Lion dancer makes impact on Chinese Lunar New Year tradition. By Mori Rothman, Michael D. Regan. Happy Lunar New Year! But is it the Year of the Sheep or Goat? By Larisa Epatko. Go Deeper. china However, this is not just a personal story. Let's delve into the numbers, particularly the surge in “dragon babies”. In 2024, during the Year of the Dragon, China witnessed a 5.7% year-on-year increase in births, with South Korea seeing a 3% rise. These spikes are noteworthy, considering both nations are grappling with declining birth rates. What are the animals of the zodiac? Each year honors an animal based on the Chinese zodiac. The circle of 12 animals — the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig — measure the cycles of time. Sheep / Goat is the eighth in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. The Years of the Sheep include 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039, 2051 Sheep (goat, or ram) is among the animals that people like most. It is docile, mellow, and timid. The white cute creature often reminds people of beautiful things. Wong adds that many Chinese traditions around the new year, like cleaning or eating sweets, are all about setting the mood for the year ahead. "A lot of it feels about intent. Chinese New Year in 2025 falls on January 29 and ends with the Lantern Festival on Feb. 12. Celebrations last up to 16 days; the Chinese public holiday lasts from Wednesday to Feb. 4. The seventh day of the Lunar New Year (February 4, 2025) is said to be when the Chinese mother goddess, Nuwa, created humanity. Thus, it’s called renri/jan jat (the people’s birthday). Other celebrities born in the year of the sheep include the founder of Microsoft Corporation Bill Gates (born Oct 28, 1955), Australian and American actress and producer Nicole Kidman (born June 20, 1967), former professional Italian footballer Andrea Pirlo (born May 19, 1979), and English singer, guitarist Ed Sheeran (born Feb 17, 1991). The Chinese zodiac has a 12-year cycle, with each assigned a different animal. This new lunar year, which begins February 19, is the Year of the Goat. Generally speaking, people born in this zodiac (2015, as well as 2003, 1991, 1979, etc.) are generous, kind, and loyal—just like sheep. New Year celebration period. For these visits snacks are often served; the most popular ones include sunflower seeds, peanuts, tangerines and candy. Year of the Sheep According to the Chinese Animal Zo-diac, 2015 is a year of the Sheep. In Chi-nese folk tales, the story of the Sheep is similar to that of Prometheus in Greek mythology. The Chinese Zodiac Story. The Chinese zodiac story is famous throughout China, taught in schools from a young age. The story begins with the Jade Emperor, the ruler of heaven, deciding to select twelve animals to represent the years in the Chinese lunar calendar. To determine the order, he announces a race, inviting all creatures to participate. Ranking the eighth position of all the animals in Chinese zodiac, Sheep (also Goat or Ram) represents solidarity, harmony and calmness. People born in the year of the Sheep are polite, mild mannered, shy, imaginative, determined and have good taste. On the negative side, they are sometimes pessimistic, unrealistic, short-sighted and slow in Lunar New Year 2025: What Chinese Zodiac animal to celebrate, info about the Year of the Snake Lunar New Year 2025, the Year of the Snake, runs Jan. 30, 2025, to Feb. 16, 2025. The following story reveals legendary reasons, and some of the characteristics of the 12 animals. The story is widespread (and widely varying) among Chinese. Though it is made up, it might be interesting for you to tell your children and friends. The Heavenly Gate Race Story - Reasons for Zodiac Rankings. Long, long ago, there was no Chinese As we enter the Year of the Snake for Chinese New Year on January 29, find out what's in store for 2025 based on your Chinese zodiac sign. Sheep/Goat Chinese horoscope for 2025. Born between The Chinese zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao or Shu Xiang, features 12 animal signs in this order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. 2025 is the Year of the Snake according to Chinese zodiac, starting from the 2025 Chinese New Year on Jan. 29th and lasting to 2026 Lunar New Year's Eve on Feb. 16. 2026 is the Year of the Horse. The overall fortune for people born in the Sheep year in 2025 is relatively good. The career fortune is generally stable. In finance, they can earn a good income through their own efforts. In terms of love, they can get good peach blossom luck through making more friends this year. Chinese New Year and the Zodiacs. Each of these zodiac animals governs a whole year, which starts at Chinese New Year according to the lunar calendar. This usually corresponds to January or February in the western calendar. When the current year has the same zodiac animal as the year you were born, you are said to be in Ben Ming Nian. Chinese New Year Long ago in China, there lived twelve animals. There was a rat, an ox, a tiger, a rabbit, a dragon, a snake, a horse, a ram, a monkey, a roster, a dog and a pig. When the old year was coming to an end, all the animals began to quarrel noisily. Each one wanted the New Year to be named after it. The Chinese zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao or Shu Xiang, features 12 animal signs in this order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. 2025 is the Year of the Snake according to Chinese zodiac, starting from the 2025 Chinese New Year on Jan. 29th and lasting to 2026 Lunar New Year's Eve on Feb. 16. 2026
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