In Chinese lunar calender this is the year of the rat. Here is some interesting information about the  Twelve Animals each symbolizing a year in which a person is born (12 生肖):

1. Year of the Rat  鼠年
2. Year of the Ox  牛年
3. Year of the Tiger  虎年
4. Year of the Rabbit  兔年
5. Year of the Dragon  龙年
6. Year of the Snake  蛇年
7. Year of the Horse  马年
8. Year of the Goat  羊年
9. Year of the Monkey  猴年
10. Year of the Rooster  鸡年
11. Year of the Dog  狗年
12. Year of the Boar  猪年

Years Of The Rat：1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008

People born in the Years of the Rat are noted for their charm and attraction for the opposite sex. They work hard to achieve their goals, acquire possessions, and are likely to be perfectionists. They are basically thrifty with money. Rat people are easily angered and love to gossip. Their ambitions are big, and they are usually very successful. They are most compatible with people born in the years of the Dragon, Monkey, and Ox.