The year 2009 is the Year of Ox. The ox is a representative of the farming culture of China. In the farming economy (经济), oxen are the major animals pulling plows (犁).
Of course, the good of oxen is not limited to plowing. In fact, they are seen as "boats on land" for their ability to carry loads. Besides, the whole body of an ox is full of treasures. Their meat and milk are food full of nutrition, and their skin can be used to make clothes and shoes. With all these qualities, oxen are regarded as generous creatures.
In the past, oxen played an important role in the spiritual life of the Chinese. Even today, oxen still play a special part in some folk activities. For example, some people who1ive in southwest China will cook cattle bone soup and share it among family members when holding the ceremony for children who reach 13. They believe that the cattle bone soup represents the blood relationship among family members. In order to express their love for oxen, people in some other areas will run to shake off diseases on the 16th day of the first month by the lunar calendar (农历), and during their run they will take their oxen along, which indicates they regard the creature as human.
Because of the contribution of oxen in their lives, the Chinese people are very grateful to the animal. In addition, the use of oxen in ceremonies and the thanks people owe to oxen help to develop various traditional customs, which becomes an important part of the folk culture of the Chinese nation.

2009年是牛年，“牛”是中国农业文化的代表，在农业经济下，牛是拖犁耕田最主要的动物。

当然，良好的牛不单是耕田的好帮手，因为它可以负重搬运，所以有“陆上之舟”的称号。同时，牛的全身都是宝藏，牛肉和牛奶是营养全面的事物，牛皮有可以用以生产衣服和皮鞋，基于这种种原因，牛被认为是一位“施予者”。

昔日，牛在中国人的精神生活上，占着极重要的地位。就是今天，它在我们某些民族活动中，也有它特殊的意义，例如住在中国西南地区的人民，会在小孩子到达13岁的时候的庆典中，烧煮黄牛骨汤和其他人分享的。他们相信黄牛骨是代表家庭的血缘关系的，为了表达丢牛的爱护，在某一些地区，每年农历一月十六日，他们会奔跑，他们相信这可以驱除身体的疾病，他们亦会带同他们的牛一起奔跑的，这表示他们将牛当作人类一般的看待。

因为牛对人类的贡献，所以我们是非常感激牛的。另一方面，以牛作为庆典和感谢之用，是我中华民族有产生了多姿多彩的风俗习惯，也成为了我们中华民族的文化重要的一环。