Editor's note:

This year's Chinese Lunar New Year will fall on Feb. 19, the day on which the Year of the Sheep begins. The Chinese Zodiac, also known as the Sheng Xiao, is based on a 12-year cycle. Each year in the cycle is assigned an animal symbol; the cycle starts with the rat, followed by the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and finally the pig. The dates of each year's start and end in the Chinese Zodiac are calculated according to the Chinese lunar calendar. Many Chinese people believe that people's Chinese Zodiac animals affect their personalities. Here we list the animals and the personality traits said to be related to each one.