This Year 2020 is Year of the White, Metal Rat

The photoshoot for my pet rats on New Year 2020, the Year of the White, Metal Rat!

According to Chinese Calendar -- which, I know, not too many people are familiar with in Canada, but which we widely acknowledge in Russia-- this new year 2020 is the Year of the Rat 🐀 . (The year of the White, Metal Rat to be precise! 🐁)
The year of the Rat begins the new 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle.
⭐According to one myth, the Jade Emperor (the Emperor of Heaven) said that the twelve animals who would arrive to his party the earliest would be representatives of the twelve years of the zodiac cycle. On that day, the Rat got up very early and rushed to the gathering site. On the way, he encountered the Ox that ran much faster. In order not to fall behind, the Rat thought up a good plan. He made the gullible Ox carry him on condition that he sang for the Ox. And so, the Ox and Rat arrived first. The Ox was happy, thinking that he would be the first sign of the 12, but then, just as they arrived at the finish line, the Rat jumped down and landed ahead of the Ox, becoming the first animal to arrive to the party, and so, the first of the 12 zodiac animals.
Consequently, the order of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac cycle is as follows: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
⭐🎄🐀So, at least in Russia and in China, the Rat and its artfulness and intelligence is widely celebrated this year!!
🐀🎄⭐Below are photos of my Arthur, the oldest of my pet rats. I am glad he has lived to become the host of this year; he is 2 years and 3 months old, which would be over seventy years old for a human. Photos of my other two rats, Alfred Jr. and Kazimir will follow!
Happy New Year!⭐🎄❄
P.S. The real Chinese New Year does not begin until January 25th this year; however, in Russia, while we acknowledge and celebrate the Chinese succession of the 12 zodiac animals, the year of each of these Chinese zodiac animals begins on January 1st for us!