The Chinese Zodiac is said to follow the stations of Jupiter’s orbit around the sun, which is just shy of 12 years. The animals mark years in a 12-year cycle that begins with rat, followed by ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and boar.

Why they fall that way? One story has Buddha inviting all the animals in the kingdom to a meeting.
In another, it’s the Jade Emperor holding a great banquet. Some animals outwit others to get there first, with their places in the zodiac assigned according to when they arrived.
A third legend is with plotting and scratching and clawing in a competition that includes a river crossing followed by a gathering at the emperor’s palace. The kindly ox agrees to carry the scheming rat and the cat across the water on his back, but the rat betrays his friend the cat by pushing him into a swift current and hops off the ox to claim the top spot.

The cat and mouse used to be friends but became mortal enemies after the cat fails to make the top 12.

We find this story insightful and interesting. It helps us understand the Chinese culture and how Chinese New Year came about. Chinese New Year is not all about getting new clothes and red packets. It’s about spending quality with your relatives and friends.