1966 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Fire Horse
丙午 · 马 Mǎ
1966 is the Year of the Fire Horse. The Chinese year ran from Jan 21, 1966 to Feb 8, 1967, so anyone born in that span is a Fire Horse. Born in January or early February? Lunar New Year fell on Jan 21, 1966, and earlier births belong to the Wood Snake year.
- Horse
- Fire
- Yang
Born in 1966?
Enter your birth date to check, down to the exact Lunar New Year.
Month and day are optional. Add them if you were born in January or February. See January and February Chinese zodiac.
1966 at a Glance
- Animal
- Horse 马 mǎ
- Element
- Fire
- Yin or Yang
- Yang
- Year name
- 丙午 · sound element 天河水
- Begins
- Friday, Jan 21, 1966
- Ends
- Feb 8, 1967
- Age in 2026
- 59 or 60
- Next Horse year
- 1978
1966 Fire Horse: The Same Year Name in 2026
People born in 1966 meet their exact year name, 丙午, again in 2026, the year they turn 60. That makes 2026 both their own sign year (本命年) and a full return of the 60-year cycle.
Lunar New Year 1966 fell on Jan 21, 1966, the earliest date between 1900 and 2036. Births from January 1 to Jan 20, 1966 are Wood Snakes; everyone from Jan 21, 1966 through Feb 8, 1967 is a Fire Horse.
Born in January or Early February 1966?
The Chinese year does not start on January 1. Lunar New Year 1966 was on Friday, Jan 21, 1966, so births before that date belong to the year before.
| Born | Sign | Year name |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 to Jan 20, 1966 | Wood Snake | 乙巳 |
| Jan 21, 1966 to Feb 8, 1967 | Fire Horse | 丙午 |
So someone born on Jan 20, 1966 is a Wood Snake, and someone born on Jan 21, 1966 is a Fire Horse. Dates are in China Standard Time.
What Is a Fire Horse?
A Fire Horse combines the Horse with the element of the birth year. 1966 ends in 6, which gives Fire. The element repeats every 60 years, so other Fire Horse years include 1906 and 2026.
How Old Is a 1966 Horse, and When Is the Next Horse Year?
Someone born in 1966 turns 60 in 2026 and 61 in 2027. The last Horse year was 1954, and the next is 1978. Your own sign year, called 本命年 (běnmìngnián), comes every 12 years. These are the Horse years a 1966 Horse lives through:
- 1966Fire HorseBornThis page
- 1978 Chinese zodiacEarth HorseTurns 12
- 1990 Chinese zodiacMetal HorseTurns 24
- 2002 Chinese zodiacWater HorseTurns 36
- 2014 Chinese zodiacWood HorseTurns 48
- 2026 Chinese zodiacFire HorseTurns 60 · full cycle (花甲)
1966 Horse Compatibility: Best and Hardest Matches
Compatibility follows the animal, not the element. Tradition favors the signs in the Horse's trine group and its Secret Friend, and is cautious about the opposite sign and the harm pair.
The 1966 Horse in 2026 and 2027
How the traditional rules link the Horse to the next two years, and how old a 1966 Horse will be.
2026, the Fire Horse Year: Own Sign Year
Turns 60. Link to the Horse: Own sign year (本命年), Punishment (刑太岁).
2027, the Fire Goat Year: Supported
Turns 61. Link to the Goat: Secret Friend (六合).
Nearby Years
The years just before and after 1966, and the other years of the decade.
- 1964 Chinese zodiacWood DragonFeb 13, 1964 to Feb 1, 1965
- 1965 Chinese zodiacWood SnakeFeb 2, 1965 to Jan 20, 1966
- 1966Fire HorseJan 21, 1966 to Feb 8, 1967
- 1967 Chinese zodiacFire GoatFeb 9, 1967 to Jan 29, 1968
- 1968 Chinese zodiacEarth MonkeyJan 30, 1968 to Feb 16, 1969
Want every year on one sheet? Download the Chinese zodiac years chart PDF (A4, 1900 to 2035, with Lunar New Year dates).
1960 Chinese zodiac1961 Chinese zodiac1962 Chinese zodiac1963 Chinese zodiac1964 Chinese zodiac1965 Chinese zodiac19661967 Chinese zodiac1968 Chinese zodiac1969 Chinese zodiacAll Chinese zodiac years
1966 Chinese Zodiac FAQ
What Chinese zodiac is 1966?
1966 is the Year of the Fire Horse. The Chinese year ran from Jan 21, 1966 to Feb 8, 1967.
What element is the 1966 Chinese zodiac?
Fire. A year's element follows its last digit: 6 gives Fire. The Horse's own fixed element is Fire, which is a different thing.
What Chinese zodiac is January 1966?
Lunar New Year 1966 fell on Friday, Jan 21, 1966. Born from January 1 to Jan 20, 1966, you are a Wood Snake. From Jan 21, 1966, you are a Fire Horse.
How old is someone born in 1966?
In 2026 they turn 60, or are 59 before their birthday. In 2027 they turn 61. Chinese tradition often counts age differently, adding one year at birth.
When is the next Horse year after 1966?
1978, the Year of the Earth Horse, begins on Feb 7, 1978.