Happy (Chinese) New Year everyone!Twenty four of our family members gathered for a traditional New Year's Eve "Reunion Dinner" at Uncle Francis' house last night. We feasted on a steamboat dinner, with claypot "New Year" fish and noodle dishes to savour as well, that took Auntie Julie and her team of helpers (including Grandma Doris and our very own Joshuah Langner) about 10 hours to prepare. Auntie Julie also treated us to homemade almond and pineapple cookies and some layered cakes that took 6 hours to bake. And just like at Christmas for us, snacks also litter the coffee tables here- dried fruit, barbecued pork, dried cuttlefish, chocolates, candies and nuts are all available to ensure we gain the traditional 5kg of holiday weight.
This morning we awoke, dressed Silas in his New Year duds and began our visiting. (Everyone gets the first two days of Chinese New Year off work.) We stopped in at Eric's parents' flat (Uncle Stephen and Auntie Annie) where my mom is staying while in Singapore. As we will do throughout the new year season, we exchanged 2 oranges (for prosperity), with best wishes and blessings for the new year, with each elder present. And as we are married, Josh and I gave "Ang Bao" (red envelopes with money inside) to Eric's younger brothers. It was a chance for Silas to receive his first Chinese New Year ang bao's too.
Because my grandparents are no longer living, we then travelled to Uncle Thiam Hock's flat (he is my eldest uncle). We met up with my Uncle Francis and his family there. After exchanging oranges, giving (to our younger relatives) and receiving (Silas is starting to become quite interested in the red packets) ang pow's and indulging in more goodies, Josh, Silas and I headed back home for a nap and quiet time.
Tonight, my Auntie Siew Geok will welcome about 50(!) of us relatives to her house for dinner and, of course, more mahjong and cards.
Chinese New Year celebrations will continue for the next two weeks, so for Josh, Silas and I our final days in Singapore will end as they began- with lots more fun visiting and eating!
PS- Thank you to Eric and Priscilla for teaching us about the new year customs. And thank you to everyone else for being patient with us as we blundered our way through them!
Because my grandparents are no longer living, we then travelled to Uncle Thiam Hock's flat (he is my eldest uncle). We met up with my Uncle Francis and his family there. After exchanging oranges, giving (to our younger relatives) and receiving (Silas is starting to become quite interested in the red packets) ang pow's and indulging in more goodies, Josh, Silas and I headed back home for a nap and quiet time.
Tonight, my Auntie Siew Geok will welcome about 50(!) of us relatives to her house for dinner and, of course, more mahjong and cards.
Chinese New Year celebrations will continue for the next two weeks, so for Josh, Silas and I our final days in Singapore will end as they began- with lots more fun visiting and eating!
PS- Thank you to Eric and Priscilla for teaching us about the new year customs. And thank you to everyone else for being patient with us as we blundered our way through them!
1 comment:
i just can't get enough of Silas in his new year's outfit. I think he will grow to enjoy receiving the ang baos.
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