The Chinese Lunar New Year kicked off Thursday with some confusion as to whether the Sheep, the Ram or the Goat is the symbolic animal of this year's festivities, reports NBC News.

The Lunar New Year employs the Chinese zodiac cycle of 12 rotating and symbolic animals. Last year was the Year of the Horse. In 2013, it was the Year of the Snake. But this year there is confusion due to the Chinese use of one character to represent the horned animals, said Wei Hong, director of the Confucius Institute at Purdue University in Indiana. The one character is translated as "yang" in Mandarin, which does not offer a distinction found in English between sheep, goats or other members of the Caprinae subfamily.

What animal is celebrated and what the year is called depends on geography and personal preference, according to Hong. People in mainland China prefer calling it the Year of the Goat due to the country's culinary past. Since sheep are raised in northern China, residents there identify the sheep. Southern China residents celebrate the Year of the Goat because goats are more common there.

Zhao Shu, a Beijing Institute of Culture and History folklore expert, told the New York Times that the animal in question is a general symbol of plenitude and good fortune.

"This is ridiculous," he told the New York Times, referring to the debate. "Goat and sheep are different in French and English, but what's that got to do with Chinese traditional culture? In French, it's translated as the Year of the Goat; and in English, it's the Year of the Sheep."

On Wednesday, Hong Kong leader CY Leung gave his holiday message, saying that last year was full of conflicts and this year citizens need to "be like sheep," reports the BBC.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., not everyone is sold on the Year of the Sheep. The NBA's Golden State Warriors debuted Chinese New Year-themed uniforms to celebrate the Year of the Goat, and the New York City Council is hosting a Lunar New Year event next week for the Year of the Ram.

The Lunar New Year is a public holiday also known as the Spring Festival in China. Celebrations include a large meal, known as the reunion dinner, on New Year's Eve which falls on Wednesday. Families may travel for days to be together for the holiday.

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