Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Wishing All A Blessed and Prosperous Lunar Year
Once upon a time, when we were young, we used to love the Chinese New Year so much! Compared to THE New Year (1st Jan), which is often deemed as the beginning of another school year, the CNY offers so much more reasons to rejoice. However, as we age, these reasons slowly diminished and became less obvious to us. What took over are anti-CNY feelings, which are predominant in our teenage years. Do you remember a time when you are really reluctant to visit your relatives, cause you think stuff like these are a waste of time? Do you remember you thinking how stupid this people are enjoying CNY when you totally don't see the joy or feel the festive mood? (well, maybe you still feel this way - that just shows you still belong in your teens). Thats why, I'm here today to remind you of some of the reasons why we should embrace CNY.
- Ang Baos! No elaboration needed. There is no free lunch in this world? That's true. But all you gotta do to receive red packets is to shake hand and wish everyone Happy New Year! Of course only married personnel are supposed to give red packets. Biao and I made a secret pact to get MJ (shotgun) married off first so that we can go "visit" him during CNY.
- Pretty people! Actually not too much of pretty people but more of people who are well dressed and well make up-ed. Somehow I've never realised this before but people dressed nicer on CNY than any other freaking day in the year! Even X'mas and Valentines don't warrant as much attention or effort. Incredible. Perhaps everyone just wants to show off their goody new clothes. Haha even though I haven't any new clothes this year I wore my best clothes, and thankfully I did cos the streets are full of well dressed people. Lovely.
- CNY goodies! Every house that you go, your relatives/friends will say "eat more, bu yao ke qi" then they open the lid and hold the container in front of you, you feel like this is already the thousandth pineapple tart that you've eaten today, but you feel so paiseh to say no, so you take one, then hmmm..one more, then one, then...... My throat is itching, my voice is hoarse, my forehead is burning, but it's all worth it! Cos CNY goodies are the greatest goodies all year round. They are the best festive foods you can find. Falling sick for em is just worth it.
- A time for reunion. I'm sure many of us don't see our grandparents, aunties and uncles weekly or even monthly. In my case, I only ever see them on either Mother's/Father's Day Celebration, grandparents' Bday Celebration, or CNY. And best of all, CNY everyone turns up! So CNY is really a good time for reunion, for catching up with the long-time-no-see cousins. Even though you know that your aunties and uncles will start comparing everything from height to results, you're probably already used to those shit so yar. And you realised everyone's grown up all of a sudden.
- Public Holidays! This is especially appealing to those people who are still serving - which essentially rules out all of us. However, whoever will dread a public holiday considering we don't get much rest all year round. Bad thing is CNY is the time when hawkers rest too. So food is a rather scarce resource everywhere.
- The economy stops when we Chinese celebrate. All the damn shops in town are closed. All food courts and hawker centres. Everywhere. Damn. It highlights our importance. I simply love it cos it's so damn racist.
So, isn't CNY too lovely? Well, there are erm..11 more days of CNY to go so don't waste your festival. If you haven't lived it to the fullest, go do something about it. Visit a friend. Flaunt your clothes. Gorge yourself with CNY goodies. Do anything, just not nothing.
Everyday of CNY has its significance so try to find out more about them. Don't paiseh yourself when some kid asks you about it and you realise you know nuts about Chinese's most important festival.
