Happy New Year! Today marks the first day of the Chinese New Year, and 2015 marks the year of the goat.

Although mainstream China follows the Gregorian calendar, the traditional Chinese calendar is based on a lunar cycle.

The Chinese New Year falls on the second new moon, after winter solace. The dates therefore shift annually by the Gregorian cycle, but often fall between 21st Jan to 19th Feb.

Chinese New Year is the longest, and most celebrated holiday in China. Given the population of China, you can estimate that roughly one-sixth of the world’s population celebrate Chinese New Year! I’ve been browsing the net about this popular festival, and this is a post brimming with Chinese New Year trivia!

Today (19th Feb) marks the first day of the Chinese New Year, and last night the opulent Burj Al Arab (the only 7 star hotel in the world) welcomed it in with fireworks.

Here you can see the earthly branch symbol, used to donate the year of the goat, being showcased on Burj Khalifa. This symbol is referred to as ‘wei’ in Chinese.

The Chinese calendar is a 12-year cycle represented by various animals, and the goat is the eighth sign.

Those born in the year 1919, 1931, 1943, 1967, 1979, 1991 and 2003 are goats according to Chinese astrology.

Goat people are believed to be kind and peaceful. Their lucky colors are brown, red and purple. Their lucky months are August and November.

The year of the goat is also referred to as the year of the sheep as the Chinese ‘yang’ refers to both species.

In China, the New Year has many traditions associated with it. Each day has a special purpose.

People clean their homes on the twentieth day of the second lunar month before decorating for New Year.

The second day of the New Year is spent socializing, however day three is spent at home as social calls on this day are believed to be inauspicious.

Day 15 is the lantern festival when traditional red lanterns are released into the skies.

Gifts are exchanged, and young children receive money in red envelopes. Sleeping with an envelope of gifted money under the pillow is believed to bring prosperity and good luck.

Chinese New Year involves fireworks and bright red decorating, and the combination of these is believed to keep Mian, the mythical monster, at bay.

A new year calls for new beginnings. Why not treat yourself to the Clarisonic Aria in limited edition ‘Year of the Goat’ design?

Beautiful skin is clean, healthy skin and the Clarisonic Aria promises to transform your complexion with its customizable, state of the art sonic cleansing power.

The Clarisonic Aria has an aerodynamic design making it a pleasure to use, and it looks even more spectacular with its gorgeous print dedicated to the Year of the Goat.

The Cleansing kit includes the Aria device, a matching charger, sample refreshing gel cleanser and a sensitive brush head.

The Clarisonic Aria in limited edition Year of the Goat print retails at AED 995, and is exclusively available at Sephora Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates. Hurry! Stocks are limited.

Happy New Year!