Yes, I love celebrating Chinese New Year. The sheer excitement of preparing and waiting for it, and the simple joy and warmth of family gatherings, food, giving and receiving!

CNY would not really be CNY without the ang-pows (red packets). This is probably the most anticipated and excited thing for the children and the singles! These ang-pows are usually given to the young and singles by those older or married ones. Since this was my first year celebrating as a non-single anymore, this happened to be the first time I'm giving out ang-pows as well. Not all practice this, but being the first year, I had to give two packets! Wah, pockets very dry man! But the anticipation and smiles on those receiving are really precious :)



Then there's the card sessions. Well, I call it investment *LOL* Blackjack, ginrummy, in-between, poker, mahjong ... you choose! But careful, you don't want to end up being bald!





The firecrackers. But these are banned here. So we are left with probably only "pop-pop" for the children to play with - coarse gunpowder wrapped in little packets that produce a "pop" sound when popped by either throwing onto the floor of stepping hard on them.



I think the firecrackers actually play an important role in making CNY an exciting, loud and joyous celebration. Without it, something just seems to be lacking! I read in the news that they might be lifting the ban on them, hopefully it'll come true. At least allow us to light them up on this joyous occasion.

Lion dance. Tak-dong-chang, dong-dong-chang!! A lion costume usually handled by two dancers. Springs about, up, and down energetically while moving the head, eyes and mouth of the lion. Skillful ones hop up and down on poles of different heights. All these energetic movements are an awe to watch as the lion dances and moves along to the beats from traditional gongs, drums and cymbals. Usually the lion dance is also accompanied by loud burning firecrackers, but sadly firecrackers have been banned.

This is not an actual lion costume used in lion dance, just a mere prop for decoration in homes.

Zhai. Every year without fail, my mother would cook this vegetarian dish. Lovely dish that goes down very well with plain white rice because it has such a variety of vegetables - cabbage, button mushrooms, black mushrooms, baby corns, beancurd skin (fu-zhuk), dried beancurd (tau-fu-pok), peas, carrots, etc.



For the past few years, the Chinese Lunar New Year has very much been a very hot affair. Shining hot sun, warm air, no rain. But this year, it rained. On the first day summore!

It rained on the afternoon of the 1st day.

On our journey back to hometown.

Cities are usually quiet as folks return to their kampung/hometowns. Those not celebrating will also usually take the opportunity of the holidays to return to hometowns or to go on holidays.

Empty parking bays.

To me, these are the things which I relate to when it comes to celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year. And of course not forgetting the precious gatherings of family, relatives and friends as well :)

Labels: celebration