Gong Hey Fat Choy - The Year of the Monkey

This year, Chinese New Year - The Year of the Monkey - begins on February 8th and lasts until Jan 27th, 2017.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Celebrations have started around the world - and now London is joining the festivities.
A man in a monkey costume climbs one of the lion statues in Trafalgar Square in London  Photo: AP Photo/Frank Augstein
People gathered at one of Hong Kong's best known temples - the Wong Tai Sin - to make their new year wishes, while dancers dressed in traditional costumes performed at Ditan Park in Beijing.
Wellwishers in the Philippines, Indonesia, North Korea, South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand have also kicked off the celebrations in their countries.
The Sydney Opera House in Australia was bathed in red light as part of city wide lumiere and lantern display to welcome in Chinese New Year
While preliminary events have been kicking off across the UK, the big celebrations in the capital won't take place until Sunday 14th February.
On Saturday, the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square hosted a free Chinese New Year-themed family day, while Chiswick House Gardens launched the UK debut of the Magical Lantern Festival on Wednesday February 3rd.
The display, which included a 66-metre long dragon, runs until March 6th.
The Terracotta Army  Photo: Anthony Upton/The Telegraph
The new year, also known as the Spring Festival, is marked by the lunisolar Chinese calendar, so the date changes from year to year.
The festivities usually start the day before the New Year and continue until the Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the new year.
The Chinese symbol for monkey


Each Chinese New Year is characterised by one of 12 animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese zodiac is divided into 12 blocks (or houses) just like its western counterpart, but with the major difference being that each house has a time-length of one year instead of one month.
This year it's the Year of the Monkey, the ninth animal in the cycle. The next Year of the Monkey will be in 2028.

Popular Chinese New Year Greetings

1. 新年好 / 新年好 (Xīnnián hǎo)
'New Year goodness!'
In Mandarin: /sshin-nyen haoww/
In Cantonese: /sen-nin haow/
2. 恭喜发财 / 恭喜發財 (Gōngxǐ fācái)
'Happiness and prosperity!'
In Mandarin: /gong-sshee faa-tseye/
In Cantonese: Kunghei fatchoy /gong-hey faa-chwhy/
3. 步步高升 / 步步高陞 (Bùbù gāoshēng)
A steady rise to high places! — "on the up and up"
In Mandarin: /boo-boo gaoww-shnng /
In Cantonese: /boh-boh goh-sshin /

The personality of the Monkey

People born in the Year of the Monkey are characterised as lively, quick-witted, curious, innovative and mischievous, but it is also believed to be one of the most unlucky years in the Chinese calendar.


The general image of people in this zodiac sign is of always being smart, clever and intelligent, especially in their career and wealth.
In addition, their gentleness and honesty bring them an everlasting love life. Although they were born with enviable skills, they still have several shortcomings, such as an impetuous temper and a tendency to look down upon others.

• Strengths: sociable, innovative, enthusiastic, self-assured
  
• Weaknesses: suspicious, cunning, selfish, arrogant, jealous
  

Performers play the dragon dance during the Chinese New Year parade  Photo: KeystoneUSA-ZUMA/Rex Features

Lucky Signs for the Monkey

• Lucky numbers: 1, 7, 8
  
• Lucky colours: white, gold, blue
  
• Lucky flowers: chrysanthemum, alliums
  
• Lucky directions: north, northwest, west
  

Famous people born under the monkey sign

Julius Caesar, Leonardo da Vinci, Charles Dickens, Lord Byron, Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross, Michael Douglas, Alice Walker, Celine Dion, Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Halle Berry, Christina Aguilera, Owen Wilson, Daniel Craig, Mick Jagger, Bette Davis, Annie Oakley, Eleanor Roosevelt, Cuba Gooding Jr., Gisele Bundchen, Kim Cattrall, Nick Carter, Patricia Arquette, Alyson Stoner, Christina Ricci, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Nick Jonas, Selena Gomez.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/12144891/chinese-new-year-2016-year-of-the-monkey.html

Gong Hey Fat Choy guys, and there will be plenty of Yumsing- ing going on tonight!