The year has almost come to an end. On a footnote, the Year of the Dog was a relatively good year for us. We also had a little baby to add to another Dog in our family. And good thing, Iggy came in time for his first angpow and join in the league of 3 doggies in our family.
OUR FAMILY
New clothes were purchased for the two princesses, no chinese cheongsams (sad..) this year as they are either too big or too small. For myself, I only bought one top. I wanted to lose the weight so didn't want to waste the $$. Suppose to buy a new pair of shoes but I just didn't have time to go shopping. When I did, that naughty Athena kept pulling me away from the shops!
There are many taboos on what not to do during the Lunar New Year
1. SWEEPING THE FLOOR The entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Day. On New Year's Eve, all brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and other cleaning equipment are put away. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away. After New Year's Day, the floors may be swept. Beginning at the door, the dust and rubbish are swept to the middle of the parlor, then placed in the corners and not taken or thrown out until the fifth day. At no time should the rubbish in the corners be trampled upon. In sweeping, there is a superstition that if you sweep the dirt out over the threshold, you will sweep one of the family away. Also, to sweep the dust and dirt out of your house by the front entrance is to sweep away the good fortune of the family; it must always be swept inwards and then carried out, then no harm will follow. All dirt and rubbish must be taken out the back door. (back door? in our HDB flats??)And there's always the argument between hubby and me, he likes to vacum the floor and when I tell him, he says he's "sucking them up and keeping them in the vacum cleaner." Argh! Feel like strangling him.
2. NO BAD DEBTS OVER THE NEXT YEAR / MIND YOUR LANGUAGE YOUNG LADY!
All debts had to paid by this time. Nothing should be lent on this day, as anyone who does so will be lending all the year. Back when tinder and flint were used, no one would lend them on this day or give a light to others. Everyone should refrain from using foul language and bad or unlucky words. Negative terms and the word "four" (Ssu), which sounds like the word for death, are not to be uttered. Death and dying are never mentioned and ghost stories are totally taboo. References to the past year are also avoided as everything should be turned toward the New Year and a new beginning. If you cry on New Year's day, you will cry all through the year. Therefore, children are tolerated and are not spanked, even though they are mischievous.(how about children crying? does that count??)
3. WASH HAIR?? On New Year's Day, we are not suppose to wash our hair because it would mean we would have washed away good luck for the New Year. (shit! I always wash my hair thinking new year new start) Red clothing is preferred during this festive occasion. Red is considered a bright, happy color, sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future.(yes! and what time do I also get red interior! Menses!! Super lucky this year)
Grandma dog, che-che dog and di-di dog. And you know what? They were all born around the same time?? 
Golden Pig is here waiting for midnight to strike and he will snort his way in. He'll be blessing those lucky ones who took the opportunity to try for a baby and who will be popping in his year. He'll save some space in his sty for them (haha..just kidding) Lunar New Year is a time the children will love, they get to dorn new clothes and shoes; they get to receive red packets; they get to eat candies and tarts ;they get to see their 'see only once a year' relatives. For the older ones, it's a dread coz' you get relatives asking you "why are you still collecting angpow? Why aren't you married? When are you going to have children?" Phew! We escaped those.... unless some stupid idiots might come to us and asked us "so.. try and have a son!" I will tell them, if you can confirm giving my son a space in ACS or CHS I don't mind.
Golden Pig is here waiting for midnight to strike and he will snort his way in. He'll be blessing those lucky ones who took the opportunity to try for a baby and who will be popping in his year. He'll save some space in his sty for them (haha..just kidding) Lunar New Year is a time the children will love, they get to dorn new clothes and shoes; they get to receive red packets; they get to eat candies and tarts ;they get to see their 'see only once a year' relatives. For the older ones, it's a dread coz' you get relatives asking you "why are you still collecting angpow? Why aren't you married? When are you going to have children?" Phew! We escaped those.... unless some stupid idiots might come to us and asked us "so.. try and have a son!" I will tell them, if you can confirm giving my son a space in ACS or CHS I don't mind. OUR FAMILY
New clothes were purchased for the two princesses, no chinese cheongsams (sad..) this year as they are either too big or too small. For myself, I only bought one top. I wanted to lose the weight so didn't want to waste the $$. Suppose to buy a new pair of shoes but I just didn't have time to go shopping. When I did, that naughty Athena kept pulling me away from the shops!
I prepared some small oranges for Athena to give to her school teacher when she goes back to school on Wednesday, and for her grandparents as well. It's cute (made small red packets) and I really like it. Very red and gold looking! 
Needless to say, our house has to be cleaned. We did everything except to thoroughly scrub the kitchen floor. Decorations were up on our small home, red red red everywhere. We didn't but much treats this year coz' we always end up throwing them away. Something that I've always wanted to do, is to do the Cantonese candied tray (but may end up throwing them away..). Each item represents some kind of good fortune :
* Candied melon - growth and good health
* Red melon seed - dyed red to symbolize joy,happiness, truth and sincerity
* Lychee nut - strong family relationships
* Cumquat - prosperity (gold)
* Coconut - togetherness
* Peanuts - long life
* Longan - many good sons
* Lotus seed - many children
Normally every year, we would have our family coming over to my house on the 2nd or 3rd day. Where it's our turn to prepare food for the family. Ya lah.... yours truly can't cook so we do steamboat - healthy some more! I think this year they will skip it coz SIL's doing her confinement now.
TABOOS 
Needless to say, our house has to be cleaned. We did everything except to thoroughly scrub the kitchen floor. Decorations were up on our small home, red red red everywhere. We didn't but much treats this year coz' we always end up throwing them away. Something that I've always wanted to do, is to do the Cantonese candied tray (but may end up throwing them away..). Each item represents some kind of good fortune :* Candied melon - growth and good health
* Red melon seed - dyed red to symbolize joy,happiness, truth and sincerity
* Lychee nut - strong family relationships
* Cumquat - prosperity (gold)
* Coconut - togetherness
* Peanuts - long life
* Longan - many good sons
* Lotus seed - many children
Normally every year, we would have our family coming over to my house on the 2nd or 3rd day. Where it's our turn to prepare food for the family. Ya lah.... yours truly can't cook so we do steamboat - healthy some more! I think this year they will skip it coz SIL's doing her confinement now.
There are many taboos on what not to do during the Lunar New Year
1. SWEEPING THE FLOOR The entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Day. On New Year's Eve, all brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and other cleaning equipment are put away. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away. After New Year's Day, the floors may be swept. Beginning at the door, the dust and rubbish are swept to the middle of the parlor, then placed in the corners and not taken or thrown out until the fifth day. At no time should the rubbish in the corners be trampled upon. In sweeping, there is a superstition that if you sweep the dirt out over the threshold, you will sweep one of the family away. Also, to sweep the dust and dirt out of your house by the front entrance is to sweep away the good fortune of the family; it must always be swept inwards and then carried out, then no harm will follow. All dirt and rubbish must be taken out the back door. (back door? in our HDB flats??)And there's always the argument between hubby and me, he likes to vacum the floor and when I tell him, he says he's "sucking them up and keeping them in the vacum cleaner." Argh! Feel like strangling him.
2. NO BAD DEBTS OVER THE NEXT YEAR / MIND YOUR LANGUAGE YOUNG LADY!
All debts had to paid by this time. Nothing should be lent on this day, as anyone who does so will be lending all the year. Back when tinder and flint were used, no one would lend them on this day or give a light to others. Everyone should refrain from using foul language and bad or unlucky words. Negative terms and the word "four" (Ssu), which sounds like the word for death, are not to be uttered. Death and dying are never mentioned and ghost stories are totally taboo. References to the past year are also avoided as everything should be turned toward the New Year and a new beginning. If you cry on New Year's day, you will cry all through the year. Therefore, children are tolerated and are not spanked, even though they are mischievous.(how about children crying? does that count??)
3. WASH HAIR?? On New Year's Day, we are not suppose to wash our hair because it would mean we would have washed away good luck for the New Year. (shit! I always wash my hair thinking new year new start) Red clothing is preferred during this festive occasion. Red is considered a bright, happy color, sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future.(yes! and what time do I also get red interior! Menses!! Super lucky this year)
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Enough of my rubbish! Here's wishing one and all..
A Happy and Prosperous New Year
(let us oink together, everyone!)
Enough of my rubbish! Here's wishing one and all..
A Happy and Prosperous New Year
(let us oink together, everyone!)
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