The Chinese Lunar Calendar is a yearly one, with the
start of the lunar year being based on the cycles of
the moon. Therefore, because of this cyclical dating,
the beginning of the year can fall anywhere between
late January and the middle of February. This year it
falls on February 12th. A complete cycle takes 60
years and is made up of five cycles of 12 years each.

2008 Calendar Chinese New Year performs date
conversion between the Gregorian Solar Calendar and
the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

The Chinese Lunar Calendar names each of the twelve
years after an animal. Legend has it that the Lord
Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before
he departed from earth. Only twelve came to bid him
farewell and as a reward he named a year after each
one in the order they arrived. The Chinese believe the
animal ruling the year in which a person is born has a
profound influence on personality, saying: "This is
the animal that hides in your heart."

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