How to get lucky during the Year of the Monkey

MANILA - A Feng Shui expert shared some tips on how people can ''fix their luck'' for the coming new year.

In an interview on dzMM's "Teka Muna", Princess Lim Fernandez said people should prepare for the new year as early as the last week of January.

By January 25, or 15 days before the Chinese New Year, people should prepare for the new year already, Fernandez said.

Some of the Chinese zodiac signs that would be a bit unlucky for the coming year are monkey, tiger, snake, pig, goat and dog, while the luckiest signs are rabbit and snake.

According to Fernandez, people born under the snake sign can be both lucky and unlucky, since the monkey and the snake have a complicated relationship.

"They are very compatible, but only 70 percent of the time because they are two of the smartest signs in the zodiac, so they are trying to outwit one another."

She also shared some of the things that people can do as they prepare for the Chinese New Year, in order to get lucky during the Year of the Monkey:

1. Clean the altar and the house

"If you have a home altar, both Catholic and Chinese, any altar, no matter what religion. If you have an altar at home, that's the day, because that's the first thing you do, you always have to remember that everything comes from above," Fernandez said, adding that the rag that should be used in cleaning must be new.

"It cannot be what they use on the floor.''

2. "Fix your luck"

This trick is essential especially for those who were not so lucky in the previous year.

"Especially for those whose year last year was not that good, of course baka this time they are a little bit down, or sad. You can fix your luck on Monday (January 25) by eating fresh lumpia," Fernandez said.

She also advised company and business owners to have a party for their employees.

"For companies, for businesses, that is the day to treat your employees for lunch or dinner."

3. Get a haircut

Getting a haircut before the new year is lucky, but getting a haircut on any of these days will bring more luck.

"The good days are January 25, 27, 30, 31 and February 2. If you have a haircut on these days, it comes out nicely," Fernandez said.

Those who do not have enough hair to cut can also do something to get lucky.

"Those who do not have enough hair can just buy new underwear."

4. Settle unfinished business

Fernandez said it is not good to welcome the new year with unfinished business, like debts, so it is better to settle or at least, update them before the year ends.

"If you have debts, even not really settle, but at least update so they don't carry over to the new year."

5. Clean your workplace

Welcoming the new year with a clean workplace or desk can also bring in luck.

"Also where you work, make it neater. If you have pending work, this is the time to finish it, even for children, if they have pending homework," Fernandez said.

6. Buy fresh flowers

Fernandez also advised putting fresh flowers inside the house on February 6 and 7, or just a few days before the first day of the new year.

"Fresh flowers invite positive energy. Put it in the east of the house, where the sun rises," she said.

Flowers can also be placed in the western area of the house.

For the dining table, Fernandez advised placing at least five different kinds of round fruits.

"For the Chinese, only five kinds of fruits. It can be pineapple, apple, grapes, banana, anything, but not pear."

7. Speak only kind and happy words

Fernandez said parents cannot scold their children on the first day of the year, to keep the atmosphere nice and happy.

Parents can also give their children money placed inside an "ang pao", or a red envelope, for luck.

The amount inside the envelope shout end with an even number, but the luckiest amount is P168.

"It is good for the giver, and good for the receiver," Fernandez said, referring to the ang pao.

8. Put the ang pao under the pillow

"Those who receive ang pao should put it under their pillow," Fernandez said, adding that February 7 and 8 are the best days to give the red envelopes.

Those who receive ang pao are also advised to keep it inside their wallet for the rest of the year, and deposit it into their bank account on the first day of the upcoming year to make the money grow.

"Minsan on the first day, may mga nag-dedeposit ng P168 para may 168 sa account nila, o kaya P168.88, o kaya P16,888," Fernandez said.