Working together for a living planet

Thursday, February 07, 2008

新年快乐



for those who are not familiar with chinese astrology, this is the "Year of the Rat", and it begins today.

in western culture (synonymous with the "rat race"), it's surprising indeed that the appearance of this redoubtable rodent is so unwelcome, except perhaps on halloween.

this light-hearted lens is dedicated to all things "rat" -- be it "rat cheese", "ratafia", or "ratatouille"!

the Rat (chinese:) 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. the Year of the Rat is associated with the earthly branch symbol .

in chinese, the word may refer to either the rat or the mouse. therefore, in this context, year of the Mouse and year of the Rat are interchangeable terms.

source from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. read more about this topic here.

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its an honor to be born a rat!

rats have been given a bad rap in western culture, judging from pejorative terms like "he's a rat fink!", or "i don't give a rat's ass what you think!"

in china, the rat is a respected intuitive creature, synonymous with courage and an enterprising character. rats know how to come up with solutions, take care of themselves and others without problems.

besides being curious and intelligent with a vivid imagination, rats are very lively and need oodles of attention (mental and physical stimulation).

to sum it up, the positive side of the rat personality includes being easy-going, smart, magnetic, quick witted and well-liked! on the flip side, rats have also been known to be a tad cool, calculating, selfish, and protective when they're not in top form.

what motivates Rats? you guessed it -- money and status :o)

"Earth Rats" (those born in 1948 and 2008), are said to be very honorable folk who love to do things around the home and enjoy a stable life. although a titch stingy with their moolah, they are cheerful with friends although are prone to stress.

for more on the little known life of ratties, and what to expect from these ripsnorting rodents in 2008, don't hesitate to check out what makes a rat tick!

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note: persons born within the following date ranges can be said to have been born in the "Year of the Rat":

feb. 18, 1912- feb. 5, 1913
feb. 5, 1924 - Jan. 24, 1925
jan. 24, 1936 - feb. 10, 1937
feb. 10, 1948 - jan. 28, 1949
jan. 28, 1960 - feb. 14, 1961
feb. 15, 1972 - feb. 2, 1973 (ehem...)
feb. 2, 1984 - feb. 19, 1985
feb. 19, 1996 - feb. 6, 1997

i would like to wish a
Happy & Most Prosperous Chinese Year
of the Rat (SuZi) to all...



kuE's related links: 2007' and 2006' post on chinese new year.