A guide to the cycles of the Chinese New Year and what determines year's animal sign.
The celebration of the Chinese New Year year brings a little bit of China to Dublin in spring. In the Chinese calendar, the year is recorded as 4,699 and not 2002 as in the Gregorian calendar. The first king of China was known as 'The Yellow King' and was crowned in 2,697 BC. By adding 2,697 to 2002, you get 4,699. In Chinese astrology, this is the year of the horse.
The Chinese calendar is broken up into cycles of 12 years, with each year represented by a different animal. These animals are a horse, a goat, a monkey, a rooster, a dog, a pig, a rat, an ox, a tiger, a rabbit, a dragon, and a snake.
If you were born in the year of the horse, then a yellow crystal is going to bring you good luck.
This episode of 'Stream' was a compilation programme broadcast on 31 March 2002. The presenter is Jo Mooney.
