Meaning of CNY - check it out at Wikipedia -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_new_year
Well, this would be the exact wishes one will get during these fifteen days of joyful celebration. This yr's New Year celebration was a special one as it was BB Matt's 1st 'Niu' yr celebration with the Yeoh and Chin family. It is great to have new additions to the family as this shows prosperity and productivity in Chinese customs. Anyway, since small till pre married yrs, I used to have reunion dinners with my family (which was a big affair) , but ever since I got married, it is now customary for the wife to join her in laws instead. Yeah....the MAN of the house has always been of great importance when it comes to customs and culture ! Wonder who started that belief .....
Anyway, back to my post. Series of events that took place during CNY
25th of Jan, Sun (eve of CNY):
This yr's new year celebration started off with the reunion dinner at my in law's place. This yr would be BB Matt's 1st new year celebration and my in laws started the eve of CNY with the yearly toast for good health and prosperity. This was then followed with some prayers at the stroke of midnite at our house to welcome the new year. Prayed for good health. Matthew was tired so he slept whilst daddy and mummy was busy packing ang pows. In the midst of packing, we heard firecrackers 'ping ping piang piang' till about 1am ...very 'lau-juak' !!
Dishes served on new year's eve
26th of Jan, Mon (CNY)
The 1st day of New Year is the most important of ALL. We visited my in laws first - according to chinese customs and followed by my side. First stop was my father in law's cousin place - we talked and chit chat for a while and had some ang pow exchanged. Met up with Adeline -my sis in law and the whole family then adjourned for a family lunch at MIL's place. Same food but with additional dishes i.e fish and prawns..YUMMY !! After that, we proceed to my mother's place and 2nd koko was there. Tired and hot, slept for a while and exchange ang pows. Had dinner with my family and stayed till 7 plus . Later in the nite, we went to Alex's 5th Ee Poh's house. Matt boy was the richest that nite as he had the most ang pows amongst his cousin. Too bad, he was too young to know the meaning of 'money', so in the end he played with the red packets instead !
Paternal side - lunch reunion
Matthew with Judy Mah Mah
Too hot and tired
Mum with kiddo
Happy family !
27th of Jan (2nd day of CNY)
Yes !! 2nd day of CNY belongs to the wife's side. Time to go back to Taiping, my mum's hometown - a visit back to the good old times. The town has not changed a bit due to the law imposed by the govt in making it a historical state. No high rise building - that is the least requirement ! The Chendol, curry mee, ban cheang kuih and chee cheong fun - these are all a must-try food each time I visit this place. Small uncle had steamboat for the nite..food, lots of it...and my Ma-ee (eldest aunt) cooked mee rebus - another recipe from the 'Lau family'. In btw, TJ - my cousin took us sight -seeing with the last stop at a 'wild boar' sanctuary. We stayed there till about 9pm and make our journey back to Penang. Was so tired that day.
Back in Taiping : L-R -Qian Yi, Matt, Adel, Alicia
Steamboat at Ah Ku's house - 'lau juak'
L-R: 2 big wild boars - hehehe
The past week had indeed been very meaningful to BB Matt as this was his first visit to all the 'Ah-Chors' and Ah Pohs'. No doubt, he does not know anything yet, it is good to know that he has met his own extended family members of earlier generations. He is now the 3rd generation of both families (the only boy !) and I pray that one FINE day he can continue the Chinese customs and beliefs and passed it on to the future generations in time to come.
Once again, I hope that this yr would be filled with happiness, joy & good health. Let bygones be bygones. There is no end in hating someone -and a special note to all my friends :-In life, there is always a new beginning to every end . It is how you want to start it, be it good or bad - that is a choice that you have to make ! All of us are given options in life and it is only thru forgetting and forgiving that you can start life anew. The end of suffering is no attachment to hatred, lust and anger....think about it :)
As the saying goes, ' If love you opposed with hatred and fury, nor love and happiness will strive.'
Again, Gong Xi Fa Cai to all !! Nien Nien Gong Hei !!
- Adel aka Miss Chan Kan Cheong -
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