Chinese New Year: How the Lunar Calendar Determines Zodiac Signs

The Chinese zodiac year begins at Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), not January 1. This means people born in January or early February may belong to the previous year's zodiac sign.

Chinese New Year dates vary each year because they follow the lunisolar calendar. The date is determined by the second new moon after the winter solstice, falling between January 21 and February 20. In 2024, Chinese New Year was on February 10. In 2025, it will be on January 29.

Why it matters for zodiac signs: A baby born on January 25, 2024 is born in the Year of the Rabbit (2023's animal), not the Dragon. The Dragon year begins only with Chinese New Year on February 10, 2024. This is the most common error in Chinese zodiac identification — assuming January 1 is the year boundary.

How to determine your sign accurately: If you were born in January or early February, check the Chinese New Year date for your birth year. If your birthday is before Chinese New Year, your zodiac animal is the previous year's animal.

The lunar vs solar calendar: The Chinese calendar synchronizes lunar months with the solar year by adding a leap month approximately every three years. This keeps Chinese New Year within the January–February range and prevents the calendar from drifting into spring.

Use Tooler's Chinese Zodiac Calculator by entering your birth year. For January/February birthdays, refer to historical Chinese New Year dates for your exact birth year.