Lunar New Year
Chinese New Year is the time of the year where we play firecrackers, receive angpaos, gamble, go visiting, reunion breakfast/lunch/dinner, eat cookies, tidbits, mandarin oranges, yee sang, NON STOP EATING!
It is also the time of the year where people from overseas come back home to reunite with close ones, just like how my eldest brother comes back from UK to celebrate the Lunar New Year with us and relatives.
Usually we would go back to my grandfather's place in Pahang to celebrate CNY. On CNY day's eve, we would have a big reunion dinner with the family and relatives. We would also prepare a table with offerings to welcome the God of Prosperity to enter the house, a ceremony commonly practiced by not only us but the whole kampung as well. Once the clock hits 12am, we would exchange greetings and angpaos. Sound of firecrackers could be heard through the whole night, like a machine gun being fired.
On the first day of CNY, we would put on our new clothes and then have a small tea ceremony in the house. First, my grandfather would be sitting, while each of us take turns to offer a cup of tea to him, kneeling down and wishing him with the usual greetings like "身体健康, 万事如意, 龙马精神", and then we would be rewarded with angpaos.
This year was a bit different. Since my grandfather passed away 4 months ago, we are not supposed to celebrate CNY. We couldn't visit other people's house, we couldn't distribute angpaos(but we can receive), it is a culture/taboo we would practice, or "pantang" as we would call it. We are in the state of mourning as my parents say. We could not attend people's birthday or wedding events, afraid that we might transfer some of our bad luck to them. We could not even Pai Ti Kong, celebrate the Jade Emperor's Birthday.
So instead of heading back Pahang like usual, we went back Bukit Mertajam, Penang to celebrate with my grandmother and aunty. Motherside no pantang, so it is okay.
Ate and drank a lot, practically eating almost every time of the day. Before the food i ate for lunch could digest, i am already getting ready to eat my dinner.
Visited the temple at Kek Lok Si in Penang Island, SUPER DUPER JAM, couldn't head to the top to see the Gigantic Guan Yin Ma statue.
Yesterday was the 7th day of the New Year, also called 人日, which is everybodies' birthday. So... Happy Birthday everybody!
It is also the time of the year where people from overseas come back home to reunite with close ones, just like how my eldest brother comes back from UK to celebrate the Lunar New Year with us and relatives.
Usually we would go back to my grandfather's place in Pahang to celebrate CNY. On CNY day's eve, we would have a big reunion dinner with the family and relatives. We would also prepare a table with offerings to welcome the God of Prosperity to enter the house, a ceremony commonly practiced by not only us but the whole kampung as well. Once the clock hits 12am, we would exchange greetings and angpaos. Sound of firecrackers could be heard through the whole night, like a machine gun being fired.
On the first day of CNY, we would put on our new clothes and then have a small tea ceremony in the house. First, my grandfather would be sitting, while each of us take turns to offer a cup of tea to him, kneeling down and wishing him with the usual greetings like "身体健康, 万事如意, 龙马精神", and then we would be rewarded with angpaos.
This year was a bit different. Since my grandfather passed away 4 months ago, we are not supposed to celebrate CNY. We couldn't visit other people's house, we couldn't distribute angpaos(but we can receive), it is a culture/taboo we would practice, or "pantang" as we would call it. We are in the state of mourning as my parents say. We could not attend people's birthday or wedding events, afraid that we might transfer some of our bad luck to them. We could not even Pai Ti Kong, celebrate the Jade Emperor's Birthday.
So instead of heading back Pahang like usual, we went back Bukit Mertajam, Penang to celebrate with my grandmother and aunty. Motherside no pantang, so it is okay.
Ate and drank a lot, practically eating almost every time of the day. Before the food i ate for lunch could digest, i am already getting ready to eat my dinner.
 |
| Party~ |
 |
| So colourful |
Yesterday was the 7th day of the New Year, also called 人日, which is everybodies' birthday. So... Happy Birthday everybody!
Comments