Chinese New year of the Rat

7th February 2008 is the Year of the Rat,
which is also known by its former name of Wu Zhi.

Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar.  The Chinese year 4706 begins on Feb 7, 2008.  This year of the rat begins a new 12 year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.

If you were born in any of these years your Chinese Zodiac sign is the Rat
1948 - 1960 - 1972 - 1984 - 1996 - 2008 - 2020 - 2032

Chinese legend holds that, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year.  Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one.  He announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality.  Those born in rat years tend to be leaders, pioneers and conquerors.   They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking.  Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Affleck, Samuel L. Jackson, William Shakespeare and Mozart were all born in the year of the rat.

Another opportunity to say Happy New Year