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

1.1.HorseHorse

2.2.RamRam

3.3.MonkeyMonkey

4.4.RoosterRooster

5.5.DogDog

6.6.PigPig