Harry Awaits the Year of the Mantis

I’m a Chinese praying mantis, but I learn new things about Chinese culture every day.

For example, did you know there is a Chinese New Year?

I didn’t. Can you believe that? It’s really neat. It usually takes place about a month after the regular New Year. This Chinese New Year started on January 26, 2009.

You know what else is cool about Chinese New Year? The celebration in China involves all kinds of fireworks. As I’ve said before, I’m pretty sure one of my praying mantis ancestors invented fireworks… but that’s another story. The point is, I love fireworks!

The other neat thing is that each year of the Chinese zodiac is represented by one of twelve different animals. For example, last year was the Year of the Rat. This year is the Year of the Ox. Sadly, the mantis isn’t part of the Chinese zodiac.

2009 would be much cooler if it were the Year of the Mantis.

I wonder who I could talk to in order to make that happen? They’ve been using the same animals for 4,000 years. Maybe it’s time to shake things up a bit.