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2020: Year of the Rat

In the Chinese zodiac 2020 is the Year of the Metal Rat. The Chinese Lunar New Year begins January 25, 2020, and starts the 15-day Spring Festival that concludes with the Lantern Festival. The Chinese zodiac rotates through a 12-year cycle of animals and the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. As the first animal in the cycle, the rat is believed to usher in a period of new beginnings. The Year of the Rat is followed by the Year of the Ox. Different regions across Asia celebrate Lunar New Year in many ways and may follow a different zodiac.

Learn more and celebrate with online and in-person events on our Lunar New Year page.


32c Year of the Rat single

Rats and rice bales

Stamp with three round red paper lanterns with gold accents and fringe hanging down

41c Year of the Rat single

Forever Celebrating Lunar New Year: Year of the Rat single

Kyoto ware tea bowl for the New Year, with three impressed seals reading "Shuhei"

Tile with zodiac figure of rat

Forever Send a Hello: Remy the Rat and Linguini single

Fox Terrier and Rat

Rat Sure of His Self

The Rat Catcher

Rat and Mouse

Norway Rat

A rat and grapes

Rat Race

rat

Rat (Ne): Raigō, from the series Bravery Matched with the Twelve Animals of the Zodiac (Buyū mitate jūnishi) 「頼豪 子」 『武勇見立十二支』

Daikoku with rats pulling a radish mikoshi

The Rats Leaving a Falling House

Nezumi Kozo: The Rat (4)

Raigo sending rats to devour sutras

Rata Avisada No Muerde Carnada (The Informed Rat Doesn't Bite Bait)

French Cats and Rats Float

Pierre the French Rat Puppet from Sam and Friends

Working Rats and their Employer

Sticks For Catching Rats

Common squirrel; House mouse; Rat

Norway Rat

The White Rat/Special Elks Edition

Bouquet holder, female figure with tobacco leaf pattern, rat-tail handle

The Ratcatcher's Daughter

Untitled (Side with the Farmworker)

Would You Drink the Milk at This Indian Rat Temple?

Rat

Zodiac figure of a rat

Brown Rat, Norway Rat


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