Happy Chinese New Year and Spring Festival! 2020 is the year of the first of all zodiac animals, the Rat! 

What is the story behind Chinese New Year?

According to the myth, the Jade Emperor said the order of the zodiac animals would be decided by the order in which the animals arrived to his party. The Rat asked the Ox to give him a ride and then as soon as they arrived at the finish line, the Rat jumped down and ran ahead of the Ox, becoming the first animal of the cycle.

What does the Year of the Rat mean?

The Rat is yang and represents the beginning of a new day, it is a sign of wealth and overabundance! Due to the animal’s high reproduction rate, Chinese married couples would pray to the Rat to send them children and luck. People born in the Rat year are optimistic, likeable and straightforward when it comes to raising their opinions.

Year of the Rat key facts

Interested to learn more about the Rat year?

The most recent years: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020.

Lucky things for people born in the Rat year:

Colours: blue, gold, green

Numbers: 2, 3

Flowers: Lily of the valley

How do you celebrate the beginning of Spring Festival?

Gather with your family and friends and have some Chinese delicacies like Sichuan pork, shrimp with noodles or duck dumplings! Analyse the stars and moon to predict the fortunes of the year like the Chinese in the past would do, and go on a long walk by the River Dee appreciating nature in every step you take.

Celebrating the Spring Festival at RGU

In 2019 students from RGU hosted a Spring Festival celebration with food, calligraphy and dance. Watch our video on Facebook.

Let us know how you are going to celebrate Chinese New Year in the comments below!

You may also be interested to read more about holidays celebrated in Scotland such as Burns Night and Christmas.