of chinese new year traditions
:: LIFE IN SINGAPORE / CNY ::
what's it with our "traditions" and the battle to maintain the "status quo" in this festive period? ... a marked difference between this year's CNY celebrations and the last, were few but significant (or mayhap it is , to me) ...
:: SPRING CLEANING ::
every year, for as far as i can remember - it was always a chore and stressful-endeavour to "clean house" (spring cleaning) - for my personal-shitte had overtaken a big chunk of the living and dining room ... and most years it was a struggle to clean, even up til the "appointed hour of midnight" and since there's the threat of bad-luck hanging over the usage of "brooms" on CNY, you can only but imagine the mad-rush to keep neat. and every year had been a dateline-rush to the last minute ...
insert image of last year's carnage ... journal entries (not on this blog) a joke and a memory now *BLEH* :p
this year was different. the mad-rush had not gotten to me. everyone seemed pretty chilled about it all. mayhap they've given-up on my efforts? or mayhap they realized too that my shitte (which had now comprised more than ever, with my current gig's props stacked way high!) will never go away that easily (unless i move out and soon hahahahaha *bleh*). or basically im too tired from production to give a shitte about it allselfish bugger that i am *heh*
but nevertheless, we made do with what we had and unfortunately, no visitors for this year's CNY ... again ... :p
choice of ammo: broom and vaccum cleaner
:: BRIGHT LIGHTS ::
every year, before and after the stroke of midnight, we'd keep most of the lights in the household on, for good luck and to guide in the "luck" (as it were). and me mum'll hang hand-made chinese lanterns (stapled together from old ang-pows) from the downlights and such ... this year, the lights went out pretty early in the morning ... mayhap becoz everyone's more tired than usual? heck, i was so bushed, i slept pretty early, as opposed to the usual "ritual" of the family sat out in front of the telly to watch inane teevvee (which they always seem to show on festive seasons, innit?) but with the comforting feeling of "everyone" around and together in the same room, i reckon ... :)
choice of ammo: a flick of the switch
:: COMFORT FOOD ::
the first day of new year, we'll definitely be treated to a Vegetarian-lunch, as me dad and mum adhere to their Buddhist-belief ...
tis me comfort food/meal for the first day of the CNY and this has not changed one iota all these years. *smile*
choice of ammo: hunger and comfort
:: NEW CLOTHES ::
as it is with chinese tradition, we greet the new lunar year with new clothes (for our visitation to our relations and friends) ... this year's a tad shitty for me, coz i've not gotten anything new ... mayhap a few tees (more "casual" than "formal") and of coz my only new jeans; who've died a horrible death just (and unfortunately with no time to send for alterations) ... so as of right now? im stuck with a red tee (with hentai messages, no less) and a new pair of black bermudas ("black" - meaning "bad luck", but contra with the red-tee, "red" - being "good luck") which the combination is seemingly "disrespectful" for a house-visit (much less at my age *sigh*) ~ oh well ~
choice of ammo: new clothes and thick-skin
:: RELATION VISITATIONS ::
i've never really liked visiting my relations. coz we're never been that close in the first place, innit? meeting only once a year, while trading courteous banter and swapping information and frozen-smiles is something i dislike immensely. (i'd rather be at home watching dvds, reading comics or doing whatever the heck i want coz time to start work looms dearthly ahead *BAH*) ... but for the comfort and tradition of me parents, i endure. and receiving ang-pows at my age is something that's quitehumiliating uncomfortable now ... but i sure could use the moolah, innit? *muahahahahahaha* :p
choice of ammo: two oranges / kums, patience and a lingering-smile
._.
mayhap tis my "advancing age", whereby i hold on closer to my heart certain "traditions", or at least certain "habits" of the household. and tis these "habits" which ground me/us, amidst the ever-changing atmosphere and world we live in ... and these traditions i will try to uphold and endure thru the years to come, some more so than others, innit? and so the battle continues .. at least til next year?
*Gong Xi Fa Cai, everyone!*
._.
what's it with our "traditions" and the battle to maintain the "status quo" in this festive period? ... a marked difference between this year's CNY celebrations and the last, were few but significant (or mayhap it is , to me) ...
:: SPRING CLEANING ::
every year, for as far as i can remember - it was always a chore and stressful-endeavour to "clean house" (spring cleaning) - for my personal-shitte had overtaken a big chunk of the living and dining room ... and most years it was a struggle to clean, even up til the "appointed hour of midnight" and since there's the threat of bad-luck hanging over the usage of "brooms" on CNY, you can only but imagine the mad-rush to keep neat. and every year had been a dateline-rush to the last minute ...insert image of last year's carnage ... journal entries (not on this blog) a joke and a memory now *BLEH* :p
this year was different. the mad-rush had not gotten to me. everyone seemed pretty chilled about it all. mayhap they've given-up on my efforts? or mayhap they realized too that my shitte (which had now comprised more than ever, with my current gig's props stacked way high!) will never go away that easily (unless i move out and soon hahahahaha *bleh*). or basically im too tired from production to give a shitte about it all
but nevertheless, we made do with what we had and unfortunately, no visitors for this year's CNY ... again ... :p
choice of ammo: broom and vaccum cleaner
:: BRIGHT LIGHTS ::
every year, before and after the stroke of midnight, we'd keep most of the lights in the household on, for good luck and to guide in the "luck" (as it were). and me mum'll hang hand-made chinese lanterns (stapled together from old ang-pows) from the downlights and such ... this year, the lights went out pretty early in the morning ... mayhap becoz everyone's more tired than usual? heck, i was so bushed, i slept pretty early, as opposed to the usual "ritual" of the family sat out in front of the telly to watch inane teevvee (which they always seem to show on festive seasons, innit?) but with the comforting feeling of "everyone" around and together in the same room, i reckon ... :)
choice of ammo: a flick of the switch
:: COMFORT FOOD ::
the first day of new year, we'll definitely be treated to a Vegetarian-lunch, as me dad and mum adhere to their Buddhist-belief ...
tis me comfort food/meal for the first day of the CNY and this has not changed one iota all these years. *smile*choice of ammo: hunger and comfort
:: NEW CLOTHES ::
as it is with chinese tradition, we greet the new lunar year with new clothes (for our visitation to our relations and friends) ... this year's a tad shitty for me, coz i've not gotten anything new ... mayhap a few tees (more "casual" than "formal") and of coz my only new jeans; who've died a horrible death just (and unfortunately with no time to send for alterations) ... so as of right now? im stuck with a red tee (with hentai messages, no less) and a new pair of black bermudas ("black" - meaning "bad luck", but contra with the red-tee, "red" - being "good luck") which the combination is seemingly "disrespectful" for a house-visit (much less at my age *sigh*) ~ oh well ~
choice of ammo: new clothes and thick-skin
:: RELATION VISITATIONS ::
i've never really liked visiting my relations. coz we're never been that close in the first place, innit? meeting only once a year, while trading courteous banter and swapping information and frozen-smiles is something i dislike immensely. (i'd rather be at home watching dvds, reading comics or doing whatever the heck i want coz time to start work looms dearthly ahead *BAH*) ... but for the comfort and tradition of me parents, i endure. and receiving ang-pows at my age is something that's quite
choice of ammo: two oranges / kums, patience and a lingering-smile
._.
mayhap tis my "advancing age", whereby i hold on closer to my heart certain "traditions", or at least certain "habits" of the household. and tis these "habits" which ground me/us, amidst the ever-changing atmosphere and world we live in ... and these traditions i will try to uphold and endure thru the years to come, some more so than others, innit? and so the battle continues .. at least til next year?
*Gong Xi Fa Cai, everyone!*
._.
