As Chinese New Year is celebrated in the Highlands, find out YOUR ...

Monica Lee-MacPherson, chairperson of the Scottish Highlands & Islands and Moray Chinese Association (SHIMCA) leads a previous lion dance in Inverness. Picture: Gary Anthony

TODAY marks the first day of the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese lunar calendar.

Chinese New Year is one of the biggest days in that nation's calendar and is celebrated around the world – including here in the Highlands.

There are 12 Chinese zodiac signs, in the following order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

Each sign is named after an animal, and each animal is believed to have its own unique characteristics.

The lunar calendar tracks time by the moon cycles.

According to the Chinese calendar, the year you were born might determine your personality.

Scottish Highlands & Islands and Moray Chinese Association (SHIMCA) will be hosting a variety of events across the region today.

They will be visiting primary schools and care homes throughout the day to perform the traditional Lion dance in honour of the year of the water rabbit.

Monica Lee-Macpherson, SHIMCA's chairwoman and trustee is looking forward to the celebrations. She said: "I am very excited about it all."

It has been a turbulent few years. What might we expect from this one? She said: "The year of the water rabbit represents calm and prosperity.

"We have a lot of hope for this year – it is a celebration time for us."

The Chinese zodiac and your animal sign

The lucky red envelope handed out to mark the Chinese New Year.

So what year were YOU born in, what is your animal sign – and who do you share it with?

Birth years of the Rabbit: 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023.

Characteristics: Quiet, elegant, kind, responsible.

Famous rabbits: Albert Einstein, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Leon Trotsky, Frank Sinatra.

Birth years of the Dragon: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024

Characteristics:Confident, intelligent, enthusiastic.

Famous dragons: John Lennon, Florence Nightingale, Joan of Arc.

Birth years of the Snake: 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025

Characteristics: Enigmatic, intelligent, wise.

Famous snakes: Taylor Swift, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, Bob Dylan, John F. Kennedy.

Birth years of the Horse: 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026

Characteristics: Animated, active, energetic.

Famous horses: Jimi Hendrix, John Travolta, Mike Tyson.

Birth years of the Goat: 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027

Characteristics: Calm, gentle, sympathetic.

Famous goats: Michelangelo, Mark Twain, Rudolph Valentino.

Birth years of the Monkey: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028

Characteristics: Sharp, smart, curious.

Famous monkeys: Julius Caesar, Harry S. Truman,Leonardo da Vinci.

Birth years of the Rooster: 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029

Characteristics: Observant, hardworking, courageous.

Famous roosters: Britney Spears, Stephen Fry, Dave Grohl.

Birth years of the Dog: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030

Characteristics: Lovely, honest, prudent.

Famous dogs: Donald trump, Cher, Winston Churchill, Madonna.

Birth years of the Pig: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031

Characteristics: Compassionate, generous, diligent.

Famous pigs: Ernest Hemingway, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hilary Clinton.

Birth years of the Rat: 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032

Characteristics:: Quick-witted, resourceful, versatile, kind.

Famous rats: Wolfgang Mozart, William Shakespeare, George Washington.

Birth years of the Ox: 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033

Characteristics: Diligent, dependable, strong, determined.

Famous oxen: Barack Obama,George Clooney, Walt Disney.

Birth years of the Tiger: 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034

Characteristics:Brave, confident, competitive

Famous tigers: Queen Elizabeth II, Lady Gaga, Tom Cruise.

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