Chinese New Year at My Home Town

This coming Chinese New Year is quite different for me from previuos year, and there are lots of anxiety and anticipation mixing with some excitement inside me. Well, the feeling basically pretty hard to describe in word. I am away from home for quite some time. And i am going home for the very first time after leaving for 7 long months to a country 700km away names Brunei. Bit of homesick!

My good memories of our local Chinese New Year celebration is that, we have already omitted many conventional chinese culture such as the praying ritual for the ancestor and some superstitions during the chinese new year. It is sort of like simplified version of chinese new year.

At my generation, although some of the superstitions were left aside, but we still able to recall some of the supersititions that insisted by Grandparents. One of them is that we are forbidden to sweep our floor on the first and second day of chinese new year. It was believed that we might sweep all the God of Wealth away when He come to visit our house. He "usually" come to visit on the first two days.

On the new year eve, we always have a fish on the dining table. Well, the dish is very decently cooked and mouth watering too. So, you must finish all of this dish before you can leave the table. Yeah, try that!! You will find the next second is that you get screwed left rifght and center by those old folks. Why? Because it was believed that flipping the fish over means flipping the boat over when we are in the river or sea. You might think that this only apply for those fisherman who rely their living on boat. Nope..you just got to obey the rule..No excuse!! :(

Despite the simplicity of the celebration, some traditional events such as lion dance, dragon dance and firecrackers at new year eve are still in practice.

One of the major features of the celebration in my hometown is the fireworks. It have been years since the fireworks became prohibitted items for festival celebration in Malaysia. Because there have been reported incidents every year of users of fireworks being blinded, losing body parts, or suffering other grievous injuries, especially during festive seasons.

However, the laws pertaining the fireworks and firecrackers are not enforced strictly , which mean we can still find every Tom, Dick and Harry playing with their toys. And It seems to become a culture to the locals already and the high-desibel crackers noise is an enhancement to this special occasion. Just don't feel very right without any fireworks and firecrackers in new year celebration!

The Greeting card is the one eventually reminding me that chinese new year is approaching. In this year, the New year eve is fall on the 13th of February 2010, also the Valentine's eve. ^_^

One very interesting about chinese greeting card is that they print the images of a pair of fish, oranges, bamboo, swallows, rice and many more onto the card cover. All these images were interpreted as the items which bring luck, happiness and prosperity to them.

The red packet also known as "Ang Pao" in Foochow. It is expected most by most of the kids during this period as there are money inside. And you are "entitled" for this red packet if you are not yet married. For your information, you can only be considered as an adult after you marry.

Anyway, the most interesting part about red packet in recent year is that, a lot of housewives and kids (especially ladies) are making a collection of it, just like collecting stamps. It becomes a new trend of hobby which trouble me!! Sad to say that because my beloved mom also have the same hobby and ALWAYS remind me to ask for unique red packet whenever i am visiting my friend.

1. Purchase a New Year Song's DVD

2. Buy New Clothings and Accessories

3. Meeting Friends and Buddies

4. Enjoy all the BEST food in Home town

5. Visit my Grandma and Relatives

6. Date my Fiancee

7. Buy my Fiancee a Rock

8. Soccer Match with Ex-colleagues

9. Find Some Fireworks and Firecracker

10. Accompany Family

1. Get Drunk

2. Gamble

3. Stay Home and Watch tv

4. Think about Work

5. Write hubpages (Lolz..)

Lastly, presented is one of the favorite new year song for 2010 and wish every hubbers Gong Xi Fa Chai and Happy New Year 2010. ^_^