Happy Chinese New Year of the (water)
rabbit!
As of January 22, the lunar new year will be the Year of the Water Rabbit. The year of the what??! Never heard of it? You’re not alone.
We’re all familiar with the 12 animals (Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig) of the Chinee zodiac that is associated with each lunar year. But apparently, each of these animals is also paired with the five elements (earth, fire, metal, water and wood) in rotation, creating a 60-year rotation.
Rabbits have a unique spot in Chinese folklore. There’s the Jade Rabbit: supposedly the Jade Emperor disguises himself as a beggar to search for an animal to help him find the elixir of life. He came across a rabbit that jumped into the fire to provide food for the “beggar.” Impressed by the altruistic act, the emperor took the rabbit to the moon where they make the elixir of life to this day.
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