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 |  | Chinese New Year is a very important celebration, held at the end of January or early February.
| Ìý |  | Dragon illustration by Vivian Shiu
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It marks a fresh start to the seasons and for all living things, so is a prime time to look ahead with horoscopes.
The Chinese Zodiac has 12 signs and each year is given a sign in order. The signs are all animals and the years - and people born in in them - are said to share some characteristics with those animals.
So, would you rather be a monkey, a cow or a snake? Tough choice, eh?!
| Ìý |  | Happy Chinese New Year
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But it's not as bad as it seems, the inventive monkey, the patient cow and the wise snake all have traits you'd be proud of.
Launch the gallery to find out what sign you are and to explore the characteristics of each animal with the beautiful illustrations by locally-trained designer Vivian Shiu.
Simply click the images button below.
ÌýAccording to Chinese legend, the 12 animals in the zodiac quarreled one day as to who was to head the cycle of years.
| Ìý |  | Lovable rooster by local graduate Vivian Shiu
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The gods were asked to decide and they held a contest where the animals had to reach the opposite bank of the river.
The winner would be first and the rest of the animals would receive their years according to the order they finished in.
All 12 animals gathered at the river bank and jumped in. Unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped upon his back.
As the ox was about to jump ashore, the rat jumped off the ox's back, and won the race.
The pig, who was very lazy, ended up last.
That is why the rat is the first year of the animal cycle, the ox second, and the pig last.
But it's probably only a legend, don't take it to heart if your animal is a little further down the list than you'd like!
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