Did You Know that this Chinese New Year is the Year of the Sheep?

Happy Chinese  New Year!

The Chinese year of the Goat (Sheep) 2015 will start on February 19, 2015 (according to the lunar calendar).The Spring Festival has a history of more than 4,000 years. It is said that it originated from a belief in deities that had to be sacrificed to every year. Like many cultures, the New Year Festivals was based on harvests, especially at the end of a year, people would sacrifice to the deities and pray for a good harvest.Chinese people believe that, as the Spring Festival is the start of a new year, what you do then will affect your luck in the coming year.  Certain things are considered unlucky like the cry of a child or washing your hair during the first three days of the New Year.

In China the year of the sheep is taken very seriously. Just like Western astrology signs, the twelve Chinese signs of the Zodiac represent different personalities and certain signs are considered more compatible as mates and friends than others. The dangerous sign for the Sheep to watch out for is the Tiger who will devour a sheep. So many Chinese would not marry a person with the Tiger sign if their sign were the sheep.

The Chinese New Year is a time for rejoicing with food, fireworks and dances particularly dragon dances. Gifts of money are given to all youngsters in a red envelope.  Red is a lucky color and red lanterns are every where during the New Year holiday which lasts several days..If a child is born during this year, the favorite gift is a lamb .Years ago , a real lamb was sent but now a plush lamb toy or security blanket will do. In the western cultures, lambs are also prized as baby gifts for newborns, because little lambs are so sweet and gentle. Many babies are lovingly referred to as "lil lambs".

THE YEAR OF THE GOAT (SHEEP) 2015

The Sheep (Goat) is a Yin energy, a symbol of Peace, Harmonious co-existence and Tranquility. That is the primary and fundamental mood for this year.The Sheep is the symbol of the Arts and relates to a passive and nurturing nature. Although there are so many positive qualities of the sheep, many Chinese are not happy to have their children born under this sign. There is a superstitious belief that girls born in the year of the sheep will be dominated and forced to submit to difficult situations. Boys, on the other hand, born under this sign  will be weak and easily dominated. Many Chinese prefer not to have children during the year of the sheep. Ironically, pregnant women who are due early in the year, will choose to have C-sections so that their babies will be born in the year of the horse rather than in the year of the sheep.

Chinese New Year is a time for families to be together. Wherever they are, people come home to celebrate the festival with their families.The New Year's Eve dinner is called Reunion Dinner, and is believed to be the most important meal of the year. Big families – families of several generations sit around round tables and enjoy the food and time together.The New Year is a joyful time for families; but not so for singles. Parents often try to arrange marriages during this festival. So many young Chinese rent a boy friend or girl friend.  There are websites and agents specialized in this business. Taobao, China's largest online retailer, has a section for fake boyfriend and girlfriend rentals. The price is about 100 yuan (16 USD) a day.