Gung Hay Fat Choy! Kung Hei Fat Choi!

We are leaving the Year of the Pig behind us today and are entering the Year of the Rat. So a Happy New Year of the Rat to you all!

A Rat Year is a time of hard work, activity, and renewal. This is a good year to begin a new job, get married, or make a fresh start. The best way for you to succeed is to be patient, let things develop slowly, and make the most of every opening you can find.

In spite of the bad reputation the rats have in the western world, here in the east the Rat is respected and considered a courageous, enterprising person. People born in the Year of Rat (1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008) are clever and bright, sociable and family-minded. They have broad interests and strong ability in adapting to the environment and are able to react adequately to any changes.

The rodent is also seen as a "flower of romance" which means the year will stimulate romance.