The Year of the Rooster is right around the corner! Here's everything you need to know.

When is the Year of the Rooster?

The Year of the Rooster starts Jan. 28, 2017 and lasts until until Feb. 15, 2018. Since the Lunar New Year follows the, you guessed it, lunar calendar, the dates according to the solar or Gregorian calendar (the one most commonly used) shift every year. And because the Chinese zodiac runs on a 12-year cycle, your animal comes up every dozen years.

Not sure if you’re the Year of the Rooster? Check out our handy zodiac chart.

The rooster's personality

The rooster is the extroverted jock of the zodiac. Those born in a rooster year are often the life of the party. They enjoy sports and are hardworking and resourceful. But they can also be vain and boastful attention seekers. 

What else does the rooster mean in Chinese culture?

The rooster has auspicious connotations, representing fidelity and punctuality. A rooster crowing was seen as a good omen since it signals the end of darkness and awakens those who hear it. In Chinese art, rooster and chickens are both meant as well wishes for a new beginning.

Famous roosters

Were you born in the Year of the Rooster? So were activist Yuri Kochiyama, artist Ai Weiwei, and poet Li-Young Lee. Other roosters include Olympic figure skater Midori Ito, legendary Hong Kong pop star Faye Wong, actor Ken Jeong, and directors Mira Nair (Mississippi Masala, The Namesake) and Bong Joon-ho (Parasite, Snowpiercer, The Host).