Chinese New Year - 3rd Day of Chinese New Year

Today it is the third day day of Chnese New Year. It is also the birthday of the Pig. The third animal that the Goddess Nuwa created for earth according to Legend.

On this day, it is considered inauspicious to do any visitings. So we normally do not visit our relatives nor do we expect any visitors to come on this day. But nowadays people do not really be bothered by this tradition. They will go visiting on this day or wear black instead of red. But I never like wearing black during Chinese New Year.

The above photo was taken at my sister's house. We have so much food, most cooked by my eldest sister...she really can cook very sumptous food. Sometimes, I really prefer homecooked food then going out to eat.

Going to a chinese family's for a meal is the best. The host is always very generous with food. The table will be filled with lots of food and your host will keep asking you to eat...lol. The host will always make sure they have more food then you can finish. And oh I forgot to take photo of the dessert and fruits with free flowing wine and chinese tea.

Chinese New Year 2010 - Huge Chinese Lantern

Today is the 2nd day of Chinese New Year. As mentioned in my earlier post, the Goddess (Nuwa) created earth with seven animals. On the second day, she created the dogs.

Therefore second day of Chinese New Year is also the Birthday of Dog. People will be extra kind to dogs in respect of the occasion.

I have not completed my rounds of visiting. Today will be visiting my family's side of siblings. We will gather at my eldest sister's house to exchange greetings, oranges and giving out of ang pows (red packets containing gifts of money) . And of course, there will be a sumptous lunch waiting for us at my eldest sister's house. She is a great cook. :)

Saw this huge lantern in Heeren Shopping Mall. It is so beautiful. A short video to show exactly how big the lantern is.

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.