The new moon of February 7, 2008 rings in the lunar year, the year of the rat! Celebrated throughout much of Asia, and around the world anywhere large Asian communities reside, the Lunar New Year is marked by 15 days of celebrations in honor of new beginnings. Festivities are centered around family and community gatherings and include flower festivals, dragon parades, firework displays and often culminate in a lantern festival synchronizing with the full moon.
Symbolized by the rat, the first of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac, this year is especially favorable for renewal of all kinds. It is said that how you spend the first day of the new year will reflect how the rest of year follows, so gather your loved ones, eat some delicious food and make it a good one!
Mythology
According to legend, in ancient China, the Nián was a man-eating beast from the mountains (in other versions from under the sea), which came out every 12 months somewhere close to winter to prey on humans. The people later believed that the Nian was sensitive to loud noises and the color red, so they scared it away with explosions, fireworks and the liberal use of the color red. These customs led to the first New Year celebrations. Guò nián, which means to celebrate the new year, literally means the passover of the Nian.
The Rat
The Rat was welcomed in ancient times as a protector and bringer of material prosperity. It is the first of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. Rat is associated with aggression, wealth, charm, and order, yet also associated with death, war, the occult, pestilence, and atrocities.
Being the first sign of the Chinese zodiacs, rats are leaders, pioneers and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. Rat people are endowed with great leadership skills and are the most highly organized, meticulous, and systematic of the twelve signs. Intelligent and cunning at the same time, rats are highly ambitious and strong-willed people who are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas, which often include money and power. They are energetic and versatile and can usually find their way around obstacles, and adapt to various environments easily. A rat's natural charm and sharp demeanor make it an appealing friend for almost anyone, but rats are usually highly exclusive and selective when choosing friends and so often have only a few very close friends whom they trust.
Traditionally, Rats should avoid Horses, but they can usually find their best friends and love interests in Monkeys, Dragons, and Oxen.
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