Monday, February 18, 2008

12 Chinese Zodiac

Every year Singapore will usher the Chinese New Year with the Singapore River Hongbao celebrations. This year it will be held at The Esplanade Park.

One of my favourite besides the God Of Fortune will be the 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals. Some of the photos are not clear because there are just too many people waiting to take photo of these animals.

Legends had it that the Jade Emperor (from heaven) invited all the animals to a race, only twelve showed up: the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

The Rat is the winner of the race and the pig is last. Legend had it that the Cat is supposed to join the race and ask the Rat to wake him up in time for the race but the Rat did not wake him up so there he has a better chance to win. Therefore the Cat and Rat are alway enemies.

Another Legend was that the Cow was supposed to be first in the race but the Rat who hitch a ride on the Cow's tail, bit the Cow's tail when nearer the finished point and the Cow in pain swing his tail and that swing landed the Rat in the finished point and so the Rat is first in the race.

There are many versions to the Origins of the Chinese Zodiac but the above was what I heard from my elders.

Rat

Cow

Tiger(sorry for poor photo)

Rabbit

Dragon

Snake

Horse

Goat

Monkey

Rooster

Dog

Pig

3 comments:

quintarantino said...

Do you call these poor photos? They are amazing.
Loved the Dragon. That's what I am!

Squirrel said...

I love these pix. This place must have been magical to walk through.

Lara said...

wonderful! the lights are great!