The The Chinese Chinese
New Year New Year StoryStory
A long time ago, in China, A long time ago, in China, twelve animals were arguing. twelve animals were arguing. Every animal wanted the New Every animal wanted the New Year to be named after them.Year to be named after them.
The animals were making The animals were making so much noise that the so much noise that the Emperor of China heard Emperor of China heard
them.them.
The Emperor’s daughter The Emperor’s daughter decided to help. She asked decided to help. She asked
all the animals why they all the animals why they were arguing.were arguing.
The tiger said “I want the The tiger said “I want the New Year named after New Year named after
me!”me!”
““So do So do I!”I!”
““So do So do I!”I!”
““So do So do I!”I!”
said rat, ox and rabbit.said rat, ox and rabbit.
““So do So do I!”I!”
““So do So do I!”I!”
““So do So do I!”I!”
said dragon, snake and said dragon, snake and horse.horse.
““So do So do I!”I!”
““So do So do I!”I!”
““So do So do I!”I!”
said ram, monkey and said ram, monkey and rooster.rooster.
““So do So do I!”I!”
““Me Me too!”too!”
said dog and pig.said dog and pig.
The emperor’s daughter was The emperor’s daughter was very clever. She suggested very clever. She suggested
that the animals should have a that the animals should have a race across the river.race across the river.
““The New Year The New Year will be named will be named
after the winning after the winning animal.”animal.”
All the animals said “yes!” All the animals said “yes!” They waited on the bank of the They waited on the bank of the
river for the race to begin.river for the race to begin.
““Ready, Ready, steady, steady,
go!”go!” All the animals jumped into All the animals jumped into the river and swam as fast as the river and swam as fast as they could to reach the other they could to reach the other
side.side.
The ox quickly took the The ox quickly took the lead, but the clever rat lead, but the clever rat
jumped on his back!jumped on his back!
As the ox reached the other side, As the ox reached the other side, the rat jumped onto the grassy the rat jumped onto the grassy
bank.bank.
““I am the I am the winner!”winner!”
““Well Done,” says the Well Done,” says the emperor and his daughter.emperor and his daughter.
““The New The New Year will Year will be the be the
Year of the Year of the rat”rat”
Next came the ox, the Next came the ox, the tiger and then the tiger and then the
rabbit.rabbit.
After that the dragon, After that the dragon, snake and horse snake and horse
arrived.arrived.
Then came ram, monkey, Then came ram, monkey, rooster, dog and finally rooster, dog and finally
pig.pig.
When all the animals had When all the animals had finished the race. The finished the race. The
emperor’s daughter had an emperor’s daughter had an idea…idea…
““You have all You have all worked hard. worked hard.
Let us name the Let us name the next eleven next eleven
years after the years after the other animals other animals
who finished the who finished the race!”race!”
From that day each New From that day each New Year has been named after Year has been named after one of the twelve animals. one of the twelve animals.
From that day each New From that day each New Year has been named after Year has been named after one of the twelve animals. one of the twelve animals.
Chinese Zodiac Chinese Zodiac OrderOrder
1.1.RatRat
2.2.OxOx
3.3.TigerTiger
4.4.RabbitRabbit
5.5.DragonDragon
6.6.SnakeSnake
7.7.HorseHorse
8.8.RamRam
9.9.MonkeyMonkey
10.10.RoosterRooster
11.11.DogDog
12.12.PigPig
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