Goldie Grandmas Get-together Celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year

Another year has swung around. This time we welcomed the Year of the Rooster. There were only  seven of us this time as the others had prior commitments, this being a very busy period, especially for those who had house guests.

The place and food did not matter as much as the company of our girls, now grandmas in our seventies. We had been classmates since entering high school, The Methodist Girls' School, so we go back a long way and praise the Lord, we have been able to meet up at least twice a year to catch up.

                                                             MGS class of 1959

This year's lunch was slightly different as we witnessed a lion, in fact, two lions, performing their dance. Then they went from table to table to greet diners and of course collected their ang pau.

                                The drummer and hidden, next to him, is the guy with the cymbals.

                             Together they beat a very loud rhythm to which the lions perform. 

 

                                                                The God of Wealth

                                                     So thrilled to be right next to the Lion

The other significant difference was that my classmates had purchased copies of my latest book, a collection of poems entitled "Colors Of My Soul" and had brought them along to be autographed. I was truly touched by their magnanimous support. They had purchased the paperback from amazon.com.

To us, being able to meet up is very precious, now that we are advancing further into the winter of our lives. As one of us quipped, "We may not all be here the next time!"  Indeed, that truth struck home as we looked at one another, each with our own catalogue of age-related ailments, taking note of the extra lines on the face, the saggy jowls and shrinking frames, although a couple had blossomed sideways. The great thing is that no matter what we now look like, smiles always crease our faces when we see one another.  It is always such a pleasure to meet up and each occasion is a joyful one. 

Some Highlights of The Lunar New Year

It is a festive time where families gather in one another’s home and make merry. Below are some photos that speak for themselves.

                                       On the eve of the Lunar New Year, the younger generation

                                        toss the raw fish salad to wish for a prosperous New Year. 

                                            The oldies have their own tossing at the main table.

Ancestral worship. Honoring our ancestors is a cultural tradition which has nothing to do with religion.  A table laden with food and fruits are offered to our ancestors and they are served with liquor too. We ask for their blessings for ourselves and our children and grandchildren. After a period of time, a toss of two coins will reveal whether we can continue with the burning of Joss papers ( money for the departed ) and paper clothes, shoes, gadgets etc. When the ashes fly high into the sky, it is an indication that they are well pleased with us.

                      We had pot luck during the reunion dinner. Here are some of the dishes.

                              At my youngest sister's house on the 4th Day of the Lunar New Year

               Visiting my aunt who is seated next to me on the second day of the Lunar New Year.

Visiting old relatives and siblings are an important part of the Lunar New Year. This is where we catch up and bond once more. Sometimes it's just an annual visit but the old folks look forward to it.

 

A Magical Rainbow

The Lunar New Year has come and gone. After 15 days of celebration and feasting, it is quite difficult to come down to earth but a look in the mirror will do wonders to bring you down with a thump!!

Yes, a balloon face and a tight waistline will certainly prompt one to cut back on the calories and to begin exercising.

The Lunar New Year means something different to the young children and that’s what it’s all about. It’s a time for joy, for bonding and play. It’s a time for fire-crackers, fire-works, sparklers, pop-pop, ang pau (red packets containing money), mandarin oranges, new clothes, etc.  Furthermore, on the first day of the new year, you can be mischievous without being scolded for it is taboo to utter a bad word, to scold, etc.

                                     Various red packets containing money for children and singletons.

                         Isaac receiving his ang pau from Grandpa after wishing Gong Xi Fa Cai

                                      Little Abigail receiving her ang pau from Grandma

                                            Isaac shooting bubbles from his new toy gun

                                                    Isaac with 2 sparklers in his hands

For me, this was a beautiful new year, because all my four grandchildren returned home to celebrate this most important event of the year. This was truly a magical rainbow in my sky. Let the pictures speak for themselves.

                                                Isaac helping to pack goodie bags for visitors

                                     My children ,my grandchildren, my siblings, my nieces and nephews  

                                           Engrossed in the camera with his cousin KristiAnne . 

                                                              Isaac shot a few pictures.

                                              My daughter Grace and her niece and nephews

                                                  

                                                            Grace & her niece Abigail

                                   Isaac and I, his grandma. Behind us is my nephew Andrew

The Fifteen Days of the Lunar New Year

This is the period that the Chinese community all over the world look forward to.  It is also known as the Spring Festival.  During this period there will be many visits to homes of friends and relatives and feasting.

The Lion Dance is synonymous with the Lunar New Year. Lion dance troupes perform in shopping malls and in private homes by invitation.  When a troupe is invited to perform in private homes, they are given big ang paos. The lion will also enter the home to bring luck and to dispel any negative elements. These days the lion dance performers have become very skilful and they perform acrobatic stunts on posts of different heights, leaping from one to another. Their agility and coordination usually bring gasps of admiration among the audience.  

In smaller towns, small groups of performers may go from shop to shop to perform, bringing luck to the premises and they are usually given ang paos.

In fact, the celebration begins on the eve of the new year with the family reunion dinner.  Family members from near and far return home for this important dinner, not only to eat but to bond once more and most important, to pay respects to their elders. After the feasting, members will play card games or catch up on one another’s lives late until the early hours of the morning. The belief is that the longer you stay up, the longer your parents will live. At the stroke of midnight, fire crackers shatter the silence of the night and fireworks light up the sky.

Day 1 sees the children all excited and dressed in their new clothes. They greet and pay respects to their parents and grandparents. In return they receive their ang paos or red envelopes containing gifts of money.

Friends and relatives may come and visit too, bringing mandarin oranges and other gifts such as groundnuts which signify longetivity, cookies etc. No one goes visiting without bringing gifts of mandarin oranges as they symbolise prosperity.

The visiting continues on day 2 but on day 3, the more traditional Chinese will stay home as they consider it is not an auspicious day to make any visits. There is the belief that quarrels and fights may occur so, rather than risk that, they prefer to remain at home.

Day 4 is when the Kitchen God, the God of Fortune and other Gods are welcomed back into homes that believe in them. There is an abundant offering of fruit and food and joss sticks and candles are lighted as the believers pray for a good year.

Day 5 is the birthday of the God of Wealth and a feast is held to mark his birthday and to ask for his blessings. Some businesses resume work on this day as it is considered to be an auspicious day.

Days 6 to 10 are spent visiting homes of friends and relatives.

Day 7 is the Birthday of Man. People gather for a feast and raw fish is a must-have as it is a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigour. Yee sang is usually the raw fish salad they partake of.

Day 9 is of great significance to the Hokkien community. The Hokkiens are a particular ethnic group who celebrate the birthday of the Jade Emperor at midnight on Day 8. They give thanks to the Jade Emperor for saving their lives when they hid in a sugar cane plantation to escape a massacre. This celebration always includes a pair of sugarcanes among the offerings. To the Hokkiens, this is actually their New Year.

Day 10 onwards sees more feasting and dinners among friends and relatives especially in the business community who take this opportunity to thank their clients for their support.

Day 15 is the last day of the New Year and it is known as Chap Goh Mei meaning 15^th night. This is when unmarried women throw oranges (with their names and contact numbers written on them) into the sea or river or pond, in the hopes of finding a life partner.

Later on you can find young bachelors hopefully scooping up the oranges!!

Needless to say, the celebrations are always accompanied by the burning of fire crackers which are very noisy and leave behind a red carpet which symbolises prosperity.  In our country, the burning of fire crackers has been banned now because it caused fires in the past and there were many complaints of children and dogs being frightened by the loud sounds. However, some homes still burn these crackers at the risk of being arrested. The lion dances are also performed on the first and second day of the lunar new year and on the final day of the celebrations.

Here's wishing everyone Gong Xi Fa Cai!