As people in China were welcoming the first day of the Lunar New Year on Saturday, Google is joining the festivities with a Doodle depicting the Year of the Rat.
Today is the Spring Festival, the most important Chinese festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. It also marks the start of the Year of the Rat, as determined by the Chinese zodiac.
On the Google homepage, visitors can see a new Doodle to ring in the Lunar New Year, depicting a rat encircled by the other members of the Chinese zodiac in order.
For those wondering why the zodiac is in the order we have today, Google is offering a simplified explanation:
In parts of Asia, each lunar year is represented by one of twelve animals in the rotation of the zodiac calendar—and 2020 is the Year of the Rat!
Today’s animated Doodle commemorates one of the most significant cultural holidays for Asian communities, the observance of the Lunar New Year. It depicts the story of the grand race that earned the rat its premier spot in the calendar.
According to ancient legend, an emperor challenged different animals to race through the land to determine their order in the zodiac. Due to his size, the rat knew it could not cross a river on his own, so he hitched a ride on the ox’s back.
But, just before reaching the opposite shore over a river, the rat then cleverly leapt off—winning first place in the race and thus the zodiac calendar!
Often viewed as an opportunity for new beginnings, this multi-day celebration gathers loved ones together to share some delectable nian gao, tang yuan, and jiao zhi as everyone wishes each other happiness and prosperity!
Happy Lunar New Year!
In the Chinese calendar, the first day of the Lunar New Year is Jan 25 this year, which is the beginning of Spring Festival. It ends on Feb 8, which is the Lantern Festival.
The reunion dinners on Lunar New Year's Eve, firecrackers, couplets, and temple fairs are still the necessary ways to celebrate Spring Festival.
New Year's Eve or Spring Festival Eve is celebrated as a time of family reunions. Children who work or study outside their hometown, return home to celebrate the festival with their family.
People visit friends and relatives' homes to give their New Year's greetings on the first day of the New Year. They use auspicious words to pray for good luck in the New Year.
