It’s happy new year all over again for the Year of the Sheep... or Goat... or Ram. Jaine Blackman reports on events and takes a look at some horoscopes

It's the time of woolly jumpers in more ways than one... and we’re not even talking about the weather.

Shaun The Sheep movie is doing good business – and getting great reviews – in Oxford cinemas and the city’s Chinese community is preparing to celebrate the Year of the Sheep... or Goat.... or possibly Ram.

The Chinese zodiac is divided into 12 animals but this year’s sign comes under a variety of names. And dates for celebrations seem to be changeable too.

The official start of the year is February 19 – Thursday – but in Oxford celebrations began last night with Oxford University Chinese Society hosting a retro (1930s and 40s)themed dinner and ball at St Aldate’s Church.

They continue tomorrow with a gathering organised by the Oxford Chinese Students and Scholars Association (OXCSSA) at Oxford Town Hall, which includes traditional entertainment, and bringing things right up to date, on Wednesday London DJ DSD will be at Warehouse nightclub in Park End Street for a New Year’s Eve event.

Perhaps it’s a tradition we should adopt in the West – and celebrate our own new year for a week or more.

Those events are being billed as for the Year of Goat. Then on Sunday February 22, Oxfordshire Chinese Community & Advice Centre (OCCAC) is hosting another new year event of a buffet lunch and variety show but in this instance calling it for the Year of the Ram.

Whichever creature you opt for, those born under the sign are said to be calm, dependable, well-mannered, gentle, kind, warm, creative, intelligent and sincere.

You can see why some translations opt for sheep rather than ram or goat.

And there’s another animal connection at the Chinese New Year Gala Concert at Oxford Town Hall tomorrow.

OXCSSA’s event will include Chinese traditional folk dance and music, popular Mandarin pop songs, and comedy skits performed by students from Oxford University. Star guest will be Zhang Jinlai, better known by his stage name Liu Xiao Ling Tong, who played the Monkey King in the 1986 television series Journey to the West.

Find out your Chinese zodiac sign and horoscope for 2015:

Years of the Goat/Sheep/Ram – 1931-5 Feb 1932; 5 Feb 1943-24 Jan 1944; 24 Jan 1955-11 Feb 1956; 9 Feb 1967-29 Jan 1968; 28 Jan 1979-15 Feb 1980; 15 Feb 1991-3 Feb 1992; 1 Feb 2003-21 Jan 2004; 19 Feb 2015-7 Feb 2016 Fluctuating fortunes ahead. 

Years of the Horse – 30 Jan 1930-16 Feb 1931; 15 Feb 1942-4 Feb 1943; 3 Feb 1954-23 Jan 1955; 21 Jan 1966-4 Feb 1967; 7 Feb 1978-27 Jan 1979; 27 Jan 1990-14 Feb 1991; 12 Feb 2002-31 Jan 2003; 31 Jan 2014-18 Feb 2015 A better year than the past one. 

Years of the Rat – 24 Jan 1936-10 Feb 1937; 10 Feb 1948-28 Jan 1949; 28 Jan 1960-14 Feb 1961; 15 Feb 1972-2 Feb 1973; 2 Feb 1984-19 Feb 1985; 9 Feb 1996-6 Feb 1997; 7 Feb 2008-25 Jan 2009 Good fortune in career may be limited.

Years of the Ox –24 Jan 1925-12 Feb 1926; 11 Feb 1937-30 Jan 1938; 29 Jan 1949-16 Feb 1950; 15 Feb 1961-04 Feb 1962; 3 Feb 1973-22 Jan 1974; 20 Feb 1985-8 Feb 1986; 7 Feb 1997-27 Jan 1998; 26 Jan 2009-14 Feb 2010 A so-so year but care needs to be taken.

Years of the Tiger – 13 Feb 1926-1 Feb 1927; 31 Jan 1938-18 Feb 1939; 17 Feb 1950-5 Feb 1951; 5 Feb 1962-24 Jan 1963; 23 Jan 1974-10 Feb 1975; 9 Feb 1986-28 Jan 1987; 28 Jan 1998-15 Feb 1999; 14 Feb 2010-2 Feb 2011 A smooth year with help offered.

Years of the Rabbit – 2 Feb 1927-22 Jan 1928; 19 Feb 1939-7 Feb 1940; 6 Feb 1951-26 Jan 1952; 25 Jan 1963-12 Feb 1964; 11 Feb 1975-30 Jan 1976; 29 Jan 1987-16 Feb 1988; 16 Feb 1999-4 Feb 2000; 3 Feb 2011-22 Jan 2012 A good outlook for hard workers.

Oxford Mail:
Liu Xiao Ling Tong, right, as the Monkey King

Years of the Dragon – 23 Jan 1928-9 Feb 1929; 8 Feb 1940-26 Jan 1941; 27 Jan 1952-13 Feb 1953; 3 Feb 1964-1 Feb 1965; 31 Jan 1976-17 Feb 1977; 17 Feb 1988-5 Feb 1989; 5 Feb 2000-23 Jan 2001; 23 Jan 2012-9 Feb 2013 Some frustrations and difficulties.

Years of the Snake – 10 Feb 1929-29 Jan 1930; 27 Jan 1941-14 Feb 1942; 14 Feb 1953-2 Feb 1954; 2 Feb 1965-20 Jan 1966; 18 Feb 1977-06 Feb 1978; 6 Feb 1989-26 Jan 1990; 24 Jan 2001-11 Feb 2002; 10 Feb 2013-30 Jan 2014 Changeable fortunes.

Years of the Monkey – 6 Feb 1932-25 Jan 1933; 25 Jan 1944-12 Feb 1945; 12 Feb 1956-30 Jan 1957; 30 Jan 1968-16 Feb 1969; 16 Feb 1980-04 Feb 1981; 4 Feb 1992-22 Jan 1993; 22 Jan 2004-08 Feb 2005 A busy and successful year ahead.

Years of the Rooster – 213 Feb 1945-1 Feb 1946; 31 Jan 1957-17 Feb 1958; 17 Feb 1969-5 Feb 1970; 5 Feb 1981-24 Jan 1982; 23 Jan 1993-9 Feb 1994; 9 Feb 2005-28 Jan 2006 General good fortune.

Years of the Dog –2 Feb 1946-21 Jan 1947; 18 Feb 1958-7 Feb 1959; 6 Feb 1970-26 Jan 1971; 25 Jan 1982-12 Feb 1983; 10 Feb 1994 - 30 Jan 1995; 29 Jan 2006-17 Feb 2007 A stable year, tolerance needed.

Years of the Pig – 22 Jan 1947-9 Feb 1948; 8 Feb 1959-27 Jan 1960; 27 Jan 1971-14 Feb 1972; 13 Feb 1983-1 Feb 1984; 31 Jan 1995-18 Feb 1996; 18 Feb 2007-6 Feb 2008 Extra effort will bring rewards.

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.