Year of the Rat

The Rat (Chinese:鼠), is the first of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac and is regarded as the protector and bringer of material prosperity. Being the first sign of the Chinese zodiacs, rats are considered leaders, pioneers and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. Rat people are endowed with great leadership skills and are the most highly organized, meticulous, and systematic of the twelve signs. Rats are intelligent and cunning at the same time, rats are highly ambitious and strong-willed people who are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas, which often include money and power. They are energetic and versatile and can usually find their way around obstacles, and adapt to various environments easily. A rat's natural charm and sharp demeanor make it an appealing friend for almost anyone, but rats are usually highly exclusive and selective when choosing friends and so often have only a few very close friends whom they trust.

Overlaid on the Chinese zodiac are the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water), the 2008 rat is an earth rat and people born in an Earth Rat year are said to be logical realists, shrewd, charming, ambitious, and inventive.