1. On February 8^th 2016, we move into the Chinese Year of the Monkey, the ninth animal in the Chinese Zodiac Calendar.
2. Your Chinese zodiac sign is worked out from the year you were born in the Chinese lunar calendar. There are 12 signs in the Chinese Zodiac, just like the Western Zodiac Calendar, but each sign corresponds to a year, rather than a month. (It gets complicated if you were born in January or February though as the new year moves between 21 January and February 20. If If you want to know your exact Chinese zodiac sign is, visit http://www.chinesezodiac.com/calculator.php )Rat: 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960
   Ox: 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961
   Tiger: 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962
   Rabbit: 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963
   Dragon: 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964
   Snake: 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965
   Horse: 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966
   Goat: 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967
   Monkey: 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968
   Rooster: 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969
   Dog: 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970
   Pig: 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971
3. Those born in the Year of the Money are seen as intelligent and smart, innovative and creative, which makes them winners in the career and wealth stakes. And they’re sociable too, being lively, playful, self-assured and quick-witted. But be careful, these cheeky monkeys have a mischievous side too! They love practical jokes and their quick temper can get the better of them. Whatsmore, they have a tendency to be suspicious, cunning and jealous.
4. The Chinese symbol for monkey is:
   
5. Famous Monkeys include Julius Caesar, Leonardo da Vinci, Charles Dickens, Lord Byron, Celine Dion, Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Halle Berry, Christina Aguilera, Diana Ross, Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Douglas, Owen Wilson, Daniel Craig, Mick Jagger, Bette Davis, Annie Oakley, Eleanor Roosevelt, Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez.
6. The date of Chinese New Year varies from year to year. It’s based on the ancient Chinese lunar calendar. It’s also known as the Spring Festival as it falls on the second new moon after winter solstice – somewhere between 21 January and 19 February. This year, Chinese New Year falls on 8^th February.
7. The Year of the Monkey is seen as one of the most unlucky in China, so to keep luck on your side, watch out for the Monkey’s lucky signs: the numbers 1, 7 and 8; the colours white, gold and blue, and the flowers chrysanthemum and alliums.
8. Celebrations take place up and down the UK, with the biggest party outside Asia being held in London on Valentine’s Day, Sunday February 14^th. The highlight of the celebrations is always the colourful parade, starting at Charing Cross and culminating in Chinatown.Xīnnián hǎo!

Make sure you don’t miss those all important dates in 2016 with our Special High Days and Holidays Calendar. There certainly are plenty of reasons to celebrate this year!

January

1^st           New Year’s Day
25^th         Robert Burns’ Night
18-31^st   Australian Open Tennis, Melbourne

February

8^th           Chinese New Year (Year of the Monkey)
9^th           Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday)
14^th         Valentine’s Day
17^th         Random Acts of Kindness Day
18^th         Ash Wednesday
29^th         Leap Year Day

March

1^st           St. David’s Day
6^th           Mother’s Day UK
8^th           International Women’s Day
9^th           Commonwealth Day
17^th         St. Patrick’s Day
20^th         Spring Equinox
20^th         Palm Sunday
25^th         Good Friday
27^th         Easter Sunday
27^th         British Summertime Begins (clocks go forward)

April

1^st           April Fool’s Day
7-10^th     US Masters Golf, Augusta
9^th           Grand National Horse Racing, Aintree
23^rd        St. George’s Day
May

2^nd          May Bank Holiday
21^st         FA Cup Final, Wembley
22^nd-Jun 5^th French Open Tennis, Paris
30^th         Spring Bank Holiday

June

6^th           Ramadan Begins
10^th–July 10^th Euro 2016 Football
11^th          Trooping the Colour
16-19^th   US Open Golf, Oakmont
19^th         Father’s Day UK
19^th         National Kissing Day
20^th        Summer Solstice (Longest Day)
27-July 10^th Wimbledon Tennis

July

2-24^th     Tour de France Cycling
5^th           Ramadan Ends
6^th           International Kissing Day
14-17^th    British Open Golf, Troon
30^th         International Day of Friendship

August

1^st           Summer Bank Holiday
2^nd          National Sister’s Day
5-21^st     Summer Olympics, Rio de Janiero
29^th        August Bank Holiday
29^th-September 11^th US Open Tennis, New Year

September

7-18^th     Paralympic Games, Rio de Janiero
22^nd        Autumn Equinox
30^th-2^nd October Ryder Cup, USA

October

2^nd          Grandparents’ Day
2-4^th       Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)
5^th           National Teachers’ Day
11-12^th    Yom Kippur
25^th         Mother-in-Law Day
30^th         Diwali
30^th         British Summertime Ends (clocks go back)
31^st          Halloween

November

1^st           All Saints Day
5^th           Bonfire Night
11^th         Armistice Day
13^th         Kindness Day UK
13^th         Remembrance Sunday
25^th         Thanksgiving (USA)
30^th         St. Andrew’s Day

December

21^st         Winter Solstice
24^th         Christmas Eve
24^th         Hanukkah Begins
25^th         Christmas Day
26^th         Boxing Day
31^st         New Year’s Eve / Hogmanay

Have we forgotten anything? Do let us know what days you celebrate!