February 16th 2018 marks Chinese New Year and it’s the year of the dog! But what does this mean and why is a year associated with an animal?
The Chinese New Year is also known in modern China as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival. It is typically celebrated beginning the evening before until the 15th day of the first calendar month, which is the date of the Lantern Festival.
Each Chinese calendar year has an animal relating to it on a twelve year cycle with animals that participated in a great race.
The folk story follows a range of animals swimming in a race across a river to meet with the Jade Emperor who decided that the order of the winners would be matched to each calendar year.
The race was won by the rat, who subsequently marks the first year of each twelve-year cycle. The rat won the race by travelling on the back of the Ox, who placed second in the race, followed by the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Monkey, and the Rooster.
After this came the Dog, who marks the 2018 Chinese New Year. The dog placed eleventh in the race because, although dogs are strong swimmers, it wanted to play and take a bath in the water.
Finally, at the end of the race, was the Pig.
Will you be celebrating the Chinese New Year?