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If you
were born in one of the following years, you were born during
the "Year of the Monkey:"
1908,
1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
Famous people born this year are Julius Ceasar, da Vinci, Harry
S. Truman, and Elizabeth Taylor.
Chinese character
for monkey
How Well Will
You Fare in The Year of the
Monkey?
Gong Xi Fa Cai
-- "Wishing You Success
and Prosperity!"
Often, the greeting is
accompanied by the giving of lai see, red paper envelopes
gold-stamped with good-luck mottoes and containing a gift of
crisp, new paper money or two matched shiny coins.
Flowers also play a leading role in the Lunar New Year
tradition. Peach blossoms, narcissi, peonies and pussy willow
are sold at the annual New Year flower market in Hong Kong's
Victoria Park. All symbolize good luck and prosperity, as does
the miniature orange, or kumquat plant with its gold-colored
fruit. Kum sounds the same as the Chinese for gold.
Visitors to Asia are also
likely to come across a lion dance, the colorful, noisy and
athletic display aimed at frightening away evil spirits and
bringing good luck. Most hotels have a lion troupe performing
in the lobby while, in the traditional villages, the troupe
moves from house to house in rhythmic ceremony.
In Hong Kong, firecrackers have
long been associated with the Lunar New Year celebrations and
the tradition is carried on with a magnificent official
pyrotechnic extravaganza over Victoria Harbor on the second day
of the Lunar New Year.
Popular vantage points for
these fabulous free performances are the East Tsim Sha Tsui
waterfront, The Peak or any building which affords a harbor
view.
Unlike the western New Year, the Lunar New Year does not fall at
a set time every year. As its name implies, it is dictated by
the moon, and it begins on the first day of the first moon after
the sun enters Aquarius.
The first three days of Lunar
New Year, the most important Chinese festival of the year, are
public holidays in Hong Kong where tradition dictates the
activities to be undertaken throughout the holiday.
On the first day of the
holiday, while many families may go and watch the Chinese New
Year Parade along Wan Chai & Central District waterfront, the
family traditionally stays home together.
The second day is a time to
visit friends and more distant relatives. Great significance is
attached to the first visitor to the house or the first person
seen after leaving the house. They could be the bearer of good
luck or bad luck.
The third day is Chak Hau, or
Quarrel Day, the day on which you are most likely to get into
arguments, so it is thought prudent to stay home. Various
celebrations, traditions and observances take place until the
15th day of the New Year also known as Yuen Siu, or Spring
Lantern Festival. With Yuen Siu, a Taoist tradition, the New
Year celebrations end and Hong Kong embarks on another busy
round of traditional celebrations, sports, arts, festivals,
business and excitement!
" Courtesy of the Hong Kong
Tourist Association "
About the Year of the Monkey
Everything will be workable
this year. At least the agile Monkey will not give up before
trying every angle. There will be success even in impossible
ventures, there will be inventions and improvisations galore.
Politics, diplomacy, high finance and business will be engaged
in one big poker game with everyone trying to out bluff each
other. A rather amusing and exciting time in which everyone will
be given the opportunity to try his hand at the game. no direct
confrontation here, as the Monkey is one who can laugh off his
mistakes and improve his bargaining prowess in the next round.
This is a year that will find us all trying to get a better deal
by outsmarting the other man. It his hard to keep track of who
is winning, as the right hand has no idea of what the left hand
us up to. One thing is for sure, this will be an extremely
progressive time. We will all steam ahead, and even if we do not
apply ourselves to the utmost, we will be carried forward by the
surging tide of the Monkey's natural talent for learning and
advancement.
The lucky imp of a Monkey who rules this year will urge us to
gamble, speculate and exploit risky but ingenious options. If
you are quick on the draw, this year will yield huge dividends.
It is definitely not a year for the faint-hearted or
slow-witted. The Monkey gives no concessions and asks none in
return. If there is a recession, the year of the Monkey will
quickly put an end to it. Business will skyrocket under his
optimistic and shrewd influence. The Monkey's resourcefulness
will amaze and confound everyone.
It is very interesting to note that America was born in the year
of the Fire Monkey, 1776. Perhaps this explains her phenomenal
growth and fantastic achievements within such a short span of
time.
It is said that the Monkey's year will bring many new and
unconventional ways of doing things. The motto of this year
should be: "Don't take No for an answer!"
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