Find out which Chinese year you were born in

Chinese New Year takes place on 5 February this year.

The exact date changes every year because it originates from 2600 BC, when people followed the lunar calendar.

On the eve of Chinese New Year, families gather for a reunion dinner, which is one of the most important meals of the year. People have been known to travel all over the world to be with their families, and it is expected that Chinese people will make nearly three billion trips from February to March.

This coming Chinese New Year will be the year of the pig.

So how do you find out your zodiac sign?

There are 12 Chinese zodiac signs that, sensibly, rotate every 12 lunar years.

The Chinese zodiac signs are dog, rooster, monkey, goat, horse, snake, dragon, rabbit, tiger, ox, rat, and pig

Your Chinese zodiac sign comes from your birth year.

The Chinese New Year moves between 21 January and 20 February, so if you're born in January or February you may have to look it up to check.

But largely, speaking, these will be your signs, working backwards.

• Dog: 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934, 1922, and 1910
• Rooster: 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933, 1921, and 1909
• Monkey: 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932, 1920, and 1908
• Goat: 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931, 1919, and 1907
• Horse: 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930, 1918, and 1906
• Snake: 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929, 1917, and 1905
• Dragon: 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928, 1916, and 1904
• Rabbit: 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927, 1915, and 1903
• Tiger: 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926, 1914, and 1902
• Ox: 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925, 1913, and 1901
• Rat: 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, 1924, 1912, and 1900
• Pig: 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935, 1923, 1911, and 1899

For more information on the Chinese zodiac, and for what 2018 may bring you, click here.

A quick hint to you 12, 24, 36, 48 year olds (etc) – if the year is of the sign of your birth, you're likely to be unlucky. Or so the soothsaying goes.

Click here for more information on the custom of Chinese New Year, and how the country will customarily spend the days following.

HT Quartz

More: China has chosen the strangest way to commemorate the New Year