Kung Hei Fat Choi! Yes in just few hours from now and a lot of Chinese will be celebrating the Chinese New Year with a bang! (hmmmm yummy sticky rice cakes). Boys and men performing dragon dance while being accompanied by bright sparkles and noisy firecrackers would surely be one of the highlights at some chinatown around the world..
This New Year falls on February 7, 2008. (it does not fall on the same day unlike the Roman Calendar). And according to the Chinese Zodiac - this would be the Year of the Rat.(yaiks!)
But don’t worry because it won’t mean plague or something dirty. According to them “Rat” represents Earth, and it’s the first in the cycle of 12 animals. (and being first means a lot - beginning, renewal, winning, leadership etc..)
A little trivia:
Legend has it that Buddha invited all the animals on the earth to a party. Only 12 turned up, and to honour them Buddha named a year after each one in the order they arrived.
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and lastly the Pig
And from websaytko.com - A Happy and Prosperous New Year to all the Chinese!!!
More about the Year of the Rat HERE!
Just a reminder for this year. - Be gentle with rats. - Or else 
kung hei fat choi chinese new year year of the rat chinese zodiac
