8 Reasons To Celebrate The Year Of The Goat

Looking for another opportunity to kick start those New Year's Resolutions? Well, China just gave you one. February 19 marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year, and people all over the world are celebrating. There will be feasts, parades, dragon dances (whatever these are, I want IN), gifts exchanged, and paper lanterns galore. Spanning 15 days, it's the longest holiday of the year in China, with the start of the new year being the epic holiday finale. The celebration originates from the ancient Chinese lunar calendar, and the new year falls on the second new moon after winter solstice, which changes from year to year, as reported by The Independent.

This Chinese New Year is indeed a special one, because 2015 is the Year of the Goat... or Sheep, depending on who you ask. (The reason for the different animals is because the Chinese character "yáng" can be translated as goat or sheep.) Either way, this is a stellar animal to ring in 2015 with. Not only are goats (and sheep) utterly adorbs, but everything they embody in the Chinese zodiac system are the makings of a serious BOSS. Here are all the reasons we should celebrate the Year of the Goat (or Sheep), regardless of what year you were born.

1. Goat people are totally zen

They naturally have a calm and peaceful nature, so you want them around when you start to get cray. Or really, we should all figure out a way to be a little more like Goat people, because stress is slowly killing all of us, and our lives are in desperate need of some zen.

2. Goat colors are spring-like

Their lucky colors are red, purple, and brown. The purple illicits images of flowers blooming and spring dresses. The red provides a bright and fiery accent to the softer purple, and brown is brown... which could represent the muddy puddles we'll soon be trying to avoid stepping in.

3. Goat people tend to be healthier

All thanks to that calm energy, Goat people tend to be in better health. If your mind and soul are in a solid and balanced space, then everything else will follow suit.

4. There is no "I" in Goat

Goat people work best in teams, which is not as common as it seems. (I swear that rhyme was not intentional.) Everyone wants to be a team player, but not everyone is good at that. Some people just prefer to work alone, and that's OK. But Goat people bring everyone together and keep things running smoothly. They are necessary in every collaborative environment.

5. Because... Hunger Games?

One of the lucky flowers for Goat people is the primrose. And since Prim is as delicate as her namesake and as calm and zen as the Goat people tend to be, is this a planned connection Suzanne Collins made? One can only hope.

6. Goats have interesting love matches

They are best matched with people of the Chinese zodiac Rabbit, Horse, or Pig sign. These matches are really only interesting because I'm picturing a goat walking down the aisle to marry a rabbit, horse, or pig, and I can't stop giggling internally.

7. Because their lucky numbers are the best numbers

Their lucky numbers are 2 and 7. The best things come in pairs, and seven has always been a classic lucky number. Score for the Goat people.

8. Goats have kick-ass ideal careers

Due to their thoughtful and creative nature, Goat people are best suited for becoming a teacher, actor, editor, musician, or interior designer. Not bad, you goats. Not bad at all.

Image: Choo Yut Shing/Flickr; Giphy (8)