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According to the Chinese horoscope, January 22nd marks the beginning of the year of the rabbit.
Traditionally, the Chinese travel to their families to celebrate the Lunar New Year. A show lasting several hours is broadcast on television. According to the traditional Chinese calendar, the year of the tiger ends on the night of January 21st/22nd.
When do Chinese celebrate the New Year?
| Year | date | animal of the year |
| 2023 | 22nd of January | year of the rabbit |
| 2024 | February 10th | Year of the Dragon |
| 2025 | January 29th | year of the snake |
| 2026 | February 17th | Year of the horse |
| 2027 | February 6th | year of the sheep |
| 2028 | January 26th | year of the monkey |
| 2027 | 13th January | Year of the Rooster |
Big celebrations planned
After three years of the Covid pandemic, the Chinese authorities have announced some easing, this year Chinese are allowed to travel to their home villages again for the most important family festival. Since one in five Chinese does not work where their family comes from, China experiences the world’s largest annual migration of peoples on New Year’s Day. The Ministry of Transport expects the number of trips to grow again this year. 2022 was the third Lunar New Year that the virus messed up the Chinese. The first cases broke out in December 2019 in the central Chinese metropolis of Wuhan. Following its zero-Covid strategy, China made a U-turn at the beginning of December 2022: People are allowed to travel again, Covid tests are voluntary and there is no longer forced quarantine.
Some travel restrictions remain in place, but not as severe as last year.
Twelve Zodiac
China continues to follow the lunar calendar throughout the year for its public holidays. Each Chinese year is assigned to one of the twelve zodiac signs. These are rat, buffalo, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The naming of the years after animals helped the population, who could not write and calculate well, to indicate their own year of birth.
The New Year is a very important festival, it lasts 15 days, i.e. from the New Year to the Lantern Festival (also called “Yuanxiao Festival”) on the 15th day of the first month according to the Chinese lunar calendar and is also called the Spring Festival.
This is celebrated with fireworks and traditional dragon and lion dances. New Year is the most important holiday of the year in China. Because it is determined by the lunar calendar, it falls on a different date each year (according to our calendar) – this year it is January 22nd. On the eve, the last day of the old year, the whole family traditionally gathers for a meal together.
Chinese horoscope: what does the year of the rabbit bring?
According to the Chinese horoscope, this sign represents calm, kindness, optimism and sensitivity. The year 2023 will be the year of the Water Rabbit and promises permanence and inner healing. Rabbits are very sensitive and romantic little animals, but they are also fearful.
The element of water, on the other hand, stands for purification, a new beginning. According to Chinese horoscopes, this year will be a year of feelings. It’s a good time to strengthen and redefine relationships. In 2023, the horoscope predicts the course towards love. Passion and romance are becoming more important for the Rabbit. The water should also ensure more balance and flexibility in everyday life.
Famous people born in the year of the rabbit
All with the vintages 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 and 2023 are rabbits in the Chinese horoscope. According to this, those born in the year of the rabbit should be calm, loving, social and polite. Since rabbits like to take care of others, they sometimes forget themselves. But with a great deal of courage, they can also be competent leaders. But among these signs we find many more singers, musicians, athletes and actors. In addition, the various signs of the zodiac are complemented by an element: wood, fire, earth, metal or water.
Well-known bunnies include Tina Turner (1939), the undisputed Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Jamie Oliver, the popular British chef who is internationally successful with numerous television shows and cookbooks, is also a native rabbit according to the Chinese horoscope. The Chinese rabbit year sign is also shared by Robin Williams, Sting, Phil Collins, Angelina Joile, David Beckham, Drew Barrymore, Kate Winslet, Lionel Messi, Novac Djokovic and Sebastian Vettel.