Chinese New Year 2015 : The Year of the Goat

Happy Chinese New Year 2015! This year is the year of the Goat.

Chinese New Year 2015 Festival

Today is the start of the Chinese New Year 2015 festival marking the start of the new year.  It begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice and ends on the full moon fifteen days later. It is also referred to as the Lunar New Year.  It is celebrated by visiting with family and friends, having special meals, fireworks displays and gift giving.

According to Chinese astrology, each year, starting from the Chinese Lunar New Year, is associated with an animal sign. These rotate over a 12-year cycle.  2015 is the year of the Goat, so any babies born in this year will be associated with the Goat:  “People born in a year of the Goat are generally believed to be gentle, mild-mannered, stable, sympathetic, amicable, and brimming with a strong sense of kind heartedness and justice.  They are very strong creatively, and they have perseverance, and they acquire professional skills well. Although they look gentle on the surface, they are tough on the inside, always insisting on their own opinions in their minds. They have strong inner resilience and excellent defensive instincts.”

Chinese New Year 2015 Activities and Celebrations

There are some Chinese New Year 2015 activities and celebrations taking place around Dublin this week.  There is everything from Chinese Astrology Readings to Chinese cooking demonstrations to art exhibitions. There is also a Chinese New Year 2015 Carnival taking place this Sunday the 22nd from 12:00 to 5:00pm.  It is taking place at Meeting House Square in Temple Bar, Dublin.   There will be authentic Chinese performances with Dragon and Lion Dances, Tai Chi and Martial Arts displays, special traditional music and dance entertainment along with karaoke singing. There will also be a cookery demonstration hosted by Asia Market and a number of Food and Asia Craft stalls.  Click here for more information on the Carnival.  And click here for more information on the many and varied celebrations taking place this week.