Dong Zhi is here again

Dong Zhi is here today. To the Chinese, it means they will be one year older on this very day. Every we go, especially at the market place, tangyuen or glutinous rice dumplings will be on sale. After savouring tangyuen you are considered to have gain one more year in age.

According to one legend, tangyuen was prepared to signify reunion of family members. The story had it that one day, a father, a mother and a daughter was travelling in the cold looking for food. The mother was too tired to walk anymore and finally she died of exhaustion. In order to pay for her burial, the father was force to sell his daughter to be a slave to a rich man. Before leaving her to her master, the father begged for some porridge to feed her to wake her up from her being unconscious because she fainted owing to fatigue. When she finally came to, the father again went to ask for some glutinous rice balls for her to eat. The filial daughter would not eat it, neither would the father. Hence they broke the rice balls into halves to be shared among them, promising to eat full rice balls when they met again one day.

The next year, the daughter asked her master to make rice balls to be placed on the door outside the house in the hope that her father would see them and came to see her. However, she was disappointed. The following year, she put the rice balls all over the places. The neighbours also do the same to help her find her father. Later eating glutinous rice dumplings became a custom to signify reunion of family members.

So much for the origin of tangyuen.

Happy Dong Zhi to everyone.

Xin Nian Kuai Le or Happy Chinese New Year

I would like to wish the Chinese all over the world a very Happy Chinese New Year or 'xin nian kuai le' today as it is the first day of Xin Nian, the New Year celebrated by the Chinese including me.

On this auspicious, we look forward to a very prosperous year to come. To keep all things unpleasant away, we are forbidden to sweep the floor because as is the belief of the Chinese, rubbish represents 'cai' or money  /property and to get rid of it on this year is to drive away wealth.

Children and adults alike are not supposed to say bad words to one another for the same reason - keeping things unpleasant.

Once again, 'xin nian kuai le' to all the Chinese around the world.

Today is Reunion Dinner Day for the Chinese

Today is the Chinese New Year Eve and as has been practised in the past until now, the family members from where they are will converge for a dinner called 'tuan yuan fan' or Reunion Dinner. The very purpose of this dinner is to get all members of the family together at least once a year. To me, this is a very good practice as we get to hear news from other members of the family and to get over the 'missing you' feeling since we can't meet on normal day. This is because we may not work in the same state.

Parents will give their children 'ya sui qian' in the form of 'angpow' or red packet to be placed under the pillow while sleeping. It is meant to keep the children safe and healthy for the coming year.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

I would like to greet all Muslims a 'Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri'  after having observed fasting for a month. They will celebrate their success in overcoming hunger during the day from dawn until sunset for the said period. The act teaches them to appreciate the suffering of the poor especially those who have to go hungry because of the scarcity of food caused by drought or war.

The Malays in Malaysia usually will have open houses and invite friends of other races to enjoy the food prepared for them. These include 'lemang' (glutinous rice put in bamboo and placed over the fire to be cooked), 'ketupat' (glutinous rice wrapped in coconut leaves and steamed), 'dodol' (glutinous rice stirred continuously while being cooked for hours until the mixture of sugar and rice turn brown', 'rendang' (chicken or beef cooked in spices until it is well done) and other Malay 'kuih'. Personally I like to eat 'ketupat' and 'dodol'. Being more of a vegetarian now, I do not like the meat stuff.

Once again, I would like to extend my belated greeting to all readers who are Muslims on this festive occasion.

Today is Qing Ming or Chinese All Souls Day

Today the Chinese will go to the graves of their relatives who had passed away to show respect to them as well as remember their good deeds. Usually, food will be offered when they pray in front of the grave.

As a regular practice, the Chinese will clean up the graves before doing the praying. This can be done 10 days before or 10 days after Qing Ming. If the inscriptions on the grave have become blur, the words will be repainted with red or gold powder.

I went to my late father's grave with my sister last Saturday to do the cleaning-up and resurfacing of soil on the grave. We had to buy RM60 for 6 bags of soil for the job. The man skilfully carried 6 bags of the stuff on his Honda C70 bike from somewhere to where my late father's grave was and helped do the topping up of soil. Then we put the yellow paper on the surface and use pebbles to press them down in case the wind blew them away, at least for the period when we pray. Then it is time to place food and fruits in front of the grave before we start to pray. The burning of paper money, paper shoes and clothes were done after tossing two coins to get consent. If head and tail shows up, we can start the burning job.

Although burning such paper items will not benefit anyone, it is the custom of the Chinese and a way to show their respect to the dead.

What we did in front of my late father's grave will be almost the same for the other visitors to the same graveyard.

Relatives of new graves have to come to clean up and do the pray on Qing Ming Day. On the fourth year, they can come 10 days before or after Qing Ming to do the task.

That's all for Qing Ming for today's post.

Pick up my mandarin orange and be my Mr Right

Today is Yuan Xiao Jie or Chap Goh Meh in Hokkien. It is the 15th day and last day of Chinese New Year.

Yuan Xiao Jie is the equivalent of Valentine's Day - a day lovers will meet. In ancient China, maidens will be allowed to come out on this night, hoping to find a good husband. Once she takes a liking to someone, the parents will send people to negotiate for a proper wedding.

There is also the custom of throwing mandarin oranges into the river in the hope of getting a good husband as the saying goes 'Tim Kam, cuai ho ang' (Throwing mandarin oranges to get good husbands). In modern time, the unmarried ladies will write their names and mobile phone numbers on the fruits before hurling them into the water or river. Young men will then pick them up, ring the numbers to strike up a relationship.

Happy throwing mandarin oranges on Chap Goh Meh.

It is 'T'neah Kong Seah' again

When the clock strikes twelve zero one at midnight, the sound of firecrackers will be heard.

Yes, it is T'neah Kong Sneah (The Birthday of the Jade Emperor) again.

Legend has it that the Hokkien people were saved from being slaughtered by their enemies when they hid among the leaves of the sugarcane when they passed by a sugarcane plantation. Hence, on T'neah Kong Sneah, the main item is a pair of sugarcane plants with all its leaves and roots intact tied to the legs of the altar used to pray to the Jade Emperor of the Heavenly Realm. It is a way the Hokkien people say thank you to this plant for saving their lives.

Other items for prayer include 'ong lai' (pineapple) to bring in good luck, 'nian gao' to symbolises getting promotion year after year.

Happy praying to the Jade Emperor to all Chinese, especially the Hokkiens.

The Chinese usher in Year of the Dragon today

Today is the first day of Xin Nian or Chinese New Year. For this year, it is the year of the dragon.

Dragon symbolizes power and hence commoners were not allowed to wear clothing bearing any resemblance of the dragon. Only the King in China has the picture of dragon embossed on his attire which was known as 'long pao' or dragon robe.

The Chinese also likes to be associated with the dragon that they call themselves 'long de chuan ren' or 'descendents of the dragon'

It is believed that this year's dragon will bring in wealth or money as it is a 'water dragon'. In 'wu xing' or the five elements, the dragon belongs to water, one of the five elements. The other four are gold, wood, earth and fire.

When working at your desk, it is suggested you face west and avoid south-easterly direction.

Reunion Dinner

Today is the day of get-together for family members far and near as it is Reunion Day - the Chinese New Year Eve.

Most Chinese people are working outside their hometowns and they seldom meet. However, once a year they will make it a point to get together over dinner when everyone will be present. It is during Reunion Dinner that they are together again as one family.

Usually steamboat dinner is the best choice with so many members of the family around.

I just finished Reunion Dinner with my family members. For this year, we can vegetarian steamboat. It is not a bad idea to go vegetarian as it is good for our health.

Taboos when making nian gao

Nian gao or what is know as kuih bakul in Malay is the glutinous rice dumpling cooked over slow fire for 12 to 24 hours. It is a must for Chinese New Year as the Chinese will place it on the altar of the Kitchen Dewa in the hope that He will make a good report of the household for the year in front of Jade Emperor in the Heavenly Realm when He goes there on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month. It serves as a 'bribe' to aske Him to report only the good things and leave all the bad ones.

When preparing this 'dodol' type of cake, there are certain taboos to be observed. No one should utter things that 'it won't turn out well', 'it will not turn to the colour of gold' or some negative thing said before it is cooked. If such things are uttered, nian gao will not turn out as it should be.

Moreover, ladies having period are also not allowed to prepare this food or it will turn out to the right colour and texture.

So much for taboos about making nian gao.

Zhong Qiu Jie is here again

Come tomorrow and the Chinese all over the world will celebrate Zhong Qiu Jie or Mid-Autumn Festival. The cake not to be missed on this day is the Yue Ping or Moon Cake which is offered to the Moon on the 15th day of the eighth moon,according to the Lunar Calender.

Legend has it that a maiden named Zhang Er had swallowed a pill that immortalize her and she flew direct to the moon, leaving her lover on the Earth. It is her that offering is made on Zhong Qiu Jie and the Moon Cake is one of the items used for this purpose.

On the night of Zhong Qiu Jie, children will be carrying lighted lanterns to celebrate the occasion and make the festival merrier. Nowadays, modern electronic gadgets have replaced the old types of coloured paper lanterns.

Happy Zhong Qiu Jie to all who celebrate this occasion.

Zhong Yuan Jie

Today is the first day of Zhong Yuan Jie or the Ghost Festival. Ghosts are supposed to be released from hell during the seventh moon of the lunar calendar.

Some people will avoid going out at night for fear of meeting the bad ghost that may harm them. The Chinese will definitely not choose this month for getting married.

In Malaysia, opera shows will be held in various parts of the country in connection with the above festival which is also known as Wu Lan Shen Hui. In some places, instead of the traditional opera show, modern singing and dance troupes will be performing. Usually, money will be raised for the Chinese primary schools for their building funds during such performances.

According to Buddhism, ghosts do exist as they are one of the six realms who undergo samsara or suffering until they achieve nirvana when there is no more rebirths into the six places. Some people do possess 'yin yang' eyes and are able to see 'them' but most of us can't. Some people can have the hair-raising sensation when talking about ghosts which really exist. I belong to this group of people.

Dun Wu Jie falls on tomorrow

Come tomorrow and the Chinese will be celebrating the annual Dun Wu Jie or Chang Festival.

Rice dumplings are a common sight a few before this festival which is meant to commemorate Chu Yuan, the patriotic poet who committed suicide at Milo River in China. He ended his life because his suggestions of reform to the Emperor was rejected.

Legend has it that the Chinese put cooked rice wrapped in bamboo leaves and dumped them into the river on the tragic so that the fish would not devour his dead body since they could eat the rice dumplings thrown down the river as their food.

Dun Wu Jie falls on the fifth day of the fifth moon according to the Lunar Calendar. For this year it falls on 6th of June 2011.

So much for a little bit of legend about the Chang Festival.

Today is Qing Ming Jie again

Today, most of the Chinese will be graveyard bound as they will be paying homage or respect to the deceased relatives by cleaning up the grave and offer items such as paper money, cakes and meat for prayer. It is Qing Ming Jie again.

The purpose of having this festival is to show filial piety to the elders especially the ones who have passed away. When the Chinese are at the site of their relatives' graves, they will start to do weeding and cleaning up the grave after which praying to the deceased is done.

Nowadays, it will be a good get-together for relatives who will return from all places just to show respect to the late relatives. Going up the hill slope is actually good exercise for us.

Today is the actual day of the festival but the Chinese can go the graveyard ten days before or after to pay homage to the dead ones.

Chap Goh Meh and the lasses

Come this evening, and you will hear the splashing sound of mandarin oranges falling into the rivers or sea. Why? It's Chap Goh Mei or literally the 15th night of the Lunar New Year. On this day, unmarried girls will throw mandarin oranges into the river in the hope of gettingn good husbands, as is the general belief among the Chinese.

Nowadays, the girls will write down their mobile phone numbers on the oranges, hoping that those who pick them up will call to strike up friendship which is hoped to develop into love, leading to marriage. Hence Chap Goh Mei is also considered the equivalent of Valentine's Day.

I hope all single girls will find their life-partners after Chap Goh Mei having done the necessary customarily.

At Midnight today is Thnee Kong Seh

The Hokkiens will pray to the Jade Emperor (Thnee Kong) tonight at midnight. It is to commemorate the event of them being save from extermination in ancient time when they took shelter in a sugarcane plantation. Hence the compulsory item for tonight's praying session is the sugarcane. Other praying items include ang koo (red glutinous rice cake), mee koo (red coloured buns), huat kuih (prosperous cake), bit chien (skewered sweets), bee koe (swee glutinous rice) and nogr siew th'ng (pink padoda-shaped candies).

Although firecrackers are banned, you will never miss the sound of firecrackers the moment midnight arrives. The din can be quite deafening at times.

Happy praying to the Jade Emperor on His birthday today.

Welcome back, God of Kitchen

Today the Chinese will pray to welcome back the Zhao Shen or God of Kitchen after having left the Earth on the 24th day of first moon according to the Lunar Calendar. Hopefully He had made a good report about one's household.

Shop owners and vendors also start to do their business as is the norm. Business is really good as not all businessmen want to start working today.

I visited my usual coffee shop and was happy to note that there was no increase in the price of coffee and tea sold to regular customers like us.

Tomorrow most office-workers will start their routine again.

I hope the Rabbit Year will be a very good one for every body.

Second day of Xin Nian

The second of Xin Nian is meant fora daughter-in-law to go back to her family's house. As for the first day, she and her husband will go to the hubby's house to give red packets to the parents and her husband's unmarried siblings.

For this year, the first day of Chinese New Year is not a good day to receive the God of Money but today is. The direction is North-east. Hence it is a good idea to place a bowl full of 168 0ne-cent or 10-cent coins on a table at the North-eastern corner of the house. This act will bring in luck and a lot of money to the owner of the house.

I am now enjoying myself watching variety shows over the telesion and surfing the net at the same time. This post was done while I was doing multitasking in this way.

Happy receiving the Dewa of Money today.

It is Xin Nian today

The year of the Rabbit is here today. The Chinese call their New Year, Xin Nian.

On this day, the children will be the happiest because they will be getting Hong Bao or red packet containing money from their parents and relatives who are married. Only those who are married can have the privilege to hand out hong bao.

As parents the Chinese have to part with their money in the form of hong bao to their children and offspring of their relatives. The very purpose of giving out this red packets is to wish the young a safe year. It is also called ya sui qian which means 'money for longevity'.

One of the taboos during Xin Nian are sweeping the rubbish in the house. Rubbish is thought to be money. Hence by throwing away rubbish, you are literally throwing away your dough. Another taboo is saying bad things or something not auspicious. They should greet each other 'Xin Nian Kuan Le' or 'Happy New Year', 'Gong Xi Fa Cai' or ''Congratulations for striking it rich' and so on. The Cantonese will not say 'San Nin Fai Lok' which is meant to say ' Happy New Year' because 'Fai Lok' can also mean 'Falling fast' as 'fai' is 'quick' and 'lok' is 'fall' in the Cantonese dialect.

Xin Nian Kuai Le to all Chinese readers of this blog.

It is reunion dinner time again

Today is the eve of Xin Nian or Chinese New Year. On this day, members of the family will come together for Tuan Yuan Fan or Reunion Dinner. To me it is a good practice and should be sustained because it stresses family unity as no matter how far you are you will come back to meet your father, mother, brothers and sisters. Each of you will be able to exchange news of the happenings throughout the year.

I still remember how I rushed back from Pahang, 500 kilometres away from home just to be in time for this occastion. My principal, Encik Yaakub Isa allowed us off earlier so that I could reached Penang before Chinese New Year Eve.

It is always wonderful to be home. Hence the saying 'Home Sweet Home'. The Malay proverb always says 'Hujan emas di negeri orang, hujan batu di negeri batu di negeri sendiri, baik juga di negeri sendiri' which can be translated literally as ' Golden rain in other people's country, stone rain in our own country, it is better to be in one's own country.'

I wish all Chinese enjoy this family togetherness today.