Year of the Sheep 2015

Did you know Lantern Festival marks the last day of Chinese New Year?
One of the most important days in the 15-day celebration is Lantern Festival, marking the end of New Year’s festivities. Hundreds of ornate lanterns, many made by hand, are hung up for people to admire. Most are red, symbolizing good fortune.

Celebrations mark start of Chinese New Year…

Red lanterns, red envelopes and clothing… red is the color of Chinese New Year, associated with luck and fortune. Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) dates back 2,000 years or more. It is one of the most important holidays in China and other Asian countries, similar to Christmas in the U.S.

Festivities for 2015 begin on February 19th and usher in the Year of the Sheep (also ram or goat). The years of the traditional Chinese calendar are based on a 12-year cycle with each year linked to an animal. According to legend, Buddha asked all animals to meet him on New Year’s Day to celebrate, but only 12 came: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep (ram or goat), monkey, rooster, dog and pig (or boar). To reward them, he named a year after each animal and New Year’s Day marks the start of a new animal’s reign.

Chinese New Year’s day is held the first day of the first lunar month according to the Chinese calendar (as opposed to our familiar Gregorian calendar). Gifts are bought, houses are cleaned to sweep away bad luck, and celebrations start on New Year’s Eve when families gather. Even people who live far away try to return home. The New Year’s Eve meal is one of the most important, and symbolizes the bounties of a year of hard work. Families enjoy many different dishes, but dumplings and a whole fish are two of the most important because they represent wealth and prosperity. Occasionally a coin is hidden in a dumpling and whoever finds it will have wealth in the New Year.

The Year of the Horse 2014 ends & Year of the Sheep 2015 begins

Which Chinese lunar animal are you?

At midnight, firecrackers are set off to drive out the old year, for 2014 Year of the Horse, and welcome in the new, Year of the Sheep. On New Year’s Day, people visit friends and family, children receive red envelopes with money as gifts and the New Year begins.

Those born in 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003 & 2015 fall under the sheep sign (also known as ram or goat). People under the sheep sign are said to be creative, shy, sensitive and dependable. This is the 8th animal in the lunar cycle and 8 is a lucky number according to Chinese tradition. With this auspicious number figuring prominently in the Chinese New Year, I’m sending you wishes of luck, fortune and prosperity in 2015.