Editor's note: The Chinese zodiac, or "shengxiao," consists of 12 animal signs that mark the years. Each animal represents one year in a repeating 12-year cycle, which is calculated based on the Chinese lunar calendar.

The 12 animals, in order, are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. These animals, along with the 10 Heavenly Stems and 12 Earthly Branches, are traditionally believed to significantly influence human personalities, marriages, careers and fortunes, thereby holding great importance in individuals' lives.

Some historians believe the Chinese zodiac took shape during the Han dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220), while others trace its origins back to the Western Zhou dynasty (1046 B.C.-771 B.C.). Throughout its development, the Chinese zodiac has inspired a variety of widely accepted animal-related legends and folktales.

One legend holds that the order of the zodiac animals was decided by Emperor Xuanyuan. After summoning the animals, he ranked the first one he saw at the top, with the other 11 following. 

The pig, aware of its clumsy body and slow speed, rose early and faced numerous hardships to reach the Heavenly Palace, only to discover that the ranking event had already concluded. However, Emperor Xuanyuan was impressed by the pig's determination and assigned it the last position.

In traditional Chinese culture, the pig symbolizes wealth, abundance and good fortune. People born in the Year of the Pig are expected to be sincere, honest, diligent, generous and open-minded. Commonly suggested jobs for them include teacher, writer, artist, health consultant, and financial professional.

The Pig years include 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 and 2043.

According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the 2025 Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, falls on Jan. 29, 2025. This day marks the beginning of the Year of the Snake, which will last until Feb. 16, 2026. Since 2025 overlaps with most of the Year of the Snake, it is commonly referred to as such.