy-go-lucky type people and tend to be very optimistic.