1997 Chinese zodiac: Ox and exact dates
Check the dates of the Ox year beginning in 1997, including which animal applies before Lunar New Year.
Two animals occur during Gregorian 1997: Rat from January 1 through 1997-02-06, then Ox from 1997-02-07 through December 31. The full Ox animal year continues until 1998-01-27.
Check a birthday in 1997
| Month | Inclusive dates | Animal |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1997-01-01 → 1997-01-31 | Rat |
| February | 1997-02-01 → 1997-02-06 | Rat |
| February | 1997-02-07 → 1997-02-28 | Ox |
| March | 1997-03-01 → 1997-03-31 | Ox |
| April | 1997-04-01 → 1997-04-30 | Ox |
| May | 1997-05-01 → 1997-05-31 | Ox |
| June | 1997-06-01 → 1997-06-30 | Ox |
| July | 1997-07-01 → 1997-07-31 | Ox |
| August | 1997-08-01 → 1997-08-31 | Ox |
| September | 1997-09-01 → 1997-09-30 | Ox |
| October | 1997-10-01 → 1997-10-31 | Ox |
| November | 1997-11-01 → 1997-11-30 | Ox |
| December | 1997-12-01 → 1997-12-31 | Ox |
| Date | Animal | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1997-02-06 | Rat | Last day before this Lunar New Year |
| 1997-02-07 | Ox | First day of this animal year |
| 1998-01-27 | Ox | Last day of this animal year in the following Gregorian year |
| 1998-01-28 | Tiger | First day of the following animal year |
Calendar facts for 1997
In Gregorian 1997, 37 days belong to Rat and 328 days belong to Ox. The complete animal year starting 1997-02-07 lasts 355 days. These are counts of calendar dates, not predictions or a calculation of age.
Why a year-only answer can be wrong
A birth on 1997-02-06 belongs to Rat; a birth one day later on 1997-02-07 belongs to Ox. Likewise, 1998-01-27 is still Ox, although its Gregorian year is 1998. A site's label “1997 = Ox” is a useful shorthand only after checking the date.
Same animal, different New Year dates
Compare 1985 and 2009 with 1997: the animal repeats after twelve years, but the starting day must be checked separately. Do not copy a birthday cutoff from another cycle.
| Year label | Animal | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Ox | 1985-02-20 | 1986-02-08 |
| 1997 | Ox | 1997-02-07 | 1998-01-27 |
| 2009 | Ox | 2009-01-26 | 2010-02-13 |
Dates, source and convention
The table splits Gregorian months at the Lunar New Year dates in the Hong Kong Observatory tables. Date ranges include both endpoints. A BaZi reading using Li Chun can assign a different year near its boundary; this page does not calculate that convention, birth-hour pillars or a person's traits.
- Hong Kong Observatory · 1985
- Hong Kong Observatory · 1986
- Hong Kong Observatory · 1997
- Hong Kong Observatory · 1998
- Hong Kong Observatory · 2009
- Hong Kong Observatory · 2010