Eastern Calendar Based on the Animal Cycle.

Eastern astrology determines years by cycles of 12 years. The name for each year corresponds to a certain animal (12 in total). These animals are considered to share their specific features with people born in their years. In Japan, Moon Calendar based on the animal cycle first appeared more than 2 thousand years ago. The New Year falls on different dates from January 21 till February 20. Each year corresponds to a particular color. When celebrating the New Years, one is supposed to be dressed in this color or have on at least one thing in it. This calendar is extremely popular in the East. Knowing the year of birth, one may easily determine the character of a person.

Reference Table for the Eastern Calendar from 1924 till 2000

Years of birth

Even years: Dog, Tiger, Horse

Odd years: Rooster, Pig, Ox, Rabbit, Snake, Goat

Leap years: Monkey, Rat, Dragon

A century always begins from a leap year.

A year ending in an even number is considered to be a "male" year: 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000

A year ending in an odd number is considered to be a "female" year: 1993, 19995, 1997, 1999