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.

Chinese New Year 2011 - Chinatown Light Up - Beaded Shoes

This stall at Chinatown attracted me. I like these beaded shoes. Not sure if they are hand sewn or machined but I guess it is the latter cause they are sold at affordable price. If they are hand sewn could easily cost more than S$80. And no I dont own any beaded shoes, I would like those hand sewn beads shoes. Maybe if I ever visit Malacca, would like to get a pair of hand sewn shoes from there. Will look out for my favourite purple beads...lol.

Skywatch Friday - Chinatown Light Up for Chinese New Year - Sky

Sometimes it is nice to look up in the sky.

I managed to take photo of the moon beside the lantern.

It is not easy taking photo of this plant with the purple fairy lights...lol. It kept blinking and it took me several times to get the perfect shot without any blurness....hahaha.

For other sky watchers, please hop over to Skywatch blog.

Chinese New Year 2011 - Chinatown Light Up-Preserved Food

You get to see all these preserved and dried food for Chinese New Year. Not to be missed are these huge pig's trotters...lol. But not everyone enjoyed these. I only liked the waxed duck and chinese sausages.

Sometimes, I will cook a pot of rice with some waxed duck and chinese sausages and some light soya sauce and sesame oil and they can really smell and taste so nice and yummy.

Chinese New Year 2011 - Chinatown Light Up - Goodies

Been posting about almost the same thing every year during Chinese New Year. This year, I took the photos of the shopping at night. But did not take much photos cause it would be like repeated photos of the past years photos of Chinese New Year. Seems like the stores are all the same and selling the same things.

Store selling dried goodies.

Lots of Chinese New Year Goodies on sale, come Chinese New Year's Eve, these goodies will be sold at very cheap prices and can cost about fifty cents per bottle only. The store owners would like to get rid of them on the eve of Chinese New Year.

Store selling taiwanese mochi or muah chee. There's lot of shouting and competition among stores in Chinatown.