FEBRUARY 8 marks the beginning of the year of the monkey – the ninth of 12 animals recurring in the Chinese zodiac cycle.

Your own Chinese zodiac sign is derived from your birth year according to the Chinese lunar calendar, with people born in each of the 12 years said to exhibit specific personality traits.

According to Chinese astrology, your sign can bring you good and bad luck and is even said to dictate whom you should marry.

With your future prosperity, happiness and love life at stake, we thought it was best to answer 5 essential questions ahead of this Chinese New Year.

 

What is my zodiac sign?

The zodiac animals are either related to ancient Chinese people’s daily lives, or have lucky meanings.

To find out which animal you are, use the table below.

Be careful if you were born in either January or February. Chinese New Year moves between January 21 and February 20 according to the lunar cycle.

Those born between these dates should use the calculator here.

Ox: 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961.

Tiger: 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962.

Rabbit: 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963.

Dragon: 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964.

Snake: 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965.

Horse: 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966.

Goat: 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967.

Monkey: 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968.

Rooster: 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969.

Dog: 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970.

Pig: 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971.

 

What does my zodiac sign mean?

The 12 animal zodiac signs each have unique characteristics. To complicate matters, each animal year also has a supplementary element of either fire, wood, water, earth, gold associated with it.

2016 is a fire monkey year, meaning anyone born this year (after February 8 until Chinese New Year Eve on January 27 2017) will be ambitious and adventurous, but irritable.

While the element can cause subtle variations, the general character traits are:- Rat: Intelligent, adaptable, quick-witted, charming, artistic, sociable.

Ox: Loyal, reliable, thorough, strong, reasonable, steady, determined.

Tiger: Enthusiastic, courageous, ambitious, leadership, confidence, charismatic.

Rabbit: Trustworthy, empathic, modest, diplomatic, sincere, sociable, caretakers.

Dragon: Lucky, flexible, eccentric, imaginative, artistic, spiritual, charismatic.

Snake: Philosophical, organized, intelligent, intuitive, elegant, attentive, decisive.

Horse: Adaptable, loyal, courageous, ambitious, intelligent, adventurous, strong.

Sheep: Tasteful, crafty, warm, elegant, charming, intuitive, sensitive, calm.

Monkey: Quick-witted, charming, lucky, adaptable, bright, versatile, lively, smart.

Rooster: Honest, energetic, intelligent, flamboyant, flexible, diverse, confident.

Dog: Loyal, sociable, courageous, diligent, steady, lively, adaptable, smart.

Pig: Honourable, philanthropic, determined, optimistic, sincere, sociable.

 

I’m a monkey; it’s my year! That’s a good thing, right?

Unfortunately not. According to Chinese astrology, people in their zodiac year are thought to offend the Chinese god of age, Tai Sui, and incur bad luck.

To bring good luck, those born in the year of the monkey should be doing one of the following from February 8:- Wearing red: Red is a lucky colour in Chinese culture denoting prosperity, success, loyalty and happiness. Red clothing can ward off bad luck, but be careful – the item must be purchased by a relative or friend.

Wearing jade: Accessories made from jade stone such as earrings or pendants can also ward off bad luck.

Facing the correct direction: The position of Tai Sui in the heavens roughly corresponds to Jupiter, which takes just under 12 years to orbit earth. By looking away from the direction he’s ‘facing’, you can actually bring good luck. In the year of the monkey, he’ll be looking south-west. So those born in this zodiac year are encouraged to position furniture towards the north-east.

Just in case you need to buy a different sofa or reposition your TV accordingly, here’s full list of where Tai Sui will be looking over the coming years:- Monkey 2016 Southwest (240 °).

Rooster 2017 West (270 °).

Dog 2018 Northwest (300 °).

Pig 2019 Northwest (330 °).

Rat 2020 North (0 °).

Ox 2021 Northeast (30 °).

Tiger 2022 Northeast (60 °).

Rabbit 2023 East (90 °).

Dragon 2024 Southeast (120 °).

Snake 2025 Southeast (150 °).

Horse 2026 South (180 °).

Goat 2027 Southwest (210 °).

 

OK, I’ve bought some red pants. How can I be even luckier?

Various things including numbers, colours and flowers are considered lucky depending on which animal you are.

Here is the list of lucky things according to animal:-  Rat.

Numbers: 2, 3, and numbers containing them (like 23 and 32).

Days: the 4th and 13th of every Chinese lunar month.

Colours: blue, gold, green.

Flowers: lily, African violet.

Direction: west, northwest and southwest.

Months: the 2nd, 5th and 9th Chinese lunar months.

Ox.

Numbers: 1, 4, and numbers containing 1 and 4 (like 14 and 41).

Days: the 13th and 27th of every Chinese lunar months.

Colours: white, yellow, and green.

Flowers: tulip, morning glory, and peach blossom.

Direction: north and south.

Months: the 7th and 9th Chinese lunar months.

Tiger.

Numbers: 1, 3, and 4 and numbers containing them (like 13 and 43).

Days: the 16th and 27th of any Chinese lunar calendar month.

Colours: blue, grey, orange.

Flowers: yellow lily, cineraria.

Direction: east, north, south.

Months: the 3rd, 7th, and 10th Chinese lunar months.

Rabbit.

Numbers: 3, 4, 6, and numbers containing them (like 34 and 46).

Days: the 26th, 27th and 29th of every Chinese lunar month.

Colours: red, pink, purple, blue.

Flowers: plantain lily, and jasmine.

Directions: east, south and northwest.

Months: the 1st, 4th, 8th, and 11th Chinese lunar months.

Dragon.

Numbers: 1, 6 and 7.

Days: the 1st and 16th of any Chinese lunar calendar month.

Colours: gold, silver, greyish white.

Flowers: bleeding-heart glory bower, dragon flowers.

Direction: east, north, west.

Months: the 3rd, 4th, and 7th Chinese lunar months.

Snake.

Numbers: 2, 8, 9, and numbers containing them (like 28 and 89).

Days: the 1st and 23rd of Chinese lunar months.

Colours: black, red, and yellow.

Flowers: orchid and cactus.

Direction: east, west, and southwest.

Months: the 1st, 8th, and 11th lunar months.

Horse.

Numbers: 2, 3, 7, and numbers containing them (like 23 and 37).

Days: the 5th and 20th of Chinese lunar months.

Colours: yellow and green.

Flowers: calla lily and jasmine.

Direction: east, west, and southwest.

Months: the 4th, 9th, and 12th Chinese lunar months.

Goat.

Numbers: 2, 7, or numbers containing 2 and 7 (like 27 and 72).

Days: the 7th and 30th of any month according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

Colours: brown, red, and purple.

Flowers: carnations and primroses.

Direction: north.

Monkeys.

Numbers: 4 and 9.

Days: the 14th and 28th of any Chinese lunar calendar month.

Colours: white, blue, gold.

Flowers: chrysanthemum, crape-myrtle.

Directions: north, northwest, west.

Months: Chinese lunar months 8 and 12.

Rooster.

Numbers: 5, 7, and 8.

Days: the 4th and 26th of any Chinese lunar month.

Colours: gold, brown, yellow.

Flowers: gladiola, cockscomb.

Direction: south, southeast.

Months: the 2nd, 5th, and 11th Chinese lunar months.

Dog.

Numbers: 3, 4, 9, and numbers containing them (like 34 and 49).

Days: the 7th and 28th of every Chinese lunar month.

Colours: red, green, and purple.

Flowers: rose, cymbidium orchids.

Directions: east, south, and northeast.

Months: the 6th, 10th, and 12th Chinese lunar months.

Pig.

Numbers: 2, 5, 8, and numbers containing them (like 25 and 58).

Days: the 17th and 24th of every Chinese lunar month.

Colours: yellow, grey, brown, gold.

Flowers: hydrangea and daisy.

Direction: east and southwest.

Months: the 2nd, 7th, 10th, and 11th Chinese lunar months.

 

But what about my love life?

According to the Chinese zodiac, each animal is more compatible or less incompatible with others.

In ancient times, Chinese people stuck closely to this belief and checked their compatibility before relationships began.

So if you’re a snake wondering why your husband is insufferable, it may just be because he’s a pig.

Rat.

Best with: Dragon, Rabbit or Ox.

Worst with: Goat, Horse, or Rooster.

Ox.

Best with: Rat, Snake or Rooster.

Worst with: Dragon, Horse, Goat, Dog or Rabbit.

Tiger.

Best with: Horse or Dog.

Worst with: Snake or Monkey.

Rabbit.

Best with: Goat, Dog, Rat, or Pig.

Worst with: Ox, Dragon, Rooster or Horse.

Dragon.

Best with: Rat, Monkey or Rooster.

Worst with: Dog, Ox, Dragon or Rabbit.

Horse.

Best with: Tiger, Goat or Dog.

Worst with: Rat, Ox, Rabbit or Horse.

Goat.

Best with: Rabbit, Horse or Pig.

Worst with: Rat, Ox or Dog.

Monkey.

Best with: Rat or Dragon.

Worst with: Tiger, Snake or Pig.

Rooster.

Best with: Ox, Dragon or Snake.

Worst with: Rabbit, Chicken or Dog.

Dog.

Best with: Tiger, Rabbit or Horse.

Worst with: Ox, Dragon, Goat or Rooster.

Pig.

Best with: Goat or Rabbit.

Worst with: Snake, Pig or Monkey.

Snake.

Best with: Ox or Rooster.

Worst with: Tiger, Monkey or Pig.