Color the Ox

The Ox comes second in the Chinese zodiac, right behind the tiny Rat. In the legend of the Great Race, the Ox was one of the first animals to reach the wide river, and it waded in with calm, steady steps. It was so kind and patient that it let the little Rat ride along on its back. The Ox never noticed when the Rat sprang off at the finish to win first place, so the gentle Ox happily took second.

People born in the Year of the Ox are known for being hardworking, dependable, and patient. An Ox does not give up easily. It keeps going slow and strong, like a farmer plowing a field from sunrise until the work is done.

When you color your Ox, follow the bold, sweeping lines of its body. They come from jianzhi (剪纸), the Chinese art of paper-cutting, where artists snip strong shapes from red paper for festivals. Try deep browns and earthy golds for the Ox, the colors of fields and harvest, and add touches of red for good luck in the new year.