Does the Chinese New Year affect my zodiac sign?+
Yes! The Chinese zodiac year starts on Chinese New Year, which falls between January 21 and February 20. If you were born in January or early February, you may belong to the previous year's animal. For example, someone born in January 1990 is a Snake (1989), not a Horse (1990). This calculator uses a simplified Jan 1 cutoff — for precision, check the exact Chinese New Year date for your birth year.
What are the five elements?+
Each Chinese zodiac year is also associated with one of five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water. The element cycles every 2 years and repeats every 10 years, creating a 60-year cycle. For example, 2024 is the Year of the Wood Dragon, while 1964 was also a Wood Dragon year.