Yeah.... Holiday is just around the corner again...
Everyone is busy packing, shopping and going back to hometown... and same goes to us...
So excited... :)
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| @ Singapore Chinatown |
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| Greetings from Chinatown Singapore :) |
While saying farewell to the celestial dragon, let's welcome the intelligent water snake on this coming 10 February 2013. The snake, also called junior dragon, is the sixth sign of the Chinese zodiac. Noted for their grace, complexity and pose, snakes are also a symbol of wisdom. It's this intelligence and ability to solve problems that promises 2013 will be one of steady progress and long-term success.
These are how we celebrate CNY in Singapore :
1. Come and visit Singapore Chinatown. There's lots of lanterns light up the streets. This year they create the snake by using that lanterns. Hundreds of stalls sell Chinese new year decorations such as fake firecrackers, sweets ( you get a free tasting here...one of my friend told me that they always come to Chinatown during CNY time to get free tasting :), fruits and also a lot of Chinese delicacies such as dried pork, fish, duck n etc.
2. Hong Bao, put a small bills into red paper envelopes. Usually companies in Singapore will give all their employees "hong bao" on their first day work after CNY ( excluding their bonus).
3. Spring cleaning.
- Cleanse the entire house before CNY in order to chase out evil spirits, sweep away all ill and bad fortune and buy new decorations or paint the house in a way for good luck. On the first day of CNY, is a big NO NO to clean or even touch the broom. My father once told me that according to popular folklore, on the first day of CNY everyone's house will be full of golden flowers. That's the reason why we should not sweep the 'prosperity'and the 'good luck for the year'.
- Cleanse your personal issues and debts. Forgive your enemies and grudges.
4. Prosperity Toss "Yu Sheng (鱼生)" also known as lo hei (撈起) in Cantonese, is a delicious salad made of raw fish (usually salmon) mixed with shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces and condiments. Yusheng literally means "raw fish" but since "fish (鱼)" is commonly conflated with its homophone "abundance (余)", Yúshēng (鱼生) is interpreted as a homophone for Yúshēng (余升) meaning an increase in abundance. Therefore, yusheng is considered a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigor. Families, friends or colleagues would then gather around a table to toss the beautifully arranged ingredients high into the air with their chopsticks while shouting auspicious wishes. The higher you toss, the more prosperity you can expect.
5. Tangerines and oranges are freely passed out during CNY as the words sounds like luck and wealth and also considered traditional symbols of abundance and good fortune. When you visit family & friends around Chinese New Year, don't forget to bring them two mandarin oranges as a gift.
6. Pineapple (凤梨; fènglí) - wealth, luck, excellent fortune, gambling luck. Can be seen both in decorations & as fresh fruits. Supposed to symbolize prosperity so it's good to have a few in your house around Chinese New Year.
7. Lion or dragon dance. The origin of the Lion Dance at Chinese New Year is thought to have started through a legend handed down through the generations. According to the legend a mythical beast called a Nian (meaning year in Chinese) would come and attack villagers at the same time every year. The villagers asked for the help of a great colourful lion spirit, who came and drove the Nian away with much noise. The following year the people were left defenseless as the lion was away defending the Emperor's Palace. The people improvised and created a false lion out of cloth and bamboo along with noisy firecrackers to drive the Nian away. This was so successful that every year since then the lion dance is performed to frighten away evil spirits and bring luck in with the New Year.
新年快乐~. 新年快乐~ 恭喜发财~. 万事如意~ 财源广进~. 身体健康~ 生意兴隆
HUAT AH!!!
