There
are many traditional festivals celebrated by different dialect groups within
the Chinese community. These include: The Lantern Festival, the Qingming
Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Moon Cake Festival, the Bak Chang or
Rice Festival and the Spring Festival.
The
Spring Festival otherwise known as the Lunar New Year is the grandest and most
popular of all these festivals. It is celebrated for 15 days. Each year is
related to a Chinese zodiac animal, and this year it’s the dog.
To
many pet lovers this animal is man’s best friend. Thus, I am confident that in
2018, friendships and relationships will be further strengthened with new-found
friends helping to forge a much wider community outreach.
The
run-up to the Lunar New Year
During
the run-up to the Lunar New Year, homes celebrating the Lunar New Year will be
bustling with activity – spring cleaning, getting rid of unnecessary items and
making various types of cookies.
There
were many moments in my late wife’s (Doris) growing up years when doing things
with her mother whom Doris had a special bond with, was so delightful. Moments
when they were baking Chinese New Year cookies and snacks for the joyful and
colorful festival.
It
was always a fun time for Doris cracking and beating the eggs, spooning the
flour and adding sugar to help her mother make some of her mouth-watering
cookies. Doris and her eldest sister were really good at making love letters,
kueh bahulu, bangkit cookies and pineapple tarts.
I
recall during our courtship days how her late mother would smile away as Doris
waited impatiently for the cookies and pineapple tarts to cool down. Pineapple
tarts and love letters were Doris’ best -loved Chinese New Year snacks.
I
learnt so much about the Chinese traditions during my frequent dates with
Doris. The other plus was that our different cultures forged a unique bond.
According
to Doris, for the Chinese, it is a tradition to thoroughly clean their homes to
“sweep away” any ill fortune so as to make way for good luck.
“No
one must sweep the house on the first day of the Lunar New Year because by
doing so, you’ll be sweeping away good luck,” her father who was born in China cautioned
his children. Being a traditional Chinese, he followed the Chinese customs
faithfully.
In
the spirit of family unity, Doris’ parents taught their children to love and serve
one another. Everyone in the family would buy new clothes for use during this
grand festival. New clothes are worn to signify the start of a brand-new year.
Her
mother would bring Doris to Chinatown as the atmosphere there was electrifying!
Chinatown,
a big tourist attraction, is always bustling with activity, but it will be ten
times busier during the Lunar New Year season. The colourful lights, hanging
red lanterns and all sorts of decorations would go up weeks before the Lunar
New Year, with the climax of festivities going full swing on the eve of the big
day.
The
lively atmosphere that Chinatown offers – even in those early days, will get
everyone in the mood to ring in this unique festival. There will be lion
dancers; fire eaters and female dance troupes armed with giant paper fans and
intricately patterned umbrellas delighting everyone with their splendid
performances.
Food,
food, glorious food
On
the eve of the Lunar New Year, the whole family gathered around the dining
table for the traditional, “Family Reunion Dinner.” Doris’ dad and mom would
give separate Ang Pows* (*red packets filled with money) to the unmarried
children in the family. The Ang Pow is supposed to bring good fortune throughout
the year.
Her
mother would then prepare a sumptuous spread that included chicken, prawns,
fish, salted vegetable soup cooked with duck, ngo hiang and fried vegetables.
Although making ngo hiang is rather tedious and time consuming due to the
varieties of ingredients used, her mother loved making this Teochew specialty
dish because she knew her children all craved for it.
Nian
gao, a sticky rice pudding cake (dark brown in colour) is also given to people
to help them "advance toward higher positions and prosperity step by
step." Throughout our marriage, Doris will ‘insist’ I consume a piece of
this cake during the Lunar New Year, although I didn’t quite like its taste.
But I still ate it –anything to please my lovely wife.
After
tucking in all the delicious dishes, the whole family got ready to welcomethe
God of Fortune – staying late throughout the night, playing fire crackers and
snacking on a variety of tidbits and cookies.
The
relationship between myself and her parents blossomed after they discovered I
did not neglect caring and loving Doris during periods when she suffered
relapses of her mental illness. I was treated like a VIP during the Lunar New
reunion dinner with her mother taking pains to make Sambal Balacan for me as
she knew I am a ‘Chilli King.’
Let’s keep the traditions alive and in typical Chinese language, I wish one and all “Xin Nian Kuai Le.”
Raymond Anthony Fernando
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