In the Chinese calendar, 2020 marks the Year of the Rat. Discover when the Year of the Rat begins and what this new addition to the Chinese calendar has to offer.
According to the Chinese calendar, 2020 is the Year of the Rat. To be more accurate, it is the Year of the Metal Rat as metal is the governing element of the two year-period corresponding to the year 4718 within the chronology of the Chinese calendar. The last Years of the Metal Rat occurred in 1900 and 1960.
What does the Zodiac symbol of the Rat represent?
Within the Chinese Zodiac, the Rat occupies the 1st position and symbolizes a witty, resourceful and curious character. With sharp observation skills, those born under the Zodiac sign of the Rat are very good at understanding the people and environments around them. With quick responses and strong intuitive senses, the Rat is versatile in that it can adapt to new environments easily. According to the Chinese calendar, the Rat is energetic and talkative with a tendency to become aggressive. Although capable of providing good advice to others, the Rat never shares its problems with others.
Those born under the sign of the Rat are compatible with a Dragon and Monkey and incompatible with a Horse, Rooster and Rabbit.
When does the Year of the Rat begin?
The Year of the Metal Rat will begin on 25th January 2020 and finish on 12th February 2021, marking the beginning of the Year of the Ox.
It is a particularly special year as it has one month more (13 months in total) than the rest of the years. This month (闰月, rùnyuè) was added to the Chinese calendar to balance the lunar months with the annual solar calendar.
