Rat New Year

Zen Master Man Gong (1871-1946) was Zen Master Seung Sahn’s teacher’s teacher. For the Rat New Year a layman wrote Man Gong a letter saying “Everybody says, ‘Old year going, new year coming.’ I don’t undertand. Old year and new year, what does this mean?” “This is Rat New Year,” Man Gong replied.
In the Chinese calendar 2020 will also be a Rat year. The Chinese New Year begins on 25th January. The Western New Year begins on 1st January. Two different dates to begin one New Year. Which one is correct? Wake up in the morning, look out of the window: “See, sun shining on frosty grass. Happy New Year!”