Happy Chinese New Year - 1.22.2004

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My sons are half-Chinese and I live in a neighborhood called 'Little Chinatown', so this is a fave holiday for me. I get to stock up on Chinese sweets that are only sold at this time. Thought some of you might want to be informed about the monkey-year. At the bottom you'll find a site that will tell you what animal animus you are. - Perdita
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Year Of The Monkey - Hank Pellissier, SF Gate.com

Will 2004 be a foolish year? Will all serious human endeavors collapse into silly shenanigans and goofy chatter as we helplessly slip on cosmic banana peels? Be prepared: The Year of the Monkey (the Chinese New Year) starts Jan. 22. San Francisco Taoist astrologer Susan Levitt offers guidance to not only Monkeys but also Rats, Oxen, Dragons, Pigs and other human beasts as I query her on the 5,000-year-old astrological method.
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What are Monkey people like (people who are born this year, and every 12 years before this one 1992, 1980, etc.)?

People born in Monkey years are ingenious, sharp, alert, entertaining, mercurial and aggressive. Powerful Monkeys have strong leadership potential. They have to be the leader, because they don't allow anyone else to tell them what to do. They can have successful careers as actors, like Elizabeth Taylor and Bette Davis. Monkeys are also great in other types of entertainment, and in business -- if they get to run the show. Monkey people are also often bohemians, artists and free spirits.

Monkey people like get-rich schemes. They like to work smart, but not hard. They are not patient. They are not 9-5 people, and they don't care about pensions. They are very creative and curious, and they change careers a lot. In their work habits, they are very different from Ox, who enjoys hard labor.

What will 2004 be like, economically, with a frivolous ape as its mascot?

Monkey year is a time of courage, action and devotion to the wildest of moneymaking schemes. Business success can be attained, but woe to the gullible or dull witted! People are going to be working the shrewdest angle this year to get the best deal and win big.

I heard from a divorced woman at a party that Monkey people are philandering sluts -- they should be dated only with extreme caution. Is that rumor correct?

Monkeys are very sexual and seductive. But in love affairs, Monkeys can be tricksters. They love the chase, the pursuit, but they have trouble sustaining interest. They get easily bored, and they can have trouble maintaining commitment. In relationships, they often "monkey" around, because they seek new excitement. But they are excellent mates for people that they are compatible with.

Who is Monkey compatible with, and why?

Dragon, Rat and other Monkeys are Monkey's best mates. All three are extroverted, dynamic, active, passionate, vigorous, powerful and entertaining, But they can be selfish, egocentric and too dominating.

There are four compatibility triads. Ox, Serpent and Rooster are also good partners. Another compatibility triad is Hare, Sheep and Rooster. And also Tiger, Horse and Dog.

What animal signs are incompatible with Monkey? Who has conflicts with the frenzied primate?

Monkey is least compatible with the mighty Tiger, because they are opposite each other in the 12-year cycle of animals. A relationship between Tiger and Monkey is never recommended. Neither will compromise, and both want their own way. They are both strong and aggressive, and it is a standoff between them.

Ox is also not a good match for Monkey. Oxen are steady and methodical. These attributes are not appreciated by anarchic Monkeys.

I have heard about Fire Horses and Metal Dragons. What is that? Are there subsets to each animal category?

Yes. There are five Taoist elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. These elements are important in Chinese medicine, and they also rotate through all the animal signs of the Chinese calendar -- 2004 is Wood Monkey Year. This means that the year is all about growth, learning, expansion, travel.

Who should be cautious in 2004?

Tiger should be aware that this is not their lucky year. This is their year of inactivity, to slow down and rest, which is not easy for the mighty Tiger. Tigers must think before they pounce -- 2004 is not a favorable year for Tiger to get married, or for any other major endeavor. Tiger does best to wait for Dog Year, 2006, when Tigers will be lucky.

Horses can have wild luck and sudden gains this year, but they have to be sure to avoid accidents, especially when they are driving or cutting with metal tools.

What are Monkey people like as parents? It seems like they would be terrible.

Monkeys are good parents if they have kids they are compatible with, like little Monkeys, Dragons and Rats. Monkey moms and dads are not so good with Ox children, who want regular schedules, like oatmeal every morning at 8 am. Colin Powell is an Ox. He would have been a difficult child for a Monkey to raise, because Monkey won't submit to a routine.

What are Monkey kids like?

If you have a Monkey child, expect a lot of energy, a wild chatterbox that needs a lot of stimulus and is always looking for the next thing to break.

I just missed getting a Monkey child. My second daughter was born in early January.

Perfect! Your child will be a Sheep. A little lamb girl. That's nice in a daughter -- she'll be a perfect, beautiful, feminine little angel. Sheep are noncompetitive and full of contentment. And she will definitely want comfy things.

How did the Chinese system evolve using animals instead of constellations, like Western astrology?

The Chinese calendar's use of animals as a reference is a folk method. It is from peasant farmers, who were observant of the traits of animals. There is another Chinese astrology method that uses the stars, like Western astrology. That method is based on the Pole Star, the North Star and on movements of stars in the Northern and Western Hemispheres.

In conclusion, do you have any general advice for people in 2004? What should we avoid?

I advise people in 2004 to try to not indulge in "Monkey mind." By that I mean, it is easy this year to jump to a branch, peel a banana, take a bite, drop it, jump to the next branch, peel a banana, take a bite, drop it -- on and on like that in a useless cycle. It is a good year to meditate, study and cultivate clear thoughts, to keep ourselves from Monkey-mind tail chasing.

Also, Monkey Year is the perfect time to read the Chinese novel "Journey to the West," which stars Magical Monkey. You'll learn all about Monkey's character traits.

Chinese Lunar Calendar
 
ROFLMAO.

1969... how can it be I was born in the year of the cock? I musta missed something ;)

-Colly
 
Colleen Thomas said:
ROFLMAO.

1969... how can it be I was born in the year of the cock? I musta missed something ;)

-Colly

Colly, that made me laugh harder than I have for days. :)

- Mindy
 
The #4 Green star flies to the Southeast corner this year. It stands for intelligence, writing skills and the attainment of academic excellence. Located in the wealth corner this year, activate this star with a healthy plant if you are a writer, or are in the creative line to enhance your income luck. Use a rolling ball water feature to further enhance its energies this year. Make sure that you place the plant and water feature in the southeast corner of your living room, as it is not a good idea to have neither plants nor water features in the bedroom.


There you have it, folks! Do as the green star tells you! Place a healthy plant in the southeast part of your home, in order to get inspiration for this year's Lit-stories!
 
Perdita

How do you combine your hispanic roots with that chinese influence? Please don't tell me you have your chimichangas with baby corn and bamboo shoots. Do you dip your Peking Duck in salsa? Does your egg foo young have habaneros?

Anyhow, may you, your La Familia and everyone else who celebrates this joyful holiday have a fun, yet safe New Years!
 
Dingus, it's my sons who combine the Mexican and Chinese (rather well I think). I take from all the ethnicities in SF (Russian, Italian, Irish, Vietnamese, Salvadoran, Guatemalan, Sicilian, Jewish, Japanese, Nepalese, etc., even French, haha) what I like; it's easy.

Peking duck in salsa? Yukko. No cuisine mixing, I leave that to los yanquis.

BTW, all unmarried Chinese children (no matter the age) receive 'red pockets' from all married persons on Chinese New Year. They are red paper envelopes in which you put in a cash gift dependent on how 'well behaved' the child was during the past year. My ex-mom-in-law still sends me one each year.

Thanks for your good wishes.

Perdita
 
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

Finally, the year of the black sheep is over. :)

Yet, being a rather awesome chef myself, excuse the vanity, but shit, I AM. Peking Duck and salsa? My stomach is turning!

T
 
Perhaps

CharleyH said:
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

Finally, the year of the black sheep is over. :)

Yet, being a rather awesome chef myself, excuse the vanity, but shit, I AM. Peking Duck and salsa? My stomach is turning!

T

It would be better if we used picante?
 
Important Update:

I almost forgot: one wears new clothes on the first day of the new year, including red underwear. Must get to Victoria's Secrets now.

Perdita
 
Re: Important Update:

perdita said:
I almost forgot: one wears new clothes on the first day of the new year, including red underwear. Must get to Victoria's Secrets now.

Perdita

I was told by some chinese friends that if it is your year, such as this year of the Monkey, you wear red underwear to chase away bad luck. Your year is never lucky for you.
 
Dingus, the new year is all about good luck, e.g., one doesn't sweep the floors on new year's day so as not to lose any good fortune that may have arrived. I'll have to ask my friends about not wearing red knickers in one's year. Meanwhile:

SINGAPORE (AP) -- Many women in Singapore are buying their husbands special Chinese New Year briefs, hoping to bring them good fortune and increase their sexual potency.

Perdita

full story
 
Red undies

When I had my year (Horse) I was told to chance the bad spirits away I should wear red underwear. The year of your birth whether it is rat, monkey, horse r whatever is supposed to be an unlucky year. Thats all I know.
 
Flicka, after high-school and my first ever real job the first thing I did was buy red lace knickers (up til then I only ever had the white cotton kind my mom bought me). Yep, they were lucky (for the men, haha).

Perdita
 
Funny, how the world changes, huh, P?

It used to be that red lace panties meant you were a naughty girl.

Today, a pair of white cotton panties are considered even more kinky.:rolleyes:
 
Yep. I haven't had any white underwear since high school. I'm no one's schoolgirl. P.
 
I'll be celebrating Chinese New Year with my Tai Chi class.

We can't do it on the actual day because all the Chinese eateries are closed for their family celebrations but we will be eating out together this weekend.

Then we go out on the windy sea front at 11pm and do our Tai Chi warm ups together. Can't do the full thing because it's not good immediately after food.

Some of us meet half an hour before the meal to go through the Tai Chi on the beach.

Og
 
I think I'll go and eat Chinese food tomorrow. Or atleast buy some take-away. Then I can sit at home, post-Weight Watcher meeting, and watch Gilmore Girls and eat eggrolls with curry.

I might even wear my chinese hat, just for the heck of it.
 
UPDATE:

I've asked Chinese persons from Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing. It is lucky to wear red underwear for the new year, but NOT if it is your year (e.g., if you are a monkey in 2004).

Phew!

Perdita (dog)
 
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