According to the zodiac for the Chinese New Year, 2020 is the year of the rat. Babies born this year should be optimistic, energetic and highly personable. Their lucky numbers are 2 and 3, while their lucky colors are blue, green and gold.
The Chinese zodiac, as you can guess, is based on a 12-year rotation with each year assigned to an animal. This is the first year in that rotation. The story goes that Emperor Jade wanted 12 animals to guard his palace. He planned a race and said he’d take the first 12 winners. The ox was in the lead, but he wasn’t aware the rat was hitching a ride on his back. As he neared the end, the rat jumped down and scurried to be first. What did they expect from a rat?
I love this mythology, and I’ve decided the South needs to follow suit. I don’t have a cool story with which to start, so I’m picking my favorite Southern animals — opossums — to kick off this rotation. They’re mostly underestimated as to their worth, yet they carry on. They’re survivors and represent us well in that regard.
Like the Chinese zodiac includes tigers, strong and fierce, the South has panthers to offer. Ours is a subspecies of the mountain lion, and Florida panthers are always tan. They’re smaller than tigers, but again, it would be a mistake to underestimate them. They’re sleek, fast and quick to guard their territory.
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While the Chinese zodiac is missing a water animal, we have a perfect one for our rotation. Dolphins are considered some of the smartest animals on land or in the sea. They work together for common goals and teach their young as a community. That’s a skill southerners learned early on and have put to the test more than once.
Then, the Chinese zodiac also includes a mythological creature, so I think we should get one, too. The dragon is an extremely popular symbol of Chinese culture. We don’t have anything quite that majestic around here, so we’re stuck with the Florida Skunk Ape.
That’s not a bad thing. According to Bigfoot researchers, these creatures are gentle and unassuming. They don’t cause trouble and try to avoid contact with humans. They smell bad to us (hence “skunk” in the name), but they also might avoid us because we smell so bad to them. Who knows?
Other animals I’d love to include are armadillos, alligators, snakes, bobwhite birds, pelicans, gophers and lovebugs. That leaves one open to still choose. Which 12th animal would represent the South well in the cosmos? Which critter have I forgotten?
Linda Barry is a Southern gal and a columnist for the News Journal.
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January 11, 2020 at 07:00PM
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