The Fire Monkey Year

Gong xi fa cai! 

"wishing you enlarge your wealth"

Today Feb. 8, the zodiac calendar enters the Year of the Monkey, the ninth of 12 animal signs

10:39 p.m., the Lunar New Year of the Fire Monkey begins

Every 12 years there is a Monkey year

China's Five Elements Philosophy

Five Elements Theory is a Chinese philosophy used to describe interactions and relationships between things. The five elements — wood, fire, earth, metal, and water — are believed to be the fundamental elements of everything in the universe between which interactions occur.

• Chinese: 五行 Wǔ Xing /woo sshing/ ‘Five Actions’

The History of Five Elements Theory

Five Elements Theory first appeared during the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476 BC). It became widespread: mostly used in Chinese medicine, philosophy, fengshui, fortune-telling, and martial arts.

source:http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/china-five-elements-philosophy.htm

The Unlucky Things That "Monkeys" Should Avoid

• Unlucky colors: red, pink
• Unlucky numbers: 2 and 7
• Unlucky directions: south, southeast
• Unlucky months: Chinese lunar months 7 and 11

The Lucky Things for "Monkeys"

• Lucky numbers: 4 and 9
• Lucky days: the 14th and 28th of any Chinese lunar calendar month
• Lucky colors: white, blue, gold
• Lucky flowers: chrysanthemum, crape-myrtle
• Lucky directions: north, northwest, west
• Lucky months: Chinese lunar months 8 and 12

Word of the Day

Gong Xi: means wishing/blessing 

Fa: means enlarge(ment) 

Chai: means wealth 

but the phrase is generally used as Happy New Year

Gong Xi Fa Chai everyone!