The Chinese New Year LegendThe Chinese New Year Legend

The Chinese Calendar names each of the twelve years in its rotating cycle after an animal. There are several legends that explain how this came about.

One legend says that Lord Buddha called all the animals in the animal kingdom to come and say goodbye to him before he left his life on Earth. Only twelve came to bid him farewell. He rewarded them by naming a year after each one, in the order they arrived.

Another legend tells the story of a swimming Another legend tells the story of a swimming race:race:

Many years ago there lived a rat, an ox, a Many years ago there lived a rat, an ox, a tiger, a rabbit, a dragon, a snake, a horse, tiger, a rabbit, a dragon, a snake, a horse, a sheep, a monkey, a rooster, a dog and a a sheep, a monkey, a rooster, a dog and a pig.pig.

Meet the animals…Meet the animals…

Meet the animals…Meet the animals…

One day the twelve animals quarrelled One day the twelve animals quarrelled about who was to head the cycle of years. about who was to head the cycle of years. They went to the Gods and asked them to They went to the Gods and asked them to decide, so the Gods held a contest: decide, so the Gods held a contest: whoever was to reach the opposite bank whoever was to reach the opposite bank of the river would be first, and the rest of of the river would be first, and the rest of the animals would receive their years the animals would receive their years according to where they finished in the according to where they finished in the race.race.

All twelve animals waited at the river bank, until the Gods All twelve animals waited at the river bank, until the Gods instructed them to start the race, then they all jumped in. instructed them to start the race, then they all jumped in. Very soon the ox was in the lead but the rat was cunning Very soon the ox was in the lead but the rat was cunning and jumped upon his back. Just as the ox was about to and jumped upon his back. Just as the ox was about to jump ashore, the rat jumped off the ox's back, and won jump ashore, the rat jumped off the ox's back, and won the race. the race. The pig, who was very lazy, ended up last. The pig, who was very lazy, ended up last.

This was the final order: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, This was the final order: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and last of snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and last of all pig.all pig.

The calendar has followed a rotating cycle ever since that The calendar has followed a rotating cycle ever since that time.time.

Which year were you born in?Which year were you born in?

Rat  1984 1996 1984 1996 Ox   1973 1985 1997 1973 1985 1997 Tiger   1986 19981986 1998 Rabbit   1987 1999 1987 1999 Dragon   1988 2000 1988 2000 Snake   1989 2001 1989 2001 Horse Horse   1978 1990 2002 1978 1990 2002 Sheep Sheep   1991 2003 1991 2003 Monkey Monkey   1980 1992 2004 1980 1992 2004 Rooster Rooster   1981 1993 2005 1981 1993 2005 Dog Dog   1994 2006 1994 2006 Pig Pig   1983 1995 20071983 1995 2007

Year of the RatYear of the Rat

Rats are said to be Rats are said to be imaginative, charming imaginative, charming and very generous to and very generous to those they love - although those they love - although they do have a tendency they do have a tendency to be quick-tempered and to be quick-tempered and over-critical. They are over-critical. They are supposed to make good supposed to make good writers, critics and writers, critics and publicists publicists

Year of the OxYear of the Ox

Oxen are born leaders, inspiring Oxen are born leaders, inspiring confidence in everyone they come into confidence in everyone they come into contact with. However, they can be too contact with. However, they can be too demanding. Methodical and good with demanding. Methodical and good with their hands, they make fine surgeons and their hands, they make fine surgeons and hairdressers. hairdressers.

Year of the TigerYear of the Tiger

Tigers are said to be bold and Tigers are said to be bold and adventurous, and are bestowed with adventurous, and are bestowed with initiative and charm. However, they have a initiative and charm. However, they have a tendency to be risk takers, making them tendency to be risk takers, making them act before they think about the act before they think about the consequences. They tend to make good consequences. They tend to make good bosses, explorers or racing drivers bosses, explorers or racing drivers

Year of the RabbitYear of the Rabbit

Rabbits are affectionate, co-operative and Rabbits are affectionate, co-operative and pleasant, with lots of friends. But they can pleasant, with lots of friends. But they can get too sentimental and seem superficial. get too sentimental and seem superficial. Ideal careers areas include law, diplomacy Ideal careers areas include law, diplomacy or the stage. or the stage.

Year of the DragonYear of the Dragon

Dragons tend to be popular individuals Dragons tend to be popular individuals who are always full of life and enthusiasm, who are always full of life and enthusiasm, with a reputation for being fun-loving. They with a reputation for being fun-loving. They make good priests, artists and politicians make good priests, artists and politicians

Year of the SnakeYear of the Snake

People born in the year of the Snake are People born in the year of the Snake are romantic and deep-thinking, wise and romantic and deep-thinking, wise and charming, although they tend to dismiss charming, although they tend to dismiss others too quickly and are a bit stingy with others too quickly and are a bit stingy with money. Ideal jobs include teaching. money. Ideal jobs include teaching.

Year of the HorseYear of the Horse

If you are born in the Year of the Horse If you are born in the Year of the Horse then you are amazingly hard working and then you are amazingly hard working and very independent. Although you are very independent. Although you are intelligent and friendly, you can sometimes intelligent and friendly, you can sometimes be a bit selfish. Career wise you would be a bit selfish. Career wise you would make a good scientist or poet make a good scientist or poet

Year of the SheepYear of the Sheep

Those born in the Year of the Sheep are Those born in the Year of the Sheep are said to be charming, elegant and artistic, said to be charming, elegant and artistic, who like material comforts. A bit of a who like material comforts. A bit of a worrier they also have a tendency to worrier they also have a tendency to complain about things. Jobs as actors, complain about things. Jobs as actors, gardeners or beachcombers would suit. gardeners or beachcombers would suit.

Year of the MonkeyYear of the Monkey

If you are born in the Year of the Monkey, If you are born in the Year of the Monkey, you are very intelligent, well-liked by you are very intelligent, well-liked by everyone, and will have success in any everyone, and will have success in any field you choose. Lucky old you! field you choose. Lucky old you!

Year of the RoosterYear of the Rooster

The sign of the Rooster indicates a person The sign of the Rooster indicates a person who is hard-working and definite about who is hard-working and definite about their decisions. Roosters are not afraid to their decisions. Roosters are not afraid to speak their minds and can therefore speak their minds and can therefore sometimes come across as boastful. They sometimes come across as boastful. They make good restaurant owners and world make good restaurant owners and world travellers travellers

Year of the DogYear of the Dog

Dogs are honest and faithful to those they Dogs are honest and faithful to those they love but they tend to worry too much and love but they tend to worry too much and find fault with others. They make ideal find fault with others. They make ideal secret agents or business people. secret agents or business people.

Year of the PigYear of the Pig

People born in the Year of the Pig are People born in the Year of the Pig are honest and tolerant and make good honest and tolerant and make good friends, but tend to expect the same from friends, but tend to expect the same from everyone else, and more often than not everyone else, and more often than not they end up disappointed. They thrive in they end up disappointed. They thrive in the arts as entertainers. the arts as entertainers.