In Vietnam, each lunar year is represented by one of twelve animals in the rotation of the Vietnamese zodiac calendar—and 2020 is the Year of the Rat!

Today’s Doodle commemorates one of the most significant national holidays in Vietnam, Tết Nguyên Đán (Tết for short)⁠, or the country’s observance of the Lunar New Year. It depicts the story of the grand race that earned the rat its premier spot in the calendar.

According to ancient legend, an emperor challenged different animals to race through the land to determine their order in the Zodiac. Due to his size, the rat knew it could not cross a river on his own, so he hitched a ride on the water buffalo’s back. But, just before reaching the opposite shore over a river, the rat then cleverly leapt off—winning first place in the race and thus the zodiac calendar!

Often viewed as an opportunity for new beginnings, this multi-day celebration gathers loved ones together as they look forward to the year to come, perhaps while enjoying new flower blossoms and sharing some traditional sticky rice cakes.

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới!

Early sketches and draft of the Doodle

Which zodiac animal are you?

(TIP: Look for “Vietnamese zodiac” in Google Search!)

Rat

Buffalo

Tiger

Cat

Dragon

Snake

Horse

Sheep

Monkey

Rooster

Dog

Pig