We Begin 2012 offering a Limited Edition,12 silver beads illustrating the Chinese Zodiac signs. The Chinese zodiac is a twelve-year cycle where each year is associated with a particular animal.The twelve animals are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

The formation of the twelve animal signs is based on astronomy and has something to do with the Chinese way of numbering the years according to Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Marking a person’s year of birth by combining numbers from the ten Heavenly Stems and the twelve Earthly Branches is no easy thing for most people.

In order to make things easier for calculation and remembering, a system of twelve animals like rat and ox, representing numbers in the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches was adopted, with one animal marking the zodiac sign of each year. This special way of marking a person’s age is a unique phenomenon in Chinese folk culture.

The twelve animal signs are not unique to the Han people. Many ethnic minorities also use them to number years, but there may be some difference in the animals selected.

Get your Trollbead Chinese Zodiac Beads at ..........com and stop by soon to pick up your very own! We look forward to seeing you.