When is Chinese New Year? What is it About Oxen and Rats?

Chinese New Year is a traditional festivity celebrated not only in China, but in many countries in Asia and in Chinatowns around the world.

The history of Chinese New Year dates back more than 4,000 years and has its roots in the growing cycle of the land, since China was back then an agricultural society. Chinese New Year marked the end of winter, and the earth coming back to life as the new budding season began in the spring. That is why Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival.

Chinese New Year's Day is on the first day of the Lunar Calendar, as opposed to the Gregorian Calendar, so it could fall either in January or February. In 2009, Chinese New Year is on January 26, 2009. This will be the year of the Ox.

According to Chinese mythology, each year is assigned an animal. Every twelve years, a new moon cycle begins, and therefore, there are twelve animals in the Chinese Zodiac:

The Rat, the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog, and the Pig.

In order to determine the sequence in which each animal was assigned its spot in the 12 year cycle, the legend (one of many) recounts that the animals held a race. The last stretch of the race involved crossing the river. Whoever got to shore first would win and be nominated the first animal in the cycle, and the order in which the remaining animals came in would determine their corresponding place.

The Ox, who had always taken his responsibilities to heart, was on the lead, followed by the quick-witted Rat, who managed to jump on the Ox's back to cross the river. At the last minute, the Rat jumped ashore winning the race, and so it became the first animal in the cycle, followed by the Ox. The Pig, easy going and generous in nature, came in last, most likely because he stopped to help everybody else along the way.

In China, the year when a person is born is more important than the day and month. According to the myth, the Chinese zodiac animal determines the characteristics of that person. For example, the Ox is calm and hardworking, while the Tiger is aggressive and unpredictable.

The Dragon, once the symbol of the Emperor in Ancient China, has always been a favorite for Chinese. It is considered a great honor to be born in the Year of the Dragon. We can expect a mini-baby boom in 2012, the next Year of the Dragon.

Miriam Hoffmann is the founder and editor of china-family-adventure.com She is an overseas Chinese living currently in Germany and a frequent China traveler. Learn more and get ready for Chinese New Year and what your Chinese Zodiac animal will bring.

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