The Chinese New Year celebrations in 2015 get underway on February 19, starting the latest year in the Chinese lunar calendar – the Year of the Goat.
New Year falls on a date between January 21 and February 20 every year and it follows an animal from the Chinese zodiac.
A 12-year cycle exists, with each animal – a rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig – represented once before starting over again.
The Year of the Goat can also be known as the Year of the Sheep – depending on the translation of the Mandarin word ‘yang’ which can mean either animal.
With Chinese New Year looming, here are 7 things that you probably didn’t know about the Year of the Goat.
1. A Wood Goat year
Wolfsdorf
Following Chinese Five Element theory, 2015 is the year of the Wood Goat – a year that occurs just once every 60 years.
Many traditional Chinese fields relate to the Five Element theory to explain a wide array of phenomena relating to interactions between different things.
2. A long public holiday
Joobili
This year most Chinese people will be off work from February 18 to February 24, as they celebrate the first six days of the New Year.
It marks the longest public holiday in the country, with three official days of holiday and a further four taken from weekends.
One weekend is included while workers will work the Sunday before and the Saturday after thye statutory holiday period.
3. Red underwear
Bootsnall
The colour red is believed to ward off bad luck and misfortune in the year ahead so those born in the Year of the Goat are encouraged to purchase.
Supermarkets and street markets all sell items related to the New Year as superstitious people try to safeguard themselves for the year ahead.
4. Rent a partner
Chinahighlights
In China, people are expected to marry before the ages of 30 for females and 32 for males while those that fail to get married by that age are looked upon badly.
However a solution for single people has arisen.
Singles can now rent a boyfriend or girlfriend for the New Year celebrations with many different online sites and retailers offering the service.
5. The symbolic Goat
Katescabinbirdsanctuary
Placed eighth in the zodiac cycle, the Goat symbolises creativity, intelligence, dependability and calmness.
6. Time to get lucky?
Proflowers
Those born in the Year of the Goat are said to have three lucky colours – brown, red and purple. Carnations and primroses are also supposed to bring luck.
7. A city of fortune?
Kaleidoscope
Situated on the Pearl River, the Chinese city of Guangzhou is thought to represent the Goat.
Legend has it that in the Zhou dynasty, the city was once hit by severe famine which led to citizens of the city praying all day and all night for help.
Their prayers were purportedly answered by five heavenly beings that arrived riding goats and carrying grain. They saved the city and Guangzhou has reportedly never faced famine since.