Chinese Zodiac 2025: A guide to finding your animal sign and its meaning
Chinese Zodiac 2025: A guide to finding your animal sign and its meaning
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The story goes that, centuries ago, the Jade Emperor was looking for a way in which his people could measure time. So he decided to call an animal race that sought 12 winners to name each year after. The contestants were instructed to cross a river and reach the finishing line.
The Cat and the Rat both decided to hop on the back of the Ox to make up for their poor swimming skills. However, midway through the river, the Rat pushed the Cat into the water. When the Ox reached the shore, the Rat was quick to hop off and run to the Jade Emperor. So, the very first year of the 12-year cycle was named after it.
The legend then explains the order in which each of the 12 animals won the race and what their journey involved. The Chinese New Year for 2025, which begins on January 29, marks the start of the year of the Snake. If you want to find out what the differences between the Chinese and Western zodiacs are, what your Chinese zodiac sign is, and what you can expect from the Year of the Snake, keep reading.
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The Western zodiac cycle that most are accustomed to in the UK is associated with constellations and follows a 12-month cycle. It assigns a sun, moon, rising sign, and a number of other signs to each person according to the exact date, time, and location they were born, using astronomical placements.
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