Kong Hei Fatt Choi

If you're wondering why I haven't posted for the past few days, it was public holiday over here in Singapore and a major festivity for Chinese all over the world. It's the Lunar New Year or the Chinese New Year. Celebrations in other parts of the worls can span over 2 weeks since technically, there are 15 days of Chinese New Year, 3 more than Christmas! All Chinese would rush home during this season to spend time with their family. The most eventful getogether would have to be the Reunion Dinner. As the name goes, it is a time when all family members return home to have dinner on New Year's Eve. In Singapore, most families would prepare hotpot (commonly known as steamboat in Singapore which would leave alot scratching their head thinking how does these Chinese serve a marine vessel on their dinner table..?) It has also become comfort food for many Singaporeans especially those living abroad. I can still fondly recall my last Christmas in New York in the middle of freezing winter, we were all seated around a little apartment stuffing our faces around the steamboat.

On the first day of Chinese New Year, we would visit and greet our elders and in return we receive a little token wrapped in red paper or envelopes called "Hong Bao" in Mandarin, "Ang Pow" in Singaporean terms due to our mostly Hokkien/Teo Chew heritage or "Lai See" in Cantonese. That was also part of the reason why most kids love Chinese New Year. On top of that, hosts would usually prepare a huge array of snacks and candies. A winner with the little ones. If you're unmarried, you still qualify to receive ang pows but you would probably have given the biggest one to your parents so that are substantially less attractive in terms of relative monetary gains. However, it is believed that the auspicious words/phrases you receive from your elders when you greet them would bring you good luck and whatever that they wish you, would have their likelihood to fulfil in the coming year. So the progression from greetings like "Kuai Gao Zhang Da" (grow up/taller fast) in the younger years, to "Xue Ye Jin Bu" (great improvements to one's studies), till "Shi Shi Shun Li" (sail through things with ease). To our elders, we would usually wish them great health like "Shen Ti Jian Kang".

The night before Chinese New Year which is the time after reunion dinner, the younger generations in the family would try to sleep as late as they can as this custom known as shou sui. I don't intentionally try to stay up late but it's a time of "serial gambling" with family or friends so that makes Dad happy.

This year wasn't that exceptional. Visitations were still done during the first 2 days albeit alot less gambling took place. Or shall I say, not yet! Coming weekend would be a continuation over the unwelcomed 3 days break from the festivities. It's been good so far. How was your Chinese New Year?