No sooner had we seen in 2009 than it was time to see in The Year of the Ox.
Here in Asia, this is a very big event and greater in celebration than either Christmas or our calendar New Year. Leading up to it, red lanterns were hung everywhere and there were numerous decorations, predominantly in red and gold, often symbolic money bags of all shapes and sizes. In addition, there were cut outs, models and pictures of oxen all over the place. Many houses placed small orange trees bearing fruits in pots on either side of the front door, as oranges are symbols of gold and hence, prosperity. Sweets and special food were abundant in the supermarkets, many things in red and gold wrappers and oranges were piled high. It was like the Christmas build up in the UK, except I could just admire it all without needing any of it. None of the panic of "ahh, brandy butter - I haven't got any...do we need a chocolate log?...."
Here in Asia, this is a very big event and greater in celebration than either Christmas or our calendar New Year. Leading up to it, red lanterns were hung everywhere and there were numerous decorations, predominantly in red and gold, often symbolic money bags of all shapes and sizes. In addition, there were cut outs, models and pictures of oxen all over the place. Many houses placed small orange trees bearing fruits in pots on either side of the front door, as oranges are symbols of gold and hence, prosperity. Sweets and special food were abundant in the supermarkets, many things in red and gold wrappers and oranges were piled high. It was like the Christmas build up in the UK, except I could just admire it all without needing any of it. None of the panic of "ahh, brandy butter - I haven't got any...do we need a chocolate log?...."
The children’s school did performance assemblies in the last day before the long weekend and virtually all the children went to school in Chinese clothes and everyone was involved in the songs and performances. Hannah adores her little dress and keeps putting it on, but I'm not sure we will see Adam's outfit getting much more use.
Here are Hannah and her class all dressed up for the assembly.
Another custom is the handing over of oranges. David was presented with 2 (they are always given in pairs) by his office cleaner. He should have reciprocated by giving her two (different ones) but hadn't got his stash sorted at that stage. However, when another staff member presented him with 2, he did have the original two to give back. We're not sure if this is the correct protocol, but it seemed to work. Oranges went back and forth and apparently if you retain them for a long time, they bring extra good luck and good fortune. Some people keep them until they're no longer orange, if you follow my meaning, leaving them adorning the office desk until they're grey and hairy. David also handed out ang pows (red envelopes containing money) to the office staff, as is the tradition here.
We all learnt that it is important to clean your house out before CNY and that it should be swept and cleaned on New Year's Eve. It's important not to sweep on New Year's day though, in case you sweep out the good fortune for the coming year. To accommodate the clearing out sessions, our condo management provided special large bins (skips) for anyone wanting to throw out their sofas or beds etc. Local families then spend the two days visiting each other and having celebratory meals. Everyone wears new clothes, more oranges are exchanged and children are given Ang Pows.
Much like Christmas in the UK, everything closes over the 2 day holiday and almost everybody takes time off. Whilst for many people here, Christmas is just another public holiday rather than something they celebrate, CNY is like that for us. So, along with many others - mostly the expats - we used the long weekend to take a break and headed off to the Malaysian Island of Langkawi.
It was peak season, much like going away at Christmas in Europe, but we had found a nice hotel set in rain forest gardens right on the beach. It was very close to nature, so close in fact, that on one morning the local "spectacled lemurs" (cute monkeys) provided some entertainment when they formed a raiding party at the breakfast buffet. It proved a little too close though, when our "cabana" was invaded by a swarm of bees, but with the help of the staff wielding spray and plugging a small hole in the floor, they eventually disappeared.
We returned to Singapore refreshed and revitalised and the following weekend went into the city centre here to watch the "Chingay Parade". This is a huge parade of floats, dancers, dragons, stilt walkers, lion dancers etc and we'd bought our tickets back in October to ensure we had seats and didn't have to wait for several hours beforehand on the pavement. They were worth every penny.
We had to arrive an hour or so before, so we photographed many floats and participants in costume, then were entertained by lion dancers before it all began. After passing through a security check worthy of Heathrow to get to our seats, it finally started. Music and firecrackers followed by dancing and displays and a parade of incredible floats. There was a vague story line in amongst it all, but we didn't follow it. After a fireworks finale on top of the City Hall, we headed home, but for those that wanted to stay, there was then a street party that continued into the early hours. Maybe it's our age, but our ears were still vibrating to the music and fireworks from the parade for some time after. Next time, we're taking ear plugs.
We all learnt that it is important to clean your house out before CNY and that it should be swept and cleaned on New Year's Eve. It's important not to sweep on New Year's day though, in case you sweep out the good fortune for the coming year. To accommodate the clearing out sessions, our condo management provided special large bins (skips) for anyone wanting to throw out their sofas or beds etc. Local families then spend the two days visiting each other and having celebratory meals. Everyone wears new clothes, more oranges are exchanged and children are given Ang Pows.
Much like Christmas in the UK, everything closes over the 2 day holiday and almost everybody takes time off. Whilst for many people here, Christmas is just another public holiday rather than something they celebrate, CNY is like that for us. So, along with many others - mostly the expats - we used the long weekend to take a break and headed off to the Malaysian Island of Langkawi.
It was peak season, much like going away at Christmas in Europe, but we had found a nice hotel set in rain forest gardens right on the beach. It was very close to nature, so close in fact, that on one morning the local "spectacled lemurs" (cute monkeys) provided some entertainment when they formed a raiding party at the breakfast buffet. It proved a little too close though, when our "cabana" was invaded by a swarm of bees, but with the help of the staff wielding spray and plugging a small hole in the floor, they eventually disappeared.
We returned to Singapore refreshed and revitalised and the following weekend went into the city centre here to watch the "Chingay Parade". This is a huge parade of floats, dancers, dragons, stilt walkers, lion dancers etc and we'd bought our tickets back in October to ensure we had seats and didn't have to wait for several hours beforehand on the pavement. They were worth every penny.
We had to arrive an hour or so before, so we photographed many floats and participants in costume, then were entertained by lion dancers before it all began. After passing through a security check worthy of Heathrow to get to our seats, it finally started. Music and firecrackers followed by dancing and displays and a parade of incredible floats. There was a vague story line in amongst it all, but we didn't follow it. After a fireworks finale on top of the City Hall, we headed home, but for those that wanted to stay, there was then a street party that continued into the early hours. Maybe it's our age, but our ears were still vibrating to the music and fireworks from the parade for some time after. Next time, we're taking ear plugs.
The following week, we also went out with the office staff and their partners to celebrate with a New Year "toss up". This is the event where certain foods are served and then after being sprinkled with a dressing and given a blessing, everyone tosses the food up with chopsticks wishing good fortune, health, prosperity, big bonuses etc to each other. Unlike last year, this year, we knew not to hurl it up to the ceiling and make a big mess!
During the time from the new to full moon, many businesses have their premises blessed by lion dancers, who perform a ritual dance to the accompaniment of drums and cymbals, present ang pows to the management and peel an orange, leaving the segments arranged in a special symbol. They travel from event to event in open topped trucks, flags waving and drums beating and banging cymbals and for just over 2 weeks, there seemed to be the constant sound of drums and cymbals in the air, and we watched several that occurred when we happened to be passing shops or restaurants.
With the arrival of the full moon the other day, festivities finally came to an end and the decorations have all been taken down for another year. It's quite an assault on the senses, and after the parade, music, drums and cymbals, I think my hearing is now finally returning to normal.
I will, eventually, post a couple of pictures of the children and the Chingay Parade, however, David took the best ones and they're still on his camera. He's started using the motor drive sports setting on his camera to ensure at least one great shot - I mean, why take one photo when you can take 10? He also plans to edit them on his camera before downloading them. It may be sometime, but one day, there will be photos on this entry!
It's July - and I've finally added the photos!
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