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Chinese New Year: Year of the Rat

In the past, the Chinese calendar was based on a cycle of 60 years, calculated by combining the Ten Heavenly Stems with the Twelve Earthly Branches. Thus, from Chinese New Year’s Day, which in 2008 falls on 7 February, the year is designated wuzi, and is also referred to as the Year of the Rat.

According to one story, as the Buddha lay dying he was visited by 12 animals. In order, these were the rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, cockerel, dog and pig. As they paid their respects, the Buddha linked each to a year. This 12-year cycle fits neatly into the 60-year cycle and also that connected with the sequence of protective martial spirits who are associated with stars. One part of each of the deities' names is derived from the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.

Chinese New Year is also called Spring Festival (chunjie), one of the most widely celebrated of all the many festivals held throughout the year. Traditionally, preparations and festivities would continue for about a month around New Year’s Day. Some traditions continue. Seeking good fortune, family members burnt incense and made offerings to a representation of the Kitchen God and smeared his lips with honey. Strips of red paper bearing auspicious phrases and colourful woodblock prints of door gods were pasted around the front door. As New Year’s Day broke, deafening fire crackers were let off to scare away malevolent spirits and children were given money in small red envelopes. Red is the predominant colour during the festival as it is regarded as the luckiest. Festivities continued over the next two weeks or so with lion dancers and fairs, ending with the Lantern Festival on the night of the first full moon of the year. Lit by candles within, they represented the moon.

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