What's your Chinese zodiac animal? Find out your sign ahead of the Year of the Rat

Millions of people will be joining in with festivities as they celebrate the Chinese New Year this weekend.

The annual festival, which is also known as the Spring Festival, is determined by the lunar calendar and begins on the new moon, with this year's falling on Saturday, January 25.

In Chinese tradition, each year is named after one of the 12 animals which feature in the Chinese zodiac - Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat/Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

Your sign - or animal - is derived from the year you were born and traditionally it is believed the years represented by the animals reflect different characteristics in people.

Along with a number of different superstitions and traditions people have to abide by, Chinese New Year is also marked by feasting and parades.

So, which animal are you? Find out your sign ahead of the new year.

Rat

Year of birth: 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020​

Rats tend to be witty, clever, cunning and charming but also driven by money.

They can be greedy, impolite and stubborn, but have a kind heart.

Ox ​

Year of birth: 1913, 1925, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021

Leaders of the pack, Oxes are also detail orientated, reliable and hard working but are bad at communication.

People born in these years are also protective and make good companions, and tend to be most comfortable around family and friends.

Tiger

Year of birth: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022​

Tigers are courageous and active, along with being authoritative, charming and ambitious.

People born in these years tend to make brash decisions and can be hard to control, but in relationships are usually warm-hearted, seductive and intense.

Rabbit

Year of birth: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023

Always earnest and likeable, rabbits avoid conflict which can make others see them as soft and weak.

Often people born in these years make great scholars because of their reasoning and attention to detail, and they enjoy entertaining people.

Dragon

Year of birth: 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024

Energetic and charismatic, dragons are strong and independent figures who make good leaders, although they can let their ego get the better of them and lack self-awareness.

People born in these years attract attention, but they yearn for support and love and can have a bad temper.

Snake

Year of birth: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2015

Generous, charming ambitious and analytical, snakes avoid small talk and prefer to think about the big things in life.

People born in these years tend to be natural introverts and love with all their heart. Private and calm, when they do say something, they say it well.

Horse

Year of birth: 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026

The free-spirited horses are energetic, popular and hard-working, although somewhat impatient and reckless.

Their moods change quickly, but they are able to forgive and forget and are driven by happiness, not wealth.

Goat/sheep

Year of birth: 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027​

People born in these years are thought of as loving and selfless, but can also be shy and sensitive.

Perseverance, resilience and empathy make up their key traits, and as a result can make friends easily, although they can also be stubborn.

Monkey

Year of birth: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028​

Often thought of as pranksters, monkeys are intelligent and playful and are constantly seeking stimulation and learning.

Because of their intelligence they are high achievers, but can let their arrogance and competitiveness get the better of them.

Rooster

Year of birth: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029​

Perfectionist roosters are honest, serious and practical with an independent mind and a logical and determined nature.

However, deep down they have a serious need for validation and as a result crave a large family for support, while they are often emotionally volatile.

Dog

Year of birth: 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030​

People born in a year of the dog will be honest, loyal and reliable with a tendency to stay with you until the end.

Popular and helpful, dogs can often appear stubborn and will mask their inner anxieties and worries.

Pig

Year of birth: 1923, 1935, 1946, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031​

The well-mannered pigs are said to have a wonderful personality which allows themselves to enjoy life without standing out from the crowd, and they often play pranks on people.

Energetic and enthusiastic, they are also known to be materialistic and power-seeking, while harbouring traits of laziness and clumsiness too.