| 語言 Language : 中文 English | |
 | 自20幾年前開始, 我家每年除夕飯都離不開火鍋.. 相信大家都頗清楚中國人嘅傳統啦, 準備食物寧願有多餘都絕對不能唔夠嘛.. 之後數日, 每個午餐同晚餐都係火鍋, 直至食晒全部嘢為止.. 所以如果我話你知, 我一年就係喺新年期間食｢嗰一次｣火鍋, 你應該知點解啦, 哈哈哈!! :D since the past 20-over years, steamboat has been serverd for our reunion dinner without fail.. and you know the Chinese tradition, food are always prepared in abundance, rather more to be leftover than not enough.. hence, every year in order to "clear stock", steamboat for lunch and dinner for the next couple of days!! and if i tell you that i will only have steamboat "once" during CNY throughout the year, you understand why.. muahaha!! :D |
 | 一年流流長, 我其實大部份時間都唔會選擇留喺屋企.. 唯獨係有兩日, 我會全天候hea喺屋企, 甚至係足不出戶.. 就係每年嘅大年初一同初二, 我會留喺屋企齋食/瞓/睇電視/上網, 好｢勤奮｣呀呵?? 好少可我會乜都唔做留喺屋企㗎, 不過乜都唔做, 其實係做緊件好開心嘅事嚟嘅, 同唔同意?? 嘻嘻嘻 :p throughout the year, i spend most of the time not staying at home, but there are two days i will just laze at home and not going anywhere, not even step out of the house.. it's the 1st and 2nd day of CNY, i just eat and sleep and watch TV and surf internet, and that's how "productive" of me during these two days.. it's rare i stay at home doing nothing, but doing nothing can actually be considered as doing something enjoyable, do you agree?? hihihi :p |
 | 係嘅, 本人尚係收利是一族, 而我通常都會將啲利是擺埋一邊, 直至十五之後先開封嘅.. 你諗下喇, 一疊咁一次過拎晒啲錢出嚟, 感覺係唔係良好啲?? 哈哈!! 至於父母所俾嘅利是, 我就會收佢一整年㗎, 即係話今年開舊年封利是, 而今年嘅就收起直到下一年.. 因為我相信咁樣做, 係可以為父母添福添壽, 雖然你可能覺得有點荒谬.. :) alright, i am still receiving angpows and i will usually put them one side and not open them until after the 15th day of CNY.. it feels "richer" if i take out the money one shot in a stack, don't you agree?? haha!! and i will always keep the angpows given by my parents for another year, i.e. i only open the one from last year and the current one goes to a safe place for next year.. because i believe this would save them with more felicity and longetivity, though you may find this preposterous.. :) |
| ** images above are taken from internet sources as a result of Google search | |
2015.02.26 | 新年習慣
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I remember few years ago my house also have steamboat for breakfast, but don't know since when already switch to makan outside like one or two weeks before.
ReplyDeleteI like staying at home during cny, so can sleep until very late, but also don't know since when my mom likes to go travel during cny so I just follow her.
Heard about this yesterday from radio, they said some said open on the 7th day as a birthday present for ourselves, but some said open after 15th. But mine already opened two days ago, because my sister wants to go back, so got to tumpang her to bank in for me, if not I got to bank in myself.
haha, good lah, at last your mom is planning for different things for CNY and not following the traditional routines every year..
DeleteIt has always been my dream to travel overseas during Chinese New Year but my father strongly objected saying it's an important day of the year where many friends and relatives just meet up for once a year tete-a-tete!!! I think time has changed and where are my bunch of disappearing relatives?? They don't follow Chinese customs much.
DeleteI think I may go for a cruise during cny in the near future. In fact, my bro in law mooted this idea. No reasons why, but just for a change.
DeleteI remembered I travelled to Canada and Turkey during CNY in year 2000 and year 1997 respectively.
DeleteMy family is my mother side my mom is the eldest, and the relatives also I always see my aunt like once in two weeks maybe.. which makes my family can be so come and go, like the first day of CNY, my flight is 12pm, my mom purposely wake up her younger sister early in the morning, said that we're coming to your house to visit.. like super casual!
DeleteNow really hardly to find people nowadays to follow the Chinese customs, like my house doesn't wear red or not on the first day of CNY, my mom even wear black on the first day lo
I used to have steamboat for reunion dinner for the past two years too, but this year, we went out to a restaurant for a change.. For the past two years, like you, we had steamboat at mil’s place.. Everyone used disposable forks & spoons and party plates, haha, to save the hassle of washing afterwards.. So much washing to do leh.. And like you, we have a lot of leftovers for the next few days.. So whoever cook instant noodles, just throw in some balls, and help to finish it.. Else, mil will use the balls to stir-fry with vegetables, haha..
ReplyDeleteBut this year, we ate out, in a restaurant.. Actually quite rush also la.. They gave us two time to choose.. 5pm or 7pm.. We wanted the 7pm one, but all full already.. Guess many people already booked 1-2 months in advance for the 7pm one.. So we went to the 5pm one.. Wah, eat until so rush leh.. Belum habis, the lady boss already ask the waiter to serve the next dish.. The dish belum habis lagi, lady boss already asked to scoop into a smaller plate.. They wanted to rush, and clean up, and get ready for the next round, which we understood la.. So, I guess we will stick back to steamboat next year, and to be honest, I love steamboat.. I can have it everyday for 6 months! Chewwaahhh…
DeleteOoohh, chor1, we also stayed at mil’s place most of the day.. Maybe “sun bin” visit another relative who lives nearby.. Vegetarian all-day too, from morning til night.. No go out, no go anywhere, stayed at mil’s place all day.. Chor2 leh, also no go anywhere special, usually go to my mum’s place in the morning, then back to mil’s place, what else.. Hoi lin ma, so sure mil will cook a meaty dinner lor.. Hope nobody will hentam me or boycott me, like you said, hehe, but I feel that CNY is just another ordinary day for me, just that I don’t have to go to work, and I can hear fireworks all night, and I have to give out angpao.. Straight forward ahh me?
DeleteWhen I was still a kid, CNY is something big to me.. I wore new clothes, ate a lot of good food, and mum allowed us to keep our own angpaus, but we must promise to put most of what we got in the bank.. So, I always “pou kah sou”, I will tell mum I got RM500 only, and put RM400 in the bank.. But actually I collected RM600, so means I got RM200 in my pocket to spend, teehee..
DeleteThen when I was a teen, I still enjoyed CNY very much, the mood was still there..
But when I started college, the CNY mood not so much already.. Maybe the angpau which I collected were getting smaller, I remembered there was a year, I only collected RM80 !! Then also that time, we already have a gang of college friends, we prefer to hang out by ourselves, go to the cinema, etc..
And now, when I’m married, I have to give out angpaus, and don’t curse me, I didn’t even buy new clothes for the boys.. I myself also wore old clothes only leh..
I prefer to go to people’s house, then I don’t have to vacuum and mop the floor after that, haha.. Imagine adults (and kids) holding pineapple tart and peanut cookies, running around the house.. Eeewwwww…
DeletePrincess, your new Blogger profile pic looks like 18 sui, nice! XD
DeleteI am laughing at the comments by Princess Ribbon, more funny than this post itself.
DeleteI was the opposites, my ang pow got bigger each year as my age passed the 30s until I got married! I became shy to receive them as the givers never failed to give me money with earful wishes and tongue lashes to get married quickly. Adoi.
I also wore many old bright red shirts during CNY as I bought many over the years. Nobody remembers them! Who cares, so long as very Ang Ang and Huat Huat!
Wah, tonight I cannot sleep liao coz sombody says I look like 18, woohoo !!
DeleteI still remember the final year I received my angpaus. I knew it was final cos I have registered for marriage and confirmed the dates. It was so nice and yet sad cos that's the end of my angpaus days. Well, anybkw everyone has to grow up someday.
Deleteyeah, very true and agree no more!! last time as a kid, i was always so looking forward to and also very excited about CNY.. first thing maybe because i didn't have to go to school, that means can play at home and also stay up late at night.. and secondly, i think it was all those CNY snacks and special programmes on TV (you know last time we only have RTM1, RTM2 and TV3 which were not like Astro now that we can watch Chinese programmes all day long)..
Deletebut now i just feel like CNY is probably just another day for me, haha.. despite that i get angpows and meet relatives (once in a year).. it's really like not much excitement already..
Thambee you sound like you are getting old and toothless now! Get up and go have a life to party at Changkat!
DeletePaint the town red and throw Kam fruits all every lady available. Bring Fing Fing along to collect extra ang-pows!
Get drunk, be merry and behave like a Horny Goat. That would make your CNY memorable.
Next year would be the Monkey Year and that's Fing Fing's cousins.
How old would Fing Fing be next year?
12 years old!!!! Voila!
I guess it not only affects you but most of the folks. Cny no longer that enjoyable compared to the past. Unsure why but it may not due to the fact we are adults now. Probably its the culture now unlike 10 or 20 years ago.
DeleteFor me, I will keep the angpows intact until the cash that I ATM-ed before CNY runs out, be it next month or even before Day 15, then I will dig out the money from the angpows to last maybe a few more days. Lazy Man style XD
ReplyDeleteHaha... so nice ! Got instant cash !
Deletehaha, yalah.. i said i "usually" put aside and open them all after the 15th day.. but there were a few times where i did not do this, but dig out some cash to use as my wallet runs out of cash or small change, haha!! i mean, i won't go and bank in those RM1 and RM5 notes, so just have to use them :p
DeleteThis year I received quite a lot of ang pows from the office alone as a customary good gesture from bosses and business associates to start work for a better year with luck & windfalls. I will keep them like RealGunners as my spare handy cash now. Good idea ya!
DeleteFor many years my family will go visiting relatives on the first and second day... but this year, we only visited one relative on my in laws side cos my mom just passed away last year so we didn't visit anyone from my mom's and father's side. Some might not like us going especially the first year and on their religion beliefs, we refrained from going.
ReplyDeletebecause both my parents are the eldest in their family, so we usually just stay at home and the relatives will drop by our place.. and true about all the pantang things, better not go visiting, and some even say not celebrating and not giving angpows for three years..
DeleteNow this came into my thoughts suddenly. When the head or matriarch of the family has passed away, there would be changes bound to take place where the family's celebration patterns would have to be adjusted and realigned to fit the customs. I better put some thoughts when the day comes to my family.
DeleteThree years ah! Then no fun already.. anyway, see how it goes.. since my parents are not here anymore, visiting the uncles and aunties are becoming lesser and lesser... only the elderly people bind us together.. yes, TM, need to consider.. bind the family together regardless... sooner or later, it will only be among the siblings...
DeleteTimes are changing la ..... cannkt always be the same. Nowadays, people visit my dad more than in the past, we visited others. My dad is the most senior now.
DeleteWhere food is concerned, it is the same with my in laws.. abundant food whereas on my side, the food is much less cos my siblings didn't come back full blast.. only two of us here reunioning and the rest have their own in their house....so I went visiting my sister on the first day for dinner but on the third day, we got together in KL to visit another sibling... this year is definitely different....
ReplyDeleteyeah, i guess there's also a meaning behind that we have abundant food and leftovers, this is to symbolize we have enough to eat throughout the year.. and this year you certainly have a very different CNY - you are in your second home in JB!! :)
DeleteI think Reanaclaire's lifestyle is like having CNY celebrations throughout the year across the country! Muahahaha
DeleteJust look at the abundance of food postings with happy smiles on her face! So well blessed. I also want!
NO wonder my mom and my in laws always cook so so so much!! And ended up eating them the next day and the next .. till the dish "choy kwok" is invented to dump all the leftovers inside it!
DeleteHey SK, do you realize, I am commenting more than one in this post now.. hahahaa... hope it will continue!
TM, i also wish you will be blessed with food and more food! You see a lot of food postings because I very very seldom cook at home.. most times you will see outside food more.. dont know who is more blessed. to eat inside the house or outside.. hahaha..
DeleteI like steamboat and only eat them at night in the restaurants anytime of the year. I prefer not to eat steamboat again during the CNY hot weather in Malaysia. This practice is popular in China as their Spring weather is always cold and freezing too. We should switch to ice cream, ice kachang, Chat Time, Jelly and cold salad when the weather has been hot hot hot like fire.
ReplyDeleteSo Thambee will get richer on the 15th day of CNY. That will be next Thursday! I will see you then for Thambee to belanja me lunch for being so sweet to you the whole year!
DeleteAsk thambee out for makan on 15th day ...muhahahahaha
Deletewell, it's not so bad to actually have steamboat here because there is always air-cond and if not, fan.. but one thing is that, steamboat actually cuts down the preparations and cooking a lot..
DeleteYeah thanks to you guys. I almost ran out of ideas for tomorrow night's dinner gathering and I suggested steamboat after hearing so much here. Well, steamboat is healthy, much cheaper and can while away the night longer!!! The longer we sit, the sweeter the soup would be and the gossips would get hotter & juicier.
DeleteOn ang paus, my kids were saying...each year is getting lesser and lesser..! hahaha... Less than ten this year, that shows how little they are getting... come to think of it, I forgot to bring mine from Ipoh... I must give them before the end of the 15th day... which is next week?
ReplyDeletehaha, why getting lesser?? i thought as years passed, there will be more people getting married and hence the angpows also getting more and more?? hahaha.. oh, how could you not have brought your angpows from Ipoh?? what is suddenly one day you bump into SK in KL?? hahahaha..
DeleteSo better carry an empty red packet envelope and shamelessly ask her fill up lah! That trick will work lah. Wakakaka
Deleteheehee... SK! I never thought of that la... yeah.. if suddenly bump into you, how ah??? I will pretend only la.. what to do.. talk other things, dont mention red packets.. otherwise malu aje.. hahahaa..
DeleteBut I do like TM's idea.. you should now carry some red packets around ... er.. just in case .... hahahaa...
Mine very standard one, day 1 of CNY, will go to my Uncle's house, everyone will gather there, also good, saves the trouble of visiting each and every one of the relatives as staying in different places... Day 2 of CNY, will be in my Aunty house as my cousin wanted to 'gamble' with my Uncle and win his money...
ReplyDeleteyeah, CNY nowadays are really very very standard for me, as if i am doing the same routine years after years.. spring cleaning on the eve, then reunion dinner, then stay at home for the first two days, and then with lots of eating..
DeleteChinese New Year has not been the same since my grandpa passed away more than 10 years ago. On the eve, me and my mum would go to the house to help my grandma cook. There will be something like 7 - 8 dishes cooked in big quantities. My grandma also believes that more is better than not enough, which I agree. All of us would gather in the evening for the big makan and it was fun. So cheerful and merry (lau juak). Since there was so much food, the leftovers will be carried forward for the next few days, just like your steamboat!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lucky girl having so much sweet CNY memories! My grandpa had 3 wives and 17 children but I never ate any of their cooking for CNY. Only my mum cooked for our own reunion dinners and that was plenty too. I believe it is true and good to eat plenty of dishes on the eve to welcome a plentiful and abundant New Year ahead.
Deletewe used to have more than 10 dishes on the table, but one year my mom decided that it's so tiring to do all the things and decided to switch to steamboat.. and since then, it's steamboat all the time till now for over 20 years :p
DeleteWow! 10 dishes are plenty on the table to make everyone happy! I heard of some crazy families who have more than auspicious 18 dishes laid out for reunion dinner. Of course macam buffet style and the family members banyak orang. I would love to be invited to this reunion. Steamboat is still the easiest and enjoyable without any wastage.
DeleteBecause there was so much food, not everything can fit into the fridge. So to keep it fresh, the food is reheated after our dinner, left outside the fridge and then reheated again the next day before our lunch and dinner. This goes on until the fourth day I think. The chicken and duck will be so overboiled that it fall to pieces. Not so nice to eat already. But it is convenient lah in the sense that mum and grandma can rest and take a break during CNY.
ReplyDeleteI thought most Chinese would pour all the leftover dishes into a big pot to make the Kiam Chai Boey! Yummy! Yummy! Soup! I never tasted these Chai Boey outside except all home made ones that tasted so sour and spicy hot.
Deletethat's exactly why we have been having steamboat for the past 20 over years.. we used to have cooked dishes, but due to the abundance of food, leftovers are reheated and reheated again and again, till probably there is no more nutritions left.. but with steamboat, at least we just keep the raw stuffs in the fridge and cook them only when we want to eat.. i guess that's a little better..
DeleteWe have had steamboat before for Chinese New Year eve but that was so long ago. I was in primary school I think. At that time, we do not have electric pots or those operated by gas. It was using charcoal! I don't remember much as I was too young. I admit that when I was small and until early adulthood, I disliked steamboat. But now, I will say yes to a steamboat meal!
ReplyDeleteI remember these steamboats using charcoal. So traditional and added more fun at the dining table. Nowadays people claimed that the charcoal cooked often gave better aroma and taste but I think the gas and electric steamboat stoves are just as good but much faster & so easy.
Deletewah charcoal steamboat!! that would be so so nice, i think i have never had charchoal steamboat before.. all the time electric pot or over gas stove only.. i quite like steamboat actually, but after many years of CNY-steamboating, it turns to be "okay with"~~ :D
DeleteWhen we had charcoal steamboat dinners at restaurants, SK Thambee was still floating in the cyber space! It was quite a messy affair where you need to keep fanning manually until the ashes would spill out below and the fire might shoot out sparks upwards onto the plates of dishes beside. I do know that some exotic restaurants in rural areas here and in Thailand have started to revive this ancient charcoal steamboats. It has become a special bookings and reservation requirement pula. The other day I saw one such ad in the Groupon but I cannot recall where.
DeleteAfter my grandpa passed away, we gathered at my uncle's house on Chinese New Year eve. My auntie catered food and therefore there was no hassle of cooking and she had a maid to do the cleaning up. But subsequently we progressed to eating out at a hotel. My uncle will book the set dinner and it has been like that for many years already. In fact, we can even predict what dishes will be served because it seems to be the same every year. The atmosphere is different eating out and at home and I miss those days of gathering at grandpa's house.
ReplyDeleteI think time has changed and the new generations will miss all the traditions and preparations done in manual ways. These days I have seen people ordering food for reunion from Food Panda! Besides that, they shopped all the clothes, shoes and bags from online websites! Muahahahahaha
DeleteI actually enjoyed eating reunion dinners at the big Chinese restaurants inside hotels for a few years until my sister returned home for good. That Tai Kar Chieh is very traditional one and insisted on cooking at home. Now back to square!
Eating out is less hassled than eating at home. No need to prepare the food but then problem is the restaurant will keep chasing you to finish so that the second wave of patrons can have their seats. The dishes were out very quick also. I don't find it enjoyable.
Deletewe will always gather everyone and families of uncles at our house every year for the reunion dinner.. my dad is the eldest among his siblings so everyone will come over for dinner.. we only eat out on the 2nd day of CNY, where we will have all my married sisters and families together.. so far so good i guess, not any rush but just like normal dining.. i won't comment on reunion dinner outside, as i have not done so before..
DeleteI agree with Chris! So we better opt for the 2nd wave of diners to sit & eat till closing time. I just got chased out 2 days ago at Lala Chong restaurant when it was near 8pm. Horrible dinner ambiance!
DeleteSo will steamboat continue to be served since it is your family tradition or do you foresee your family doing something different next year or in the next few years? Old habits die hard and the old folks tend to like going with what has been practised all along. Besides, I can vouch for the fact that the warm homely atmosphere is what makes Chinese New Year so precious and special. The festival in itself does not mean much to me but it is the coming together of immediate family members that I look forwards to and enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI am sure their steamboat traditions will live on until Thambee has his own family. By then, he might eat with banana leaves with me! kikikiki
DeleteI guess steamboats on CNY originated from China / HK as during these period, its very cold there. But for bolehland, you may have to on the air-cond to eat.
Deleteyeah, i guess because steamboat is easier to prepare and with less to do.. also we do not have to reheat the dishes all the time but just cook a soup, take the stuffs out from the fridge and there we go, simple.. and also you tend to sit around the table longer when you do steamboat, and there's where you chat more..
DeleteI am one of those people who love staying at home. And Chinese New Year is the only time that I can take more time off work. It is not boring at all, there is lots to do. Yeah, like surfing the internet and watching TV. I agree that doing nothing is not exactly doing nothing. I mean if you park yourself in front of the TV and watch a good movie or two, that is doing something relaxing and enjoyable. So how could that be doing nothing, right?
ReplyDeleteOh no, I always find it boring to get holed up at home during CNY. I would be out whole day until I ran out of breaths and chi from talking so much. I had to drink gallons of water to replenish my energy and saliva. Wakakaka
DeleteI will go out to check out the Ipoh hor fun!!
Deletehahaha, i am actually not one who likes to stay home.. or maybe if i have my own house then that would be a different story, haha.. but the 1st and 2nd day of CNY, i make it a point to stay at home.. guess the elderly would like to see everyone at home for a symbol of family completeness :)
DeleteI really wanted to spend the night holed up at Ossoto Spa during CNY to have complete rest to rejuvenate. Goodness, it got me busier this year with so many unexpected calls from long lost folks and new friends. Maybe next year, invite everyone to soak inside the tub at Ossoto to usher the Monkey Year! Good idea?
DeleteOh yes, how can we not enjoy eating while lazing around the house? Hmmm... let's see, I did munch on some snacks and cakes I baked on the 1st until 6th day of Chinese New Year. Oh dear, I could I do that and fatten myself up? But never mind, Chinese New Year is the time to enjoy our food. It is not the time to diet hah..hah... Without fail, I will put on weight during the festivities and then I tell myself, OK, must diet after this hah..hah...
ReplyDeleteThe feng shui traditions applauded those who still baked and cooked inside their kitchen from the eve of CNY onwards. That would be good for you who loves to bake! Windfalls would come by many folds.
DeleteMy wife was even steaming chai kueh on the spot to feed the guest with fresh food besides making them bake their own mini cup cakes on the dining table to eat and take home! That was fun for all the guests though it is like out of the traditions. Everyone enjoyed.
hahaha, the recent years i don't actually eat that much of the CNY snacks, in fact i can totally keep myself away from them.. just normal three meals, but the normal three meals can be quite a load already since it's CNY, hahahaha!! i consider myself "good" to stay away from the CNY junks :p
DeleteBut quite honestly, I am quite productive during Chinese New Year. I did quite a bit of things at home like tidying up stuff which I never had the time to do. Traditionally we are not supposed to sweep the house or do clean ups during Chinese New Year but that's probably an excuse to allow the housewives to relax a bit. I did my laundry and whatnot as usual and found myself with a neater, cleaner home hah..hah...
ReplyDeleteHeh heh... we were still tidying our house on the eve and the 1st day of CNY because we heard the God Of Wealth would come on the 4th day! I even mopped the floor on the 2nd day before the guests arrived. I even put a fresh tangerine "Kam" auto spray device to enhance the feng shui. I know I sound like a grandma!
Deleteerrr, same same here!! on the morning of CNY eve, i will wake up and right away clean my room.. for one time in every year, muahahahaha!! that is why it will take me one whole morning to clean my year-long dusty room, hehehe.. but just to clean and not really a big make up..
Deletestill cleaning until 4th day of CNY?? i thought everything must be done before the year ends??
Everyone always looked at the Roman Calendars and assumed traditions & customs should abide the dates. We should start looking at the real lunar calendar and hear the sifus who managed to calculate the real dates of the new year, deity send offs and welcoming hours of Choy San Yeh. I always mixed up everything pula.
DeleteThis is the first time I hear of someone opening angpows until after 15th of CNY. And even more strange is your ritual of keeping angpows given by your parents for another year. I always open mine on the same day hee..hee.. And not only that, I take note of who and how much they gave. My bad.
ReplyDeleteI think I was similar when I was a kid. I would peep at the amount inside and then kept the ang pows neatly with their names jotted down! After the 15th day, I had to bank in all for my savings. I would even do a mental statistics record over the years on the big and generous ang pows! I realised that my ang pow sums got bigger as I grew into adulthood. I shamelessly thought that the economy was getting better!
DeleteI took it out and judi....muahahahaha
Deletehehehe, i do that because it will make me feel "richer" opening them one shot than to go for it one at a time.. i didn't even want to do calculation too, i will want to give myself a surprise in the end..
DeleteSo you stay at home on the 1st and 2nd day of Chinese New Year. Totally did not go out. Yeah, no need to go out to eat as there is abundance of steamboat hah..hah... but how about visiting relatives? Or do they come to your house to visit instead? I'm sure you did do your rounds or received visitors at home (after 1st and 2nd day), if not where will the angpows come from besides the ones from your parents and married siblings?
ReplyDeleteI am sure the relatives came to his house like a long beeline! This year, I gave lesser ang pows after my wife quit teaching at the university besides not visiting a village of in-laws for a change. It was not planned but nature & fate arranged such. There were always many kids there!!!
Deleteyes, both my parents are the eldest among their siblings, so aunties and uncles and their families will actually pay a visit at our place instead.. that is why, i used to stay at home for the 1st and 2nd day of CNY to meet relatives..
DeleteYou know, I think is it quite commendable that you actually delay the opening of angpows given by your parents for their benefit to "save them with more felicity and longevity". That's a really nice gesture and I wonder if your parents are aware of your habit? I don't think it is preposterous at all. If this is your belief, then by all means continue with this practice. And if it actually brings lots of joy and blesses them with longevity, then all the better! What a good son you are, SK!
ReplyDeleteWah! What a good son this Thambee is! I wonder where he learnt this auspicious gesture to "save them with more felicity and longevity".?? I had to think for a while and digest its good meaning. LOL
DeleteThambee good boy! I won't ask him for pirated music already in his server.
Deletehahaha.. "save them with more felicity and longevity" sounded a bit too difficult to digest?? that's what i believe personally and have been doing this for many years.. hehehe!!
Delete吃火锅那个有点夸张，吃足几天，有没有哦。。?LOL
ReplyDeletePS: 我以前收红包是也是到十五才一次过开玩，这样才过瘾hor.... :P
是真的, 沒有騙你啦.. LOL
DeleteHabit #1, last time, before i got married, we also ate steamboat as our reunion dinner on Chinese New Year eve like SK. After I got married, my MIL will cook a lot of dishes (about 10 dishes each year) to pray in the morning of Chinese New Year eve, we have to eat those dishes as our reunion lunch/dinner.
ReplyDeleteBut then, my MIL will cook steamboat on Chinese New Year day 1 dinner. There I still get to eat steamboat on Chinese New Year, just change from reunion dinner to Chinese New Year day 1 dinner only.
Habit #2, SK lazed at home for the first 2 days, Yannie was the busiest woman on the first 2 days. Day 1, JAMY will sure wear Chinese New Year outfits and take one family portrait before leaving home to PIL's house. Then, JAMY will go to temple under very hot weather. Afterwards, JAMY will go to cinema with sweaty body and let our sweaty body dry out inside cinema. At night, again we go to PIL's house for steamboat.
DeleteDay 2, Yannie will go to Yannie's mummy's sister's house (auntie's house). This day is considered Yannie 回娘家. Yannie will have lunch at auntie's house. At night, Yannie will have dinner with Yannie's sister and brother at restaurant.
So, very busy schedule right? Start from 3rd day onward, Yannie will go to visit all aunties' and uncles' house and friends' house. Yannie has no time to sit and rest at home like SK. How I wish I can do like SK? but, I can't.
Habit #3, I think I read SK's habit# 3 before. I let my April and May follow SK's habit by keeping those angpows until day 15, then only can open. April and May are very good girls. So far, they never open their angpows until day 15. They have been practicing this habit for several years.
DeleteBut then, they are so cute, they will count their angpows every now and then, and compare to each other on the red packets that they have collected.
After getting married, I only receive angpows from 2 persons. One is Yannie's auntie whom Yannie visited on day 2. One is Yannie's elder sister. Yannie too will keep their angpows until year end.
DeleteI will keep these two angpows inside Yannie's working handbag. When I short of money to use, I couldn't keep till year end anymore. These two angpows will become my life savier, I will open that two angpows to use. Hehehehehe!
DeleteLast night my colleague gave 2 angpows to each of my girls. My girls were so happy and took all their angpows to count. They were just counting the angpow packets and not the money inside. Thanks to SK for reminding me to advise them to keep the angpow that me and my husband gave for a year. I explained the meaning to them and they are willing to follow.
DeleteTalking about angpows, there was a time a married cousin forgot to give my girls angpows. Do you know how my girls reacted? Especially my elder girl, April, she said "Mommy, all married adults must give angpows to children if they meet them, how can he forget this?" She was very mind. Hahahahaha!
DeleteActually I don't mind having steamboat for several times in Chinese New Year, i love steamboat. I love to all the vegetables boiling in steamboat. Remember? I am soupy person.
DeleteBesides, I wish I can laze at home too just to watch TV programs, eat cookies and sleep. How luxury to spend the Chinese New Year like this? But, I can't now as I have married.
DeleteSK, let me scream here to release my frustration. I am very watched out on my diet. I don't rice and noodle to avoid carbo. I cut down one meat, soft drinks and beer. I go to gym every day. I still put on weight after Chinese New Year. All blame to cookies and cakes. I should have baked less.
DeleteAnyone put on weight after Chinese New Year?
we used to have 10 over cooked dishes on the table but one year, my mom decided it's too tiring to do so and we switched to have steamboat, till today.. i think it's kind of good also, instead of having the leftover of cooked food reheated and reheated again and again, we just cook a pot of soup, take the stuffs out of the fridge and have steamboat when we want to eat.. healthier to have "processed food" than "reheated food" hor??
Deletehaha, i guess being single and married makes you see the difference?? i can just laze at home, whereas Yannie will have so many places to go and so many things to do.. but well, as long as you are happy, then it's good!!
oh yeah.. i wonder if AM like the idea of keeping the angpow given by JY for a year and not touched them?? i guess the good girls understand the meaning behind and would be very happy to do so.. but did Yannie add one more condition behind?? besides longetivity and felicity, that will also make Yannie slim and pretty forever, muahahahaha!! :D
I tnink its better to either have steamboats or book a table at the restaurants to eat. Easier for the moms.
DeleteI agree with you, Chris, because I am the mom. Sooner I will expect my daughters and my son in laws to take me out for Chinese New Year reunion dinner. Then, Yannie the mommy no need to cook 10 dishes. Bagus!
DeleteNormally during cny, my mom would cook several dishes and we don't practise having steamboat, talking about anypows, yes, I am still getting them but it has become lesser and lesser each year :(
ReplyDeleteMy family will have vegetarians food on the first day. Follow the tradition of yesteryears!
Deleteoh yeah, i think many families practice having vegetarian on the 1st day of CNY huh?? we do, but only in the morning, past 12pm we can take meat already..
DeleteMuahahahaha....first time I hear this nonsense that vegetarian is only in the mornings and meat from 12:00pm! Where you guys learn this?
DeleteThe good practice would be the whole 1st day of Chinese New Year. Some even do it 2 or 5 days! I have mentioned before that I heard the theory from my hypocrite friend and don't support his idea.
Tm - muahahahah .... some vegetarian contains meat !
DeleteCan't blame you for not having steamboats for the rest of the year as you had steamboats for the entire CNY...muaahahahaha.....
ReplyDeleteAiya.. I am sure your mum or maid can cook the leftovers right? No need to eat steamboat every day lah until Chap Go Meh.
yeah, i guess once during CNY is equivalent to the quota of the whole year, muahahaha!! of course won't last until Chap Goh Meh lah.. :D
DeleteI think I can eat steamboat for 15 days of CNY. I am pretty sure coz I am a loyal fan. Need to have plenty of hot fiery chilly sauces to make me happy.
DeleteFor steamboat, the chilli sauce is very important, the chilli sauce must be nice, I used to eat Coca Thai Steamboat, their chilli sauce is damn sedap
DeleteWell, I guess sometimes really can't help it but discard the leftovers if its 'leftovers' for too many days. Don't you agree? No need to be too prudent la, if it's not much left.
ReplyDeleteyes, if the leftovers are left over for too many days, it's better to just thrown them away.. that is why, to be not wasteful, we eat as much as we could..
DeleteJust open the slow cooker like my Tai Kar chieh sister who would keep throwing leftovers inside daily until it becomes her signature dish. She would pack into containers and drive to deliver to our homes! Amazing sister I have! Her ang moh hubby always shook his head. LOL
DeleteI am different from you. I can't stand staying at home on CNY 1 and 2 day although I miss the tv programs on Astro. It will be great to go out on the empty streets and visit friends. I also miss playing with firecrackers. Maybe I get some next year. This year already too late la... CNY is ending soon.
ReplyDeleteyou mean Ipoh is empty during CNY?? oh, i thought that only happens to KL, as i think many people will have gone back to Ipoh to celebrate CNY..
DeleteOh you are such a nice son. I doubt many boys out there keep their parents angpow for next year.
ReplyDeleteI can't stay home quietly during the CNY but since I got married that is what I've been doing the first 2 days. Very very sad... :(
you may want to educate Ethan and Ayden to do this, i am sure they would be willing to follow.. hehehe, married and single, that's the difference!! you have more to do during CNY :p
DeleteUrm.. I think firstly I have to educate the father as he will be the one telling the kids to unpack the angpow >_<
DeleteIf I stayed at home on Day 1 and 2, I feel I wasted these 2 days. Maybe this is due to that I went back to my hometown and instead of being homely, I should go out jalan jalan. After all, I only went back once or twice a year.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if I stayed at the same place, then I might rest at home.
you only go back hometown to see your parents once or twice a year, and yet you don't like to stay at home to keep them company?? hahahaha..
DeleteAiyo...I miss receiving angpau now. hahaha... I can still remembers the joys of counting my angpau money at the end of the day or the end of the festive season. Some packets are so nice which gave me a feeling that there's something big inside. LOL
ReplyDeletehehehe, now you are giving away more angpows than you can receive right?? good lah, that's your "hock ki" lah~~
DeleteGood thing I still get angpaus from my elders. hhahaha... and they are not small either. Aiya...adults mah....
ReplyDeleteah yes, i guess you will still get angpows from at least your parents..
DeleteSo, did you give your angpau money to your parents , since they given out so many ? hehehe...
ReplyDeletei think it's actually good to give your parents angpow, no matter you are married or single.. it's a blessing!!
DeleteOverall, I don't enjoyed CNY as much as a kid. During then, I used to save up my pocket money for firecrackers, looking forward to angpaus, the F&N soft drinks, bak kwa,meeting up with my little cousins and so on.
ReplyDeleteNow, no more firecrackers, give angpaus , soft drinks are junks and nothing really much to talk with my cousins after a long while didn't meet. However,still love bak kwa, enjoyed CNY songs and shopping and travelling around.
yeah, nowadays CNY could be just as another normal day to me, hahaha.. unlike as a kid, CNY was so looking forward to and always exciting.. but i am also staying away from those CNY junks, errr, getting old already lah, better have control :p
DeleteSo syiok to be receiving ang pows. Hahaha
ReplyDeleteyou also get duit raya during raya right?? hehe..
Deletewhere got... I give not get. LOL
DeleteSon punya, parents cannot touch. ;)
Once in a while, or rather in your case on a year lazing at home, must be nice.
ReplyDeleteA nice break too, right?
haha, yes, for two days, just two days in a year that i stay at home whole day.. errr, unless i'm taking MC in other days~~ :D
DeleteSteamboat served for over 20 years for reunion dinner? That's a very long time. Say if you are 35 now, that means you have been eating steamboat for reunion dinner since you are 15 years old. So I understand if you only eat steamboat once a year only and that is during CNY since you have to eat it for almost every day of CNY but can your steamboat leftovers last all 15 days of CNY? I don't think so right? Maybe you can suggest a variation of different soup for the steamboat every year so it would be more interesting. Say this year, tomyam soup base, next year collagen soup base, then curry soup base and etc, etc. Your family is very smart because steamboat is healthy food since fresh vegetables and meat or fish are used and no need to sweat to cook and can feed many people. Having leftovers is good too because this is a good sign to say that for the whole year, all of you will have food to be full and for practical reasons also since most Chinese shops and markets are closed during CNY, all of you still have food to eat. Right or not? So in a nutshell, a very good move by your family to have steamboat for CNY. No wonder can have this for 20 years and I guess for the next 20 years in the future, you will be having steamboat for reunion dinners too! Hehehehe!
ReplyDeleteerr, you must have been eating too much that you read me saying for 15 days?? hahahahaha, sorry, but i guess you are wrong as i just said "for the next couple of days".. i am not one who can eat the same thing everyday, not to mention for 15 days long, hahahaha!! a few days is still bearable to me.. so all your questions above, void!!! :D
DeleteI agree with you that staying at home doing nothing is utmost enjoyable! Especially since you seldom stay at home. I love staying at home. It is a blessing to know how to enjoy oneself just by eating, sleeping, watch tv and surf net at home without feeling guilty for wasting time. I do that all the time, hahaha! But on CNY day 1 and 2, I will go out. Why? Because the road as so clear and void of cars. Only during CNY and Raya will that happen so can say I am opposite from you. Normal days, I stay in house to avoid crowd and traffic jams, CNY day 1 and 2, I go out to enjoy the clear roads. But need to be careful too because boy racers will also go out to enjoy the clear roads so have to drive carefully to avoid being hit by those boy racers on the road. Back to your CNY day 1 and 2 at home, what tv did you watch? Astro? Managed to watch any interesting movies? Eat many cookies and CNY goodies? Surelah enjoy, eat, sleep, surf net, watch tv. That's the good life! :D
ReplyDeleteyeah, these two days will be the two days that i totally stay at home without going anywhere in a year.. so nice and i don't care what i do, can be eating, sleeping, watching TV, surfing the net.. as long as i stay at home, and i don't feel bored.. probably for just these two days as a change, hahaha!! :D
DeleteWell not a bad idea to take these 2 days to rest. Its especially so kl is so quiet then.
DeleteYou are still receiving angpows, of course since you are still single and eligible. Very smart, to only open those angpows only after day 15 of CNY to feel rich. Sure you will see a stack of money then instead of bit by bit if you open them as soon as you got them. So you only keep the angpows from your parents to be opened the next year or you keep all the angpows to be opened the next year? The way you wrote it sounds like only your parents you will keep until the next year, right? Felicity is a new word for me as I know Felicity is a name of a girl. Not sure what is the other meaning. Hahaha, instead of finding your action preposterous, I find it prosperous because by not opening the angpows, you are saving the money so you will become more prosperous next year, right? My sister also does this. She keeps all the angpows we gave her until dunno when. Never use the money. Sure prosperous lah this way. But must make sure those notes are not obsolete when she finally open the angpows, hahaha! Your intention is very good, to give your parents longevity and felicity (what does this word mean? - online dictionary says it means happiness and joy). Keep doing this practice and make it your tradition to pass on to the younger generation, ok? Enjoy this tradition you started yourself, you pioneer this. Good!
ReplyDeleteI also dunno what felicity means. Sk canggih !
Deleteyeah, i am still receiving angpows.. if one gives i will definitely not reject, because this is a blessing for the giver instead, if one doesn't give then of course i won't mind at all.. and yes, i have been keeping the angpows from my parents for a year for many years, feel good doing that actually..
DeleteI will be very busy on the eve and the first day of chinese new year. I always cook for the whole family. I remember I had steam-boat only once or twice.
ReplyDeleteI hardly have time to relax during these two days. Only on the second day, we usually visit my hometown.
I always receive ang pow from my mum and god MIL.
It's my duty to give ang pows even to those unmarried ones like my brother and sisters.
no surprise, as the WENNderwoman seems to be a very busy woman for 365 days of a year.. i wonder if you rest at all?? haha..
DeleteUsually mummy/housewife sure is the busiest one during CNY. That's normal. Have to clean house la, buy things la, cook la and etc.....
DeleteI also joined in to praise SK for being fillial to his parents in the belief that by delaying the opening of the angpaus can give his parents longevity. However, belief is still a belief and it's more practical to treat them well, which I guess SK have been doing that. ;)
ReplyDeleteyes, very well said!! this act is just symbolic but the practical actions is even more important.. everyone should treat our parents well, as long as they are still here with us..
DeleteI remember whe I was a kid , the rice eaten during cny eve and first day must be finished and cannot drop else you will get skin disease. For abundance, everyone must take extra bowl of rice after finishing the first bowl.
ReplyDeletehmmm, i think that is not only during CNY but all the time?? haha.. rather on CNY, it's actually okay to have leftover because that is believe to symbolize an abundance of wealth for the year..
DeleteI think cny is a time to get together with our friends and relatives , especially for folks like me who seldom see them. Like in sk precious post , we will start with small talk like how your job, msrried ?, single ?, how many children, what are they doing and etc. I don't think I want to stay at home if possible. Lol
ReplyDeletehahaha, i guess you enjoy being asked those questions repeatedly huh?? but true also, you only see them once a year, and those questions are more to saying hi and to break the ice.. but also, some relatives ask questions like they wanna gossip, that's instead quite irritating :D
Deletehahah...else no questions to ask leh... afterall, it's once a year!
DeleteSteamboat for CNY, memang a trend for many families, but not at my mum's place, cause we are like small family, so cannot eat much, and if do steamboat without a lot of 'liu' then macam not syok, so my mum said no need do la, better cook dishes with rice lagi baik... But I remember there was once (about 3-4 years ago) we did steamboat during CNY eve, something different la.. Ngam ngam that time my aunties came from KL so at least got more people to finish the stock...
ReplyDeleteBut that was just the only time we did steamboat at my mum place, hehe!
So usually people had clear soup and tom yum soup for steamboat right? For me I will prefer clear soup, then put sambal, best!
My in laws pula very heng do steamboat one, we just had one during CNY eve this year, invited a few relatives and my parents also. The 'liu' left so much til we have to distribute to the relatives to bring home, else wasted ma! Then for the following few days, my mother-in-law used all those left over 'liu' to cook us lunch and dinner, so those dishes are very familiar, hahaha!
Why first 2 days you spend at home? Waiting relatives to come? But I think even if go out also no meaning, I mean where to go/what to do right? Most also yumcha with friends and that also I guess most people will prefer to do at night, not so hot lo, cause usually day time very very hot one during CNY. This year I felt it's even hotter!! I sweat like every minute! May be because I am pregnant la, 孕妇是比较容易热的！
DeleteAnyway, staying at home also good la, can watch TV (cause got lots of special programmes), eat CNY cookies and drink Shandy!
But this year cannot drink Shandy! But I just got the crave for it! Anyway have to 忍 also! Wuwuwu~
DeleteThe last part, biasa la, for those single one, sure still receive ang pao regardless of age, but even if married already parents/grandparents will still give ang pao. My mum also still give me and my hubby ang pao, hehe! 意思意思~
DeleteBut you seng mok also la, next year don't just receive ang pao only but also must start give ang pao liao ok? *hint hint* :p :p
Hmm yes, it feels 'richer' if you take out the money one shot, haha! But for me I don't keep until day 15th, I no pantang nor believe in anything one, I will take out the money and collect all in one single envelope whenever I am free, then plan to save in bank account.
Good afternoon sk. Gong hei fatt choy.
ReplyDeletesorry ya I no blog hop lately. Cny too much till sivk jor.
Lol.lol....sstea
Argh typo..eyes blur blur cannot see jor.
ReplyDeleteThis year I also had steamboat. The most steamboat I evety had during cny
你就好咯過年可以食瞓睇，我就由朝做到夜，單單準備三餐就忙到連廁所都去少咗。
ReplyDelete