The Chinese New Year begins on February 19th in 2016 and ends on February 7th 2016.
The Chinese Calendar 2015
2015 is the year of the Goat, and is also know as the year of the Sheep. It is the yĭ-wèi (乙未) year of the Wooden Goat. Yĭ is the second of the ten celestial stems and wèi (Sheep) is the eighth of the twelve terrestrial branches.
Chinese calendar has names that are repeated every 60 years. Within this ‘Stem-Branch’ date system, is a shorter cycle of 12 years denoted by these animals:
Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Dragon Snake Horse Goat Monkey Rooster Dog Pig
Calculating ‘When is the Chinese New Year in 2015’
The date of Chinese New Year varies within about a month, this is a sure sign that it’s linked to the moon. As a guide the Chinese New Year follows the second new moon after the winter solstice. As the winter solstice falls on December 21st 2014, the next new moon is on January 20th 2015, and the second new moon is on February 18th 2015.
While there is a new moon on December 21st, it does not count for determining the New Year. What this does mean that February 19th is about the latest day in the year that Chinese New Year could occur. As the new year ends on February 7th 2016 it makes it slightly shorter than most Chinese ‘years’.
The lunar Chinese New Year (CNY) calendar below shows which of 12 animals you are! Naturally the animal depends on the year in which you were born. Note: if you were born in January or February you need to check if your birthday was before or after the date of that Chinese New Year. Because if it was before this day your animal is the one shown for the previous year.
Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Dragon Snake Horse Goat Monkey Rooster Dog Pig
If the year ends in 0 it is Yang Metal.
If the year ends in 1 it is Yin Metal.
If the year ends in 2 it is Yang Water.
If the year ends in 3 it is Yin Water.
If the year ends in 4 it is Yang Wood.
If the year ends in 5 it is Yin Wood.
If the year ends in 6 it is Yang Fire.
If the year ends in 7 it is Yin Fire.
If the year ends in 8 it is Yang Earth.
If the year ends in 9 it is Yin Earth.
Chinese Idiom Story
There was a Chinese boy called Lěi, who had a large flock of sheep. But one day, Lěi lost a sheep and didn’t take care of his fence. Gradually more sheep escaped until, at last, there was only one sheep left. Only then did Lěi realise the seriousness of his situation, and belatedly repaired the fence. From that moment, none of his sheep were ever lost.
Lěi’s story tells us that we must deal with matters in time, or we would lose a lot.
Qualities of “Wood Goat” People
Goats enjoy being in the middle of a group, consequently, other flock to these Goats, possibly because they are so compassionate and helpful.
Their sincerity can be taken advantage of and Wood Goat may get their feelings hurt by undeserving sympathy seekers.
Sometimes, Wood Goat need to suppress their caring ways and take care of themselves.
Likely Vocations for GoatsTheir caring and artistic qualities, means that Goats make excellent actors, designers, florists, paediatricians, hairdressers, musicians and teachers.
Goats Show These Likes and Aversions
- Colour Preference: Cerise, mauve and pink.
- Gems and Stones: Jade, Moonstone and Sapphire.
- Leisure Activities: Reading, swimming, going to the theatre, eating and drinking.
- Goats Dislike: Being away from their family and friends. They dislike arguments or conflict.
People Born in the Year of the Goat Michelangelo, King George VI, Jane Austen, Boris Becker, Jamie Foxx, Mel Gibson, Franz Liszt, Mark Twain, Barbara Walters, Orville Wright and Rudolph Valentino.
Chinese Proverbs
20 Number 6
Enigmatic Chinese Proverbs
- With a good wife, the husband won’t get in trouble; a bad wife is worse than a dog.
- The parental love for children is lengthy like the stream, but the children only think of the parents like the wind on the edge of a tree.
- A hedge between keeps friendship green.
- Do not remove a fly from your friend’s forehead with a hatchet.
- Happiness is something to do, something to love, something to hope for.
- If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.
- Make happy those who are near, and those who are far will come.
‘When is the Chinese Valentine’s Day in 2015?’, is sure to be a question in quiz. So be prepared, know the date, and remember the golden rule, 7th day of the 7th month of the Chinese calendar.
Please write to Will and Guy if you have any interesting stories about the Chinese New Year 2015 – The year of the Goat.
