When is Chinese New Year 2024 and what is the animal?
The upcoming Chinese New Year brings with it a change of the animal that represents it: we’ve had the Year of the Rabbit - but what’s next?
The lunar calendar has almost finished its cycle, meaning that the animal which represents the year is about to change. We say goodbye to the year of the rabbit and welcome the next creature on the list: the dragon.
The dragon, the fifth animal in the 12-year calendar and the only mythical creature on the list, brings with it the qualities of leadership, confidence, adventure, honor and intelligence.
Given these positive qualities, recent times have seen a considerable spike in birth rates during the Year of the Dragon, which is thought to be families planning in the hope that the children will be born with the positive characteristics associated with the creature.
When is Chinese New Year?
The date of Chinese New Year varies from year to year at the turn of the lunar calendar, but it will always fall somewhere between 21 January and 20 February. This year, it falls on February 10.
The years of the dragon:
1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036
What is the animal for 2024?
As we’ve said, the animal for the year of 2024 is the dragon. Let’s start right here: this is the coolest of all the animals and if you don’t agree then I’d like to hear your arguments. On top of the 2024 animal being a huge, flying, fire-breathing creature covered in spikes, it’s also the Year of the Wood Dragon.
As well as swapping animals every year, Chinese tradition gives an element (metal, wood, water, fire, earth) to the lucky representative, and this year it’s wood, which is said to represent both vitality and creativity.