Happy Chinese Lunar New Year! We at Academy of Art University are one with all of you in celebrating this special occasion.

January 25, 2020 officially marks the start of the new year in the Chinese lunar calendar. This year is otherwise known as the Year of the Rat, the very first animal in the Chinese zodiac. According to mythology, the rat used its cunning and wile to get ahead of the pack–literally–to win the race set up by the Jade Emperor.

One of the obstacles required the animals to cross a river. The rat, already exhausted, managed to convince the ox to let the rat ride on top of its head as it makes the crossing. Upon reaching the other side of the bank, however, the rat made a dash to the finish line, instead of saying thanks to the ox, thereby winning the first place both in the race and the Chinese lunar cycle.

Following this narrative therefore, the rat is characterized as an animal with “spirit, wit, alertness, delicacy, flexibility and vitality.”

May you have a fun and auspicious one! Oh, and by the way, do look forward to the city’s annual Chinese New Year parade. You know we’ll be there, and as always, our A-game will be right along with us.

Keep it posted here for more details and updates!

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