cny2008: lo hei 2008

Flung On the Second Day of CNY
"Yusheng" (鱼生) is a Chinese-style raw fish salad (with a resultant sweet and slightly sour-taste, due to the predominate sour-plum sauce = *shivering-yumz* LOL), and is served as an appetizer to raise 'good luck' for the new year. Yusheng is usually eaten on Renri, the 7th day of the Chinese New Year. (but nowadays, tis available by the 2nd day of CNY - tradition thriving-on via commercialism - but heck, we lurve us our Yusheng LOL). Yusheng symbolizes Abundance, Prosperity and Vigor.

In a celebration known as "Lo Hei" (撈起), families and friends gather around the table and, on cue, proceeding to toss the shredded ingredients into the air with chopsticks while saying auspicious wishes out loud to mark the start of a prosperous new year. [wiki] ... the higher you fling it, and the louder the wishes, the more fun it is - and with friends and work-collegues, it could get downright chaotic LOL


now, i have had countless discussions and even arguments (online) about the validity of "Lo Hei" as a recognized Chinese Tradition (as it is mightily small mindedness for some folks who don't celebrate it; to denounce it's existence just becoz they themselves don't - BAH), and at the end of the day, apparently Lo Hei is predominately a Singapore "tradition"? who else flings their raw fish salad up high while shouting well-wishes, please raise your chopsticks! :)