♑︎ Zodiac sign · Dec 22 – Jan 19
Capricorn
Dates
Dec 22 – Jan 19
The exact dates shift by a day from year to year. See the table below.
Element
Earth
Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Mode
Cardinal
A sign that starts things.
Capricorn's symbol is the sea-goat, a goat with a fish's tail. The goat climbs the mountain one careful step at a time, and the tail hints at the feelings most people never see. The sign's ruler is Saturn, the planet of discipline and time. Capricorn is a cardinal earth sign, practical and good at starting things, so you like to set the plan in motion and then see it through. Your sense of humor is dry and sneaks up on people. Seriousness can arrive early, and many Capricorns say they felt like the adult in the room as kids. Learning to rest without earning it first is a lifelong project.
Capricorn traits
One solid achievement means more to you than a pile of quick wins. You set goals and keep showing up for them, even on the boring days. Celebrate the steps along the way too, or the finish line can feel strangely flat.
Your jokes are so deadpan that people sometimes miss them, and the ones who get them become your favorite people. Humor is how you cope with pressure. Letting a goofier side show now and then helps others see you aren't as stern as you look.
When something goes wrong, you're the one who stays late to fix it. People trust you to handle things. The weight can pile up, though, so learn to say 'that's not mine to carry' and mean it, even when you could carry it.
You share feelings carefully and usually only after you trust someone. Coworkers may know you for years without meeting the soft side. A few close friends who have seen it can make a big difference in a hard week.
Capricorn in your chart
Your Sun sign is only one placement. Capricorn means something different when it holds your Moon, your rising sign or your Venus.
Respect means a lot to you, and you'd like to earn it properly. As a Capricorn Sun (the Sun shows what drives you), you feel most yourself when you're making steady progress on something that matters. Rest can feel lazy, even when you need it. Building downtime into the plan, the same way you'd schedule a meeting, helps you last.
Full guide →The Moon sits in detriment in Capricorn, opposite its home in Cancer, and old texts call that a cold spot. Daily life is gentler. A Capricorn Moon (the Moon stands for your emotional needs) handles feelings by staying busy and in control, and you may feel safest when you're useful. Feelings can get shelved until later, so give them a slot in the week, even ten minutes with a journal.
Full guide →Capricorn rising gives you a serious, capable first impression, the person who looks like they know where the fire exit is. To strangers, who meet your rising sign before anything else, you can read as older or more reserved than you feel inside. With Saturn in charge of your chart (it rules Capricorn), slow and patient effort tends to suit you. Many with this rising loosen up with age.
Full guide →Someone reliable, and something real to build with them: that's what Venus in Capricorn wants (Venus shows how you love and what you value). You show affection by keeping promises and making plans that include them. Flirting may feel awkward to you. You can come across as reserved early on, so let a partner see your warmth sooner than feels natural.
Full guide →Capricorn in love
You date with intention. A partner who's reliable and honest about what they want tends to catch your eye. You'd like to know where things are going, and you're willing to put in the work. You may hold back feelings at first, testing whether a relationship is solid before you invest. Once you're in, you're loyal and steady. You remember anniversaries and show up on time. Love can start to feel like another task on the list, so plan time together with no goal except having fun.
Capricorn at work
You tend to be the steady one at work, organized and thinking a few years ahead. Managers trust you with responsibility, and you often earn it before you ask. Structure helps you, and chaotic teams frustrate you. You can push too hard and forget that others work at different speeds, so ask how people are doing as well as what they've finished. A clear path forward keeps you motivated through the dull stretches.
Capricorn dates by year
The Sun enters each sign at a slightly different moment every year. These dates are calculated from the ephemeris in Universal Time, so where you live the change can fall a day earlier. Born on the first or last day? Check your chart to be sure.
| Year | Capricorn season |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Dec 21 to Jan 19 |
| 2021 | Dec 21 to Jan 20 |
| 2022 | Dec 21 to Jan 20 |
| 2023 | Dec 22 to Jan 20 |
| 2024 | Dec 21 to Jan 19 |
| 2025 | Dec 21 to Jan 20 |
| 2026 | Dec 21 to Jan 20 |
| 2027 | Dec 22 to Jan 20 |
| 2028 | Dec 21 to Jan 19 |
| 2029 | Dec 21 to Jan 20 |
| 2030 | Dec 21 to Jan 1 |
Questions people ask
Are Capricorns cold?
They can seem that way at first. Capricorn is a reserved earth sign ruled by Saturn, so feelings tend to stay private until trust is built. Close friends usually describe Capricorns as loyal and very funny. The coolness is mostly caution, and it melts with time and consistency.
Do Capricorns get younger as they get older?
It's a popular saying among astrologers. Many Capricorns feel serious and responsible as kids, then loosen up later once they've built some security. Saturn, the ruler, stands for time and maturity in astrology, so the idea fits. Plenty of Capricorns say their thirties and forties felt lighter than their teens.
What does Saturn mean for Capricorn?
Saturn is the planet of discipline and of things you earn slowly. As Capricorn's ruler, it gives the sign patience and a respect for rules and hard work. It can also bring self-doubt and a habit of being too hard on yourself. Many Capricorns find Saturn's lessons pay off with age, as effort adds up.