Happy Valentine's Day

Today is the first day of Chinese New Year and also Valentine's Day.

Here's wishing everyone a very Happy Valentine's Day. :)

Chinese New Year 2010 - Year of the Tiger (First day of Chinese New Year)

Today is the first day of Chinese New Year. We welcome the year of the Tiger.

The first day of Chinese New Year is known as yuan dan (first morning of the new year) or yuan ri (first day).

According to Chinese legend, Nuwa, the goddess who created the earth over a seven-day period, also created different animals on specific days, which is why each of the first seven days of the New Year is also known as the birthday of a certain animal.

The first day of the new year is the birthday of chicken. Today, I must not sweep the floor cause it is considered bad luck as if to sweep away all the luck...lol.

The day begin with visiting to the oldest and most senior members of the family. I will be visiting my hubby's brother and his family. We will then have lunch at his place.

This year is very special to us cause we did not celebrate chinese new year for the past two years because my father in law and mother in law passed away, one after the other during the past two years.

Chinese New Year is a very important festival so if there is death in the family, one cannot celebrate Chinese New Year for that year. We have to mourn for one year. Therefore, it is important that we do not wear black during Chinese New Year, which is associated with death.

The Eve of Chinese New Year - Reunion Dinner

Today is the eve of Chinese New Year (chu xi). It is also a very important day to all chinese.

This is the day where everyone in the family gather together and have dinner together. There will be lots of food including chicken, pork, fish, etc. But in Singapore most of us have steamboat for dinner.My foreign friends thought we are going on a steamboat to have our reunion dinner...lol.

Steamboat actually meant a hotpot. It is actually a pot (powered by charcoal or electric) and we cooked a good soup base and then we just throw in all sort of ingredients. The ingredients will be added only when we wanted to eat. It could be all sorts of meat cut thinly, fish slices, fish ball, yong tau fu (all sorts of fresh produces like tofu, chilli, okra/ladies fingers filled with some fish paste into them), vegetables, prawns, mushroom, etc

I will have a busy time later preparing the dinner.

Meanwhile I have already wrapped my angpows (red packets containing gift of money), making sure that I remember different angpow patterns containing different amount of money..lol. For family members, the gift of money will be more while friends will have lesser (normally about $8).

Here wishing all GONG XI FA CAI, GOOD HEALTH, GOOD FORTUNE AND GOOD LUCK in the year of the Tiger.

Chinatown - Chinese New Year 2010 Decorations at Chinatown Point

Decorations at Chinatown Point in Chinatown. Being year of the Tiger, Tigers are part of the decorations. These tigers looked so cute playing chinese instruments.

Today is the day, where many chinese and non - chinese will start going to the market and buy food. For the chinese , most bought it for tomorrow Reunion Dinner for Chinese New Year and also to stock up food as markets will be closed during the first few days of Chinese New Year. Non-Chinese also had to stock up their food too. Even malls and supermarkets are closed during the first two days of Chinese New Year.

Oh I am so happy and all ready to receive the Year of the Tiger. I am done with the spring cleaning of the house, baked all my cookies, bought my new dress/new shoes and marketing...hahaha. Oh the most important part was that I also wrapped all my angpows (red packets containing gifts of money) to be distributed during the Chinese New Year for the youngsters and those not married.

Year of the Tiger seems promising and good for Singapore. Read in the papers that flights to Singapore during this weekend are all fully booked. I guess it is partly due to the newly open Integrated Resort in Sentosa.

Universal Studio will be open in March. You can keep track of the opening date in their official website.

Chinese New Year Decorations - Suntec City

Beautiful Decorations in Suntec City. The chinese word in the above word reads "Fu" meaning blessing or Good Fortune.