While Korea, China, and other Asian countries prepare to welcome the Year of the Rabbit, Vietnam is gearing up to welcome another mascot, the Cat, during the Lunar New Year.
Cat figures in all colors and shapes, from serious to cute, adorn the streets across the country, and shops are stocked with cat-themed decorations.
Vietnam shares 10 out of 12 zodiac signs with neighboring China, including Rat, Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. However, instead of honoring the Rabbit, Vietnam celebrates the Cat and the Water Buffalo instead of the Cow.
There are several theories to explain why Vietnam chose the Cat over the Rabbit. One explanation is that the answer may lie in the rice fields that stretch across the country. Rice is considered an essential product, but it is threatened by rats. The cat, on the other hand, can catch rats, making it a favorite animal of the Vietnamese people.
Another explanation is that rats and rabbits are both rodents, and the Vietnamese do not want to have two similar animals on the list of 12 zodiac signs.
Experts suggest that although Vietnam received the Can - Chi calendar system from China, it has been modified to suit Vietnamese customs and habits.
One of the reasons why Vietnam celebrates the Cat instead of the Rabbit is that cats are more common and familiar to the Vietnamese people than rabbits./.
