Happy Chinese New Year

As some of you may have already worked out, yesterday was the first day of Chinese New Year - The Year of the Green (Wood) Monkey. For those who were not already aware of it, the Chinese Lunar calendar follows a 60 year cycle (not a 12 year as many people mistakenly believe). There are 12 animals (Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog, Pig, Rat, Cow) and 5 elements (Metal/Gold, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth) giving a total of 60 years. More information is available for general theory and specific details of the Stem-Branch cycle*. For the mildly curious, there is a site where you can plug in your birthday and get an instant analysis. Personally I find it really hard to believe that the time of your birth can be all that binding. What about your name instead? [* I know the reference shows 10 and 12 but the 10 elements are actually in pairs (male / female) and they alternate. Hence the odd numbered animals (1, 3, 5, ...) always attach to the male element and the even number ones attach to the female element. Most on-line references assume that you already know this without any clarification. Now you know better and can confidentially point out that the year of the 'Golden Dragon' - 2000 was a male year but the Golden Rabbit - 1999 was a female year.]