Monkey
business
The Year of the Monkey is upon us, so what should parents-to-be
expect from their newborn bundles of joy, asks
Scott Williamson
.
A
lthough the Chinese New
Year officially starts on 8
February, the Chinese zodiac
year actually starts a little
earlier, so if your baby is born on or after
4 February, they will be a Monkey. The
Monkey is the ninth sign of the Chinese
zodiac and is characterised in Chinese
astrology by a clever and creative mind.
It’s generally accepted that monkeys
are flexible, full of life, versatile and quick
to adapt. But new mothers can expect
more than just cleverness and creativity.
“Babies born in the Year of the
Monkey are wild in nature, restless
and love freedom,” says feng shui and
astrology consultant, Master Edwin
Ma Lai Wah. Master Ma believes that
while Monkeys are bright, they are also
prone to unexpected mood swings that
can dampen their spirits. “But by their
nature they aren’t easily fooled,” says
Master Ma. “They are a smart judge of
character and are rarely deceived by
others.”
Planned births
Customs, beliefs and superstitions are a
quintessential part of Chinese culture,
and are influential in shaping the daily
lives of many in China as well as Hong
Kong. It’s popular with Chinese couples
to plan for the birth of their children in
what are seen as lucky years, such as
the Year of the Dragon and even the
Year of the Monkey, but not all.
The Monkey years
You are a Monkey if you were born in
1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992,
or 2004. But far from being something
you should look forward to, the year of
your birth sign is believed to be the most
unlucky in the 12-year cycle. If you are
a Monkey, the common wisdom is to
exercise more caution than usual during
these years.
The luckiest numbers for Monkeys are
one, seven and eight, as well as the 14th
and 28th of any Chinese lunar calendar
month. White, blue and gold are lucky
colours, and if you are looking for a
congratulatory gift for new mothers,
chrysanthemums or crape-myrtles
are a great idea to mark the birth of a
Monkey.
Master Ma has some sage advice
for Monkeys: “When a problem occurs,
give yourself time to observe what is
happening, and then respond. This
will be a more effective solution to the
problem.”
Indeed, sage advice for us all.
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