The Story of the Chinese Zodiac

The Story of the Chinese Zodiac

The story of Chinese new year begins with a Chinese emperor.

One day, he  came across a river. Now, at this river, he saw thirteen animals all bickering about who should get a year named after them.  The emperor declared a race to see who could reach the other side of the river quickest. That animal would have the first year named after them. But, only twelve animals would get a place.

The rat and cat went onto the ox, since they could not swim. Then, the rat pushed the  cat of the ox! The rat came first, then the ox, then a tiger, then a rabbit, then a dragon, then a snake, then a horse, then a goat, then a monkey, then a rooster, then a dog, and then a pig.

But the cat didn’t get a place. But in Vietnam, it is the year of the cat!

And that is the story of Chinese new year.