Year of the rat... I never thought that sounded good until I read the story of the rat:
"(...) Rat jumped onto the Ox's horns and arrived at the Palace with the gates still closed. When these began to open very slowly, the Mouse jumped through the crack and was the first to reach the Emperor.
But this feat still doesn't guarantee his place. Then, when all the animals were lined up, the shrewd Rat, who was afraid of going unnoticed among the others, jumped onto the Ox's back and began to play the flute. The Emperor was so delighted that he awarded him first place. Thanks to his audacity and ingenuity, the Rat became the first sign of the Chinese Zodiac."
