Well, let me tell you about this Chinese calendar thing, it’s quite a thing, you know. They got these animals, twelve of ’em, and each year is named after one. It’s like, this year it’s the Rabbit year, next year it’ll be somethin’ else. I don’t rightly know all of ’em by heart, but I know a few. There’s the Rat, the Ox, the Tiger…oh, and that Dragon! My old man, he used to say somethin’ about the Dragon bein’ lucky.
They call it the Chinese zodiac, or somethin’ fancy like that. Sheng Xiao, I think. Sounds like somethin’ you’d eat, don’t it? But it ain’t food. It’s just a way they keep track of the years. And they say each animal has its own… whatchamacallit… personality? Like, the Rat, they say he’s quick-witted. Well, I’ve seen rats, and they’re quick alright, quick to get into your pantry!

- Rat – They say they’re smart and quick. Don’t know about that, I just know they eat my grain.
- Ox – Strong, that one is. Works hard, like my old Bessie did.
- Tiger – Now that’s a scary one. Don’t want to meet one of them in the woods, I tell ya.
- Rabbit – This year’s the Rabbit. They’re supposed to be gentle, I guess. Like them little bunnies in the field.
- Dragon – The lucky one, like I said. Don’t see many of them around here though, ha!
- Snake – Sneaky, they are. Always slitherin’ around. Don’t much like ‘em.
- Horse – Good for workin’, horses are. And for ridin’, if you’re young enough.
- Goat – They got them goats up on the mountain. They eat everything, just like the rats.
- Monkey – Always jumpin’ around, them monkeys. Makin’ a racket.
- Rooster – Wakes you up in the mornin’, that rooster does. Loud as can be.
- Dog – Man’s best friend, they say. My old dog, Buster, he was a good boy.
- Pig – Fat and happy, that’s the pig. Good eatin’, too.
They got this whole thing figured out, you know. Each animal comes around every twelve years. So, if you was born in, say, 1984, you’re a Rat. Or was it 1972? I can’t keep all them numbers in my old head. My grandson, he knows all about it. He’s a smart one, he is. He can tell you what animal you are just by knowin’ when you was born. He says it’s all based on the lunar calendar, not like our regular calendar. Somethin’ about the moon, I guess. It’s all a bit complicated for an old woman like me, but it’s interesting, I reckon.
This Chinese zodiac, it ain’t just for years, you know. They use it for months and hours too, or so I hear. Imagine that! An animal for every hour of the day. Must be mighty crowded in that animal house, ha! But it’s their way, and it’s been around for a long, long time. They say it’s a treasure of their culture. And I guess it is, seein’ as how they still use it and all. It’s like our Christmas, or Thanksgiving. Just somethin’ you do, somethin’ you believe in.
And it ain’t just about knowin’ what animal you are. They say each animal has its own…characteristics. Like, the Ox is strong, the Tiger is brave, and the Rabbit is…well, gentle, I guess. And they say that these characteristics can tell you somethin’ about the person born in that year. Now, I don’t know if I believe all that, but it’s fun to think about. And it gives you somethin’ to talk about, right? Like, “Oh, you’re a Dragon year, you must be lucky!” Or, “You’re a Pig year, you must like to eat!” It’s all just a bit of fun, I reckon. But it’s part of their culture and it’s been around for ages and that’s somethin’. It’s like them old quilts I got, passed down from my grandma. They ain’t just blankets, they’re stories. And this Chinese calendar, it’s the same way, I think. It’s a story about animals, and time, and people. And that’s a good story, any way you look at it.
Tags: [Chinese Zodiac, Lunar Calendar, Sheng Xiao, Animal Signs, Chinese Culture, Chinese Astrology, Birth Year]