Chinese New Year 2011 - Year of the Rabbits

This being the Year of the Rabbit, of course, there are lots of rabbits mascots at the Singapore River Hong Bao.

So we got to eat more carrots in the Year of the rabbits.

Singapore River Hongbao 2011

Last Saturday night, hubby and me visited the Singapore River Hongbao at The Float in Marina.

It seems like a yearly affair for us to visit the event.

We saw our Prime Minister at the event too. Just like everyone, I took a video of him hahaha.

The big head dolls are so cute, they are performers from Taiwan.

Another video of the prime minister, I was not actually following him, was taking photos of others, when hubby told me prime minister is behind me, so I just turned around and took a video of him.

Message to prime minister, Budget Day is coming, hope to hear good news. :) My wish is to make housing more affordable for first timers. Property prices have gone crazy due to investors. In Singapore, not surprising if you heard from friends they own more than one property, more than one handphone, more than one car, etc. but not me I am using a pass me down handphone from my son...lol. (hey son's old phone still working since son is upgrading to Iphone.)

Please visit "That's my World" for other parts of the world.

Lighting of Fire Crackers on Chinese New Year's Eve

It was so crowded in Chinatown on Chinese New Year's Eve. Everyone trying to do a last minute shopping for chinese new year. Of course I wasn't there cause I never like huge crowd.

Hubby went there at 10 pm and stay till midnight to watch the lighting of firecrackers. He took the videos.

Lighting of firecrackers at the stroke of twelve during Chinese New Year's Eve. There were fireworks too but hubby did not capture the fireworks on video, he only video the firecrackers.

So much merry making during these few days for Chinese New Year, I think I am going to fall sick soon...lol.

GONG XI FA CAI

This year will be the year of the rabbit. Here wishing everyone good fortune, good health and lots of happiness in the year of the rabbit.

GONG XI FA CAI

Let's Miss Rabbit the robot (made/designed by students of Singapore Polytechnic) sing a Gong Xi Fa Cai song.

Chinese New Year 2011 - Ang Pows (Red Packets)

In a few days time, it will be Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year is the most important festival of the chinese. Chinese New Year will start on the 1st day of the 1st chinese lunar month and last till the 15th day of the 1st chinese lunar month. This year the 1st day of 1st chinese lunar month falls on 3rd February 2011.

On this day, those who are married will give ang pows or red packets which contained some money inside. I have collected some red packets from the banks and some are given to me by my friends. It is best to have ang pows with different designs so we can differentiate the different amount of money we put inside the packets.

The amount of money or gifts will be more if you are closer to the giver. Amount of gifts can amount to few hundreds for parents or senior family members while the younger gets around $8 or $12 or more. The minimum amount depending on how generous one can be.

As hubby is cantonese, I have to give two red packets to each person (i.e. $8 x 2 or $12 x 2). Two packets represents husband and wife. Every year giving out ang pows could easily costs us a few hundred dollars not including gifts of ang pows to parents. As hubby and me have no generation above us anymore, we are considered the elders in our family. (Now I sound so old...lol)

It is also important to change new notes to put inside the ang pows. Will be embrassing to give old notes.

Now let's get ready to welcome the Year of the Rabbit.