HAPPY NIU YEAR!
'Mooooooo!' It's finally Chinese 'Niu' year! (Year of the Ox.) This means more pocket money for me! Every New Year does not seem to excite me as each year it is the same old thing happening. This year, Chinese New Year falls on 26 January 2009, which everyone would gather together, visiting each other houses to 'Bai Nian'. Somehow, this year was slightly different, as it happens to fall on a Monday, which we only had two days to rest. It was kind of a slight rush this year, and Singapore wasn't really as enthusiastic as compared to few years back.
Every year, on the first day of New Year, my family and I would dress up nicely, 'Bai Nian' with my parents first(Mum always give the biggest Ang Bao of all.), then head to have our breakfast outside. Despite New Year, there were still a few coffee shop open but prices increases. (Trying to earn our money!)Then, we will head to Marina to crowd into the New Year atmosphere there. But this year, it was closed; hence we headed home for a nap before going out to visit my parent's friends at night. 'Chik Ching', more 'Ang Bao' into my pockets too! And, what's more is the New Year goodies especially the 'Gua Zi' (Melon seeds,) which almost everyone loves to eat. (After I say this, Ms Cho says she don't like to eat as will stuck onto her teeth, *laugh.*)
And of course the most excited of all.. GAMBLING! 'Ban Luck'(Blackjack)! Which everyone would gather around in a circle, trying to get double aces. Aces with a king, queen or jack or perhaps the most powerful card, triple seven which the 'Chen Gae' (Banker) would have to pay the person seven times of his/her money. It will be the noisiest game of all as everyone would shout 'Picture'! (Jack, King or Queen Card) hoping that the Banker would lose and have to pay us the money.
We also went to gave offerings to our ancestors at the alter, wishing my 'Ah ma'(Grandmother), 'Ah gong'(Grandfather) happy new year too. Anyway, how I wish they were still on Earth, then I can celebrate New Year with them too! (Perhaps main motive is see them and more Ang Pao money :x). We also did the traditional "Lao Yu Sheng' which we had to use the chopsticks to toss the 'Yu Sheng' very high to 'HUAT AHHHHHHHHH'!
Lastly, this year we went over to my 'Po po' house for Lunch. 'Po po' is from my mother's side, while this year they didn't play Blackjack but Mahjong instead. I didn't play, didn't know how to play. Keep accumulating food in my stomach and watched television programmes which is specially shown on Chinese New Year. Wanted to go over to my previous Boss house to BaiNain, (still, main motive is the Ang Pao, HAHAHAH.), but didn't have the time to. Then finally, we headed to father's side relative house. The moment we step into the house, noise and chatterings almost filled the whole room. It was like a gambling den too. Blackjack outside, Mahjong inside, then everyone would shout 'HUAT AH', 'BAN LUK JI KI' (Blackjack please!), didn't win nor lose. And, during that, my cousins kept on shouting, 'WHERE IS THE BANANA!?' which they refers to the 'Banana Chips' they bought, AHAHAHAH. I also went to my friend's place to 'Bai Nian' with his family and he invited few friends over to gamble too! And, I guess, New year is a time when everyone could gather together, leaving out work, school, and see how much a person have changed throughout year, communicate and socialize again.
Despite all the happy times for us during Chinese New Year, however, there are few people who could not celebrate Chinese New Year with their family. Perhaps it's broken family nor they had lost all their love ones. Hence, we should appreciate what we have and be happy everyday! Once again, HAPPY NIUUUUUUUUUUUU YEARRRRRRR!
-Signing off, Sabina Chia.
