Chinese New Year is Thursday, February 7, 2008.  The Chinese lunar year is divided into 12 months based on the cycles of the moon.  The calendar is constructed differently than the Western solar calendar, as the beginning of the year falls somewhere between January 21 and February 19.  Chinese New Year is celebrated at the second new moon after the winter solstice. 

The Chinese Lunar Calendar names each of the twelve years after an animal.  Ancient legend has it that the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he departed from earth.  Only twelve came to bid him farewell and as a reward he named a year after each one in the order they arrived.  The Chinese believe the animal ruling the year in which a person is born has a profound influence on their personality, saying "this is the animal that hides in your heart."

 

2008 is the Chinese year of the rat.  Other rat years include 1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984 and 1996.  People born under this sign are imaginative, charming and generous to those they love.  They work hard to achieve their goals and acquire possessions, but can sometimes be quick-tempered and overly critical.  Large parties and social events excite the rat, and they cherish their children and relatives.  Famous people born under this sign include Mozart, Peggy Fleming, Prince Charles, William Shakespeare, Jimmy Carter, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and John F. Kennedy, Jr.

 

(Sources:  FactMonster, Wikipedia and About.com)