The Chinese zodiac story

 Happy Chinese new year!

Today i will tell you the Chinese Zodiac story.

On day the Jade Emperor decided that there should be a way of measuring time.

On his birthday, he told the animals that there would be a swimming race and the first 12 animals to cross the river would have a year named after them.

The cat and the rat were worried because they were not good swimmers. So the Ox let them ride on his back.

The were all almost at the end when the rat pushed the cat into the water and when the ox was about to win the race, the Ox jumped onto the land and the first year was name year of the rat.

The second year was named after the Ox.

Shortly after the Tiger reached the end of the river and the third year was name after him.

Next place was the rabbit, who had jumped on some stepping stones making year four named after him.

Then a dragon flew down from the sky making him fifth place.

Next the Emperor could hear the horse, but a snake wriggled out from around one of the horses hooves.

Because the horse was so surprised, it jumped backwards making the snake sixth and the horse seventh.

Afterwards, a raft with the goat, the monkey and the rooster on. They explained that they shared the raft. The emperor was very pleased, so he made the goat eighth, the monkey ninth and the rooster tenth.

The next animal to finish was the dog.

Finally came the boar making him 12th and the last year being named after him.

Suddenly the cat came out of the water, but he could not have a year named after him. That's why cats have never been friends with rats.

This year is year of the rabbit.

Next week we look at black rats, and more news.

*Credits to topmarks.co.uk and chinahighlights.com