Chinese calendars have been around since 2600 BC. This makes the Chinese New Year the longest record of time in history. In fact, it is even the largest chronological record. It began when Emperor Huang Ti first introduced the cycle of the zodiac, which is still in place today. The Chinese calendar is actually quite similar to the Western calendar. Known specifically as the Chinese Lunar Calendar, it is a yearly record of time. As the name suggests, it is based on the cycles of the moon.
The Gregorian calendar measures time by months. The Chinese calendar does as well, but in different ways. Moreover, it is more concerned with the passage of years. This calendar runs in cycles of twelve year periods. Each of those years is represented by a particular animal. Buddha named those animals as a reward for their coming to say good bye to him when he left the earth.
As you can clearly see, there is a strong link between the zodiac and the calendar. Not only do the animals factor into the naming of the years, but they are also important to the people who were born in one of their years. The Chinese believe that the animal under which you were born is very important. Each animal lends certain personality traits and influences.
A large part of the world's population is Chinese. Clearly, a lot of people thus also follow the Chinese calendar. It is mainly used to determine when that culture's celebrations, festivals, holidays, and special occasions occur. For everything else, the Chinese people actually follow the Gregorian calendar.
Modern science has definitely affected the Chinese calendar in many different ways. This particular calendar is based around the cycles of the moon and the longitude of the sun, so you can see how transforming this piece of history into something science-related could do nothing but help it.
Let us consider the phases of the moon first. They are extremely important. Under the Chinese calendar, the coming of the new moon means that a new month is starting. Conversely, the sun's longitude helps to determine important periods of time - the Principal Terms.
So, one year in every twelve is devoted to a particular animal under the Chinese calendar. This year, 2009, is devoted to the Ox. The years 1987 and 1965 were also devoted to the Ox. People who are born in 2009 will likewise be born under the sign of the Ox.
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