On 6 February 2027 the Lunar New Year opens the Year of the Fire Sheep. Here is what the sign has meant for centuries, what it can mean for you, and a few warm ways to carry it through the year.
When does the Year of the Fire Sheep begin?
The Lunar New Year falls on Saturday, 6 February 2027. From that day until 25 January 2028, the year belongs to the Sheep, the eighth of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. In some translations you will see it called the Year of the Goat or the Ram: the Chinese character yáng covers all three, and every one of them is right.
Each animal year is also paired with one of five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The pairing repeats only every sixty years, so the last Fire Sheep year was 1967, and the next one after 2027 will come in 2087. If you were born in 1967, this is your year twice over.
Years of the Sheep
- 1967 and 2027: Fire Sheep
- 1979: Earth Sheep
- 1991: Metal Sheep
- 2003: Water Sheep
- 2015: Wood Sheep
If your birthday falls in January or early February, check the exact Lunar New Year date for your birth year: the animal changes on that day, not on 1 January.
What the Sheep stands for
Of all twelve animals, the Sheep is the gentlest. Traditionally it is linked with calm, kindness, creativity and a deep love of home. Sheep people are said to be the friends who remember birthdays, who cook for everyone, who notice when someone in the room has gone quiet. They do not push to the front, and yet a family or a team often falls apart without them.
The Sheep is also an old sign of plenty. A flock means wool for the winter, milk on the table and something left over to share. That is why, in many cultures far from China, a sheep or a ram stands for a full house and a good year ahead.
Why Fire changes everything
Fire is the element of warmth, courage and passion. On its own the Sheep can be shy; with fire it finds its voice. A Fire Sheep year is often described as a time to stop waiting for permission: to start the project you have been quietly planning, to say the warm thing out loud, to invite people in.
Put the two together and you get a sign we love: a soft heart with a bright flame. Gentle, but not timid. Generous, but not a pushover. A year to make home the warmest place you know, and then to open the door.
Our Fire Sheep: the sign of an abundant home
At Dyvooo every creature carries a sign. For 2027 we redrew one of our best-loved characters, the Sheep in Sky Curls, in the colours of the year: a red coat, white curls and a milky face. Behind her stand small houses with warm red roofs. Her sign is Abundant home: a full table, a lit window and enough to share.
Like every Dyvooo creature, she began as a hand-drawn, naive-style illustration, not a stock graphic. And like everything in our shop, she is printed only when you order her, so nothing is made to sit unsold in a warehouse.
- Fire Sheep 2027 sweatshirt, forest green or navy, with "2027" beside her head
- Fire Sheep 2027 sweatshirt with blue roofs, sand or white
- Fire Sheep sweatshirt without a year, to wear long after 2027
- Fire Sheep kids sweatshirt, with the little hills, for matching family photos
- Fire Sheep 2027 mug and large tote bag
Seven warm ways to welcome the Year of the Fire Sheep
- Clean before the New Year, not after. In Lunar New Year tradition you sweep out the old year's dust before the first day, then put the broom away so you do not sweep the new luck out.
- Wear something red. Red is the classic colour of luck and protection for the Lunar New Year. A red sign worn close to the heart counts.
- Cook too much. The Sheep is the sign of plenty. Make the extra portion, and give it away.
- Write one brave sentence. Fire asks for courage. Write down one thing you will finally start this year and put it where you will see it every morning.
- Call the quiet one. Every family has a gentle Sheep who looks after everyone. This year, look after them.
- Make your home softer. A blanket on the sofa, a candle on the table, a mug you love. The Sheep believes comfort is not a luxury but a foundation.
- Give a sign, not just a gift. A present that carries a wish is remembered for longer than a present that only fills a box.
Gifts for the Year of the Fire Sheep
Looking for a meaningful gift for someone born in a Sheep year, or for anyone starting 2027 with a full heart? Here is how we would choose:
- For someone who makes every house a home: the Fire Sheep 2027 mug. A morning wish for plenty.
- For a whole family: matching adult and kids Fire Sheep sweatshirts. One sign, one story, one holiday photo.
- For someone turning 60 in 2027: born in 1967, they are a Fire Sheep too. Few gifts are more personal than their own sign, sixty years later.
- For someone who needs a fresh start: pair the Sheep with the Fairy Deer, our sign of new beginnings.
- For someone far from home: the Starry Cow, our sign of the guiding star.
All three winter signs live together in the Winter Wonders collection.
Frequently asked questions
Is 2027 the Year of the Sheep or the Year of the Goat?
Both. The Chinese word yáng can mean sheep, goat or ram, so different countries translate it differently. The meaning is the same: gentleness, creativity and plenty.
What element is 2027?
Fire. 2027 is a Fire Sheep year, which happens once every sixty years. The previous one was 1967.
When does the Year of the Fire Sheep end?
On 25 January 2028. The next day, 26 January 2028, begins the Year of the Monkey.
What are good colours for the Year of the Fire Sheep?
Red is the traditional colour of luck for any Lunar New Year, and it is also the colour of fire. Warm greens and creams feel right for the Sheep's love of home and nature, which is why our Fire Sheep comes on forest green, navy, sand and white.
Will my order arrive before Christmas or the Lunar New Year?
Every Dyvooo piece is printed for you after you order, then shipped from the production partner closest to you. See our shipping page for current delivery times and holiday order dates.
Which sign will you carry into 2027? Explore Winter Wonders or find your sign.
Looking for a present? See all New Year gifts 2027: Fire Sheep, Fairy Deer and Starry Cow sweatshirts, mugs, pillows and blankets, made to order.