Chinese New Year of the Rat starts Earth cycle
Happy Lunar New Year! Today marks the beginning of the Year of the Rat. The Chinese Zodiac is seperated into 12 year cycles (each year represented by an animal), which are further designated by the five elements. So, this last Year of the Pig finished the Fire cycle, with the Rat ushering in the Earth. Within the 60-year course of all the elemental years, the Earth element falls in the middle between wood, fire, and metal, water. As it is the most important cultural holiday, there will be Lunar New Year celebrations in Chinatowns across the country, with music, firecrackers and lion dances.
Chinese New Year in NYC, About.com