AT the last day of Chinese New Year, also the 15th day of the Lunar New Year and known as Yuan Xiao Festival, I accompanied my Mum and my sister to the River HongBao at the Esplanade via Singapore River. (It is very regretting that I cannot input the pictures into my blog for now, but I will find ways ...) I have many beautiful pictures at the great celebration and bazzar. To add to the climate, there was fireworks, sparking and beautifying the sky. There is also the giant God of Wealth who will sprinkle golden papers here and there onto the people. There are also 12 Zodiac Figures (Enshrined with the Chinese fables characters like the Monkey god and Madam white snake) and fortunes board of all the Zodiac in this year of Dog. The atmosphere was so dear as the New Year celebration is to be ushered off.
Yuan Xiao is the last day of Chinese New Year, and it has its own traditions and origins. Traditions are very much alike the Mid-Autumn Festival and Winter Solistice Festival, except for the mooncake part. Yuan Xiao is also associated as a type of Valentine Day for this is an opportune occasion for girls and boys to socialise and make friends (Do not mix up with the Seventh Day of the Seventh Month, The Cowherd and the Weaving Girl which is also known as Chinese Valentine Day). On this day, bachelor and bachelorette will gather at bazzars to watch lightings and laterns. Guessing games (especially words) competition will also be held. People do drink and eat and watch the Moon under the sky. As it is the 15th day, the moon is usually round and bright. And also, people do eat glutinious flour riceballs on this day.
Yuan Xiao is actually the name of a maid. During the reign of Emperor Wu Di of Han dynasty, there is a well-known adviser known as DongFang Shuo who saw Yuan Xiao trying to jump into the well to commit sucide in the imperial garden. Of course, DongFang Shuo stopped her and after enquiry, know that Yuan Xiao had tried to kill herself due to homesickness and the disconsolation. Yuan Xiao feel helpless as she was unable to do anything to go back to her hometown to visit her family and friends. DongFang Shuo then devised a plan to help Yuan Xiao and the other maids in the palace. He cooked up a story about the Chang'an (The capital of the Han Dynasty) disaster and fire on the 15th of Chinese New Year, and then with the help of Yuan Xiao who acted as a "messenger" from Heaven, spread the rumours throughout the villages and cities. The rumours spread wildly about the anger of Jade Emperor over the World and He who want to destroy the capitial. This caused some panic in citites. The emperor was stunned about the news and seek DongFang Shuo for advice. DongFang advised that the entire city will be lit up and be full of brightness, and firecrackers and fireworks be released. Lanterns had to be put up on all streets and alleys on the night of 15th. As the fire gods like to eat glutinous riceballs, all the villagers will to make the delicious item. DongFang Shuo suggested that since Yuan Xiao made the best glutinous rice balls, she was to carry a palace lantern with her name written on it to pay homage to the fire diety. DongFang Shuo also suggests releasing the maids and servants from the palace for the day of 15th by itself so as to induce gaiety in the palace itself. Beacuse of DongFang Shuo's brilliant plan, the maids especially Yuan Xiao were able to meet the family and reunited. Indeed, there are no "big fire" on the 15th, and DongFang Shuo petitioned the Emperor to allow the palace occupants and the common people to mingle. The sagacious Emperor gracefully agreed. Beacause the glutinous riceballs were made by Yuan Xiao on the 15th of the first Lunar month, the people also called the glutinous riceballs Yuan Xiao. The festival is also known as Yuan Xiao Festival. *(Glutinous riceballs are called Yuan Xiao in Northern China and Tang Yuan in Southern China) [Most of our parents come from the parts of Southern China, therefore until today, we still have the habit of calling glutinous riceballs as Tang Yuan in Sinagpore]
I was amazed and estatic about the River HongBao. I promised myself that I will go again if I am free.
Anyway, I am free and at home on the official day of Valentine ... I wonder whether I should be proud or to be sad to be a bachelor ... Heehee ... Anyway, I still have plenty of things to do. I have always said Career and Romance should come together, and neither should influence each other, and that the integrity of both should not be compromised. Nonetheless, if I got time, and no fate, then I should focus on career. For now, I am quite busy. I am more busy at home than at work in my NS.
Today, I have finally gone out to the road to drive. Of course, as this is the first time, it is not easy for me. I always caused the engine to die off and that I sill have not master the Art of driving smoothly. To drive is easy, but to drive smoothly is a skill. (Never mind, I will do it) I believe myself ...
There is a saying, there are plenty of suave grasses and beautiful flowers everywhere, so for all the singles, do not be disheartened. Be OPTIMISTIC !!! Believe in yourself and do it smoothly, and all will be smooth ...
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Finally, the updates in Chinese New Year...
After so many days of Chinese New Year (9 days), do I have the time to sit down and input blog. Since the Chinese New Year eve, I have been going to many places to Bai Nian or for visits. For the first Seven Days, I have reserved the visits specially for my relatives, from my close and blood-related one to the distant relatives. Many relatives, I can still recognise though forgetting many of the terms to address them. They too acknowledge me and admit that my face structure has been very constant, and not chnaging much since many years. The visits are also the time to polish up on my presposterous Hokkien, much to my embarassment.
On the Seventh day of Chinese New Year, and also supposedly all of our birthday (If you know what I mean ...), I went to the biggest vegetarian feast ever at Suntec City Convention Hal. This is organised by the Singapore Buddhist Federation, who had gone on the fund raising activities for the building of the new heritage and temple that will house the teeth and relics of Buddha, Sakyamuni. It is a wonder that the relics can be stored for so long considering the fact that Sakyamuni is bornt at 565 BC, 2565 years ago. This Human Day, is also unique to the South-East Asian, as Asean nations, especially from the Malay Archipelago (Including Singapore) will "Lao Yu Shen", or eating auspicious foods mixed with sour and sweet sauces. This "Yu Shen" is actually an idiosyncrasy created by Singaporeans. Even the East Asia like China and Taiwan are not very aware of this "Yu Shen". This is why we Singaporeans should be proud that such a delicious and unique food actually belongs to us. And on the Seventh Day of Chinese New Year, I have actually "Lao" 3 times "Yu Shen". Human day is a special day for "Yu Shen", even though there are no restrictions for the consumption of "Yu Shen" during Chinese New Year.
There are 2 special things today.
Today is the birthday of Tian Gong, or the Jade Emperor of Heaven in Chinese and Taoist cultural. Therefore many believers wil pray to Him with sumptous food and goodies, and of course with many incense papers. Yesterday, midnight, and also the beginning of today, I have followed the procedures and the tradition earnestly. It is quite a prospect considering the fact that (I am glad) I have a strong background and tradition that I can, and I will pass on.
Today is also the day when I passed my Final theory test. Yippeee ... I can start the private lessons of driving very soon. I have contacted the private instructor, and most likely 6 months later, I will be going to the practical test. Whoo ... Whoo ... I keep on lamenting the fact that I cannot enter the NPCO course, and go to a smooth route of learning driving. If Heaven do not bestow me the chance and smooth path, then I will have to achieve on my own, though the route will be a harder one.
[Below are my laments, and therefore viewers can choose to elude the below passage]
(I have always questioned the fact that thou coming to SOC is a curse or blessing. And to a certain extent, sometimes I allow emotions to overcome me, and I will treat my whole episode of life at SOC as the curse, and damn the entire thing. Nonetheless, after a good sleep, I am still glad that anyway, from a pragmatic prospective, I will always have to compare African with myself. I am having a very good life now, living healthily, and still, affluent enough to have good food to eat. I am not in the Army, eating shits from here and there and to other countries. I can go home everyday, and also off days. Thus, anyway, I am still lucky afterall, even though I will still admit that my NPCO life will have been better off, with many things "smoother" [Such as nearer location, a more family-like team, more freedom, more exciting and so on]. I might not have a smoother path, but all these will have to become a test for me. Life is confimed plus guaranteed not a bed of roses for me. Now that times are "bad", I still got IPPT to pass. I can barely regain my past glory nowaday ... Gotta train up ...)
Anyway, I will have many houses to visit, now reserved for my friends. Of course, going to more houses means receiving more "HongBao" (Heehee). But I am not that greedy, as to whether people want to give or not, I will still wish them a Happy New Year ...
Happy New Year to all, and my New Year wish is to have a smooth path, a smooth year, and a smooth way in doing all things. May everyone too, have all their wishes come true !!!
GongXiFaCai !!!
On the Seventh day of Chinese New Year, and also supposedly all of our birthday (If you know what I mean ...), I went to the biggest vegetarian feast ever at Suntec City Convention Hal. This is organised by the Singapore Buddhist Federation, who had gone on the fund raising activities for the building of the new heritage and temple that will house the teeth and relics of Buddha, Sakyamuni. It is a wonder that the relics can be stored for so long considering the fact that Sakyamuni is bornt at 565 BC, 2565 years ago. This Human Day, is also unique to the South-East Asian, as Asean nations, especially from the Malay Archipelago (Including Singapore) will "Lao Yu Shen", or eating auspicious foods mixed with sour and sweet sauces. This "Yu Shen" is actually an idiosyncrasy created by Singaporeans. Even the East Asia like China and Taiwan are not very aware of this "Yu Shen". This is why we Singaporeans should be proud that such a delicious and unique food actually belongs to us. And on the Seventh Day of Chinese New Year, I have actually "Lao" 3 times "Yu Shen". Human day is a special day for "Yu Shen", even though there are no restrictions for the consumption of "Yu Shen" during Chinese New Year.
There are 2 special things today.
Today is the birthday of Tian Gong, or the Jade Emperor of Heaven in Chinese and Taoist cultural. Therefore many believers wil pray to Him with sumptous food and goodies, and of course with many incense papers. Yesterday, midnight, and also the beginning of today, I have followed the procedures and the tradition earnestly. It is quite a prospect considering the fact that (I am glad) I have a strong background and tradition that I can, and I will pass on.
Today is also the day when I passed my Final theory test. Yippeee ... I can start the private lessons of driving very soon. I have contacted the private instructor, and most likely 6 months later, I will be going to the practical test. Whoo ... Whoo ... I keep on lamenting the fact that I cannot enter the NPCO course, and go to a smooth route of learning driving. If Heaven do not bestow me the chance and smooth path, then I will have to achieve on my own, though the route will be a harder one.
[Below are my laments, and therefore viewers can choose to elude the below passage]
(I have always questioned the fact that thou coming to SOC is a curse or blessing. And to a certain extent, sometimes I allow emotions to overcome me, and I will treat my whole episode of life at SOC as the curse, and damn the entire thing. Nonetheless, after a good sleep, I am still glad that anyway, from a pragmatic prospective, I will always have to compare African with myself. I am having a very good life now, living healthily, and still, affluent enough to have good food to eat. I am not in the Army, eating shits from here and there and to other countries. I can go home everyday, and also off days. Thus, anyway, I am still lucky afterall, even though I will still admit that my NPCO life will have been better off, with many things "smoother" [Such as nearer location, a more family-like team, more freedom, more exciting and so on]. I might not have a smoother path, but all these will have to become a test for me. Life is confimed plus guaranteed not a bed of roses for me. Now that times are "bad", I still got IPPT to pass. I can barely regain my past glory nowaday ... Gotta train up ...)
Anyway, I will have many houses to visit, now reserved for my friends. Of course, going to more houses means receiving more "HongBao" (Heehee). But I am not that greedy, as to whether people want to give or not, I will still wish them a Happy New Year ...
Happy New Year to all, and my New Year wish is to have a smooth path, a smooth year, and a smooth way in doing all things. May everyone too, have all their wishes come true !!!
GongXiFaCai !!!
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