A Little Ranting on CNY
Chinese New Year (CNY) is also known as Spring Festival (春节 – ChÅ«n jié) or the Lunar New Year (农历新年 – Nóng lì xÄ«n nián) is the most important of the Chinese traditional holiday.
Let me share with you random pictures I took throughout the festive season.
Low Sang aka Yee Sang
Traditionally practiced during the seventh lunar month which is also called “Yan Yat” (every human being’s birthday). Dishes consist of thin slices of raw fish (most commonly used are salmon), crackers, shreaded and pickle vegetables, herbs and sauces. While tossing and mixing the ingredients with a pair of chopstick, one should also chant out loud – Huat ah! Huat ah! which means prosperity. There’s also longivity and liveliness but some hockkien Ah Pek forget them all. Who cares. Toss them as high as you can!
Gingko Dessert (Pat Kor – cantonese)
Longan flesh with Gingko and red dates simmer for hours in rock sugar water.
Fireworks
Back then, we used to play sparkles and some fire crackers. Nowadays with the technology advancement, we get to watch 15 minutes of fireworks display for free. There are many beliefs about why fireworks are used. One is that the noise wakes up the dragon who will fly across the sky to bring the spring rain for the crops. Another belief is that the noise of the fireworks is supposed to scare away all evil spirits and misfortunes, preventing them from coming into the new year. Do not forget, it is illegal to light up fireworks.
New Year, new clothes
A suit of new clothes is a must to significant a new year. Here comes a new Superman PJ’s. Yeah, new red underwear for Superman too. Red symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck.
Again some random shots in the temple.
I find these hanging joss stick very interesting. Makes a good photographic item too.
LB said,
February 25, 2007 @ 12:21 am
Great pictures, especially that wonderful on of the Fireworks!! I guess you really scared them evil spirits away! Gong Xi Fa Cai to you ….. And Happy Yan Yat!!
wuching said,
February 25, 2007 @ 6:08 am
there’s no yee sang in sibu leh..
may said,
February 25, 2007 @ 8:08 am
I love all those photos you took, especially the artisitc view of the joss sticks and the fireworks. nice!! makes me miss home… but just a tad, lol. Happy Yan Yatt to you! only 8 days left for CNY till Chap Goh Mei… doesn’t time flies?
yenjai.net said,
February 25, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
I guess you mean … 7th day of the First Lunar Month? ^-^
jazzmint said,
February 25, 2007 @ 11:31 pm
must agree with u the hanging joss sticks are really nice for photography. did u go to the dong zhen at banting?
sila said,
February 26, 2007 @ 3:40 am
wow the joss stick pics are cool! very artistic. is this kind of joss stick very common? i always thought joss stick was red and stick like.
anyway gong xi fa cai! 😀
The Giddy Tiger said,
February 26, 2007 @ 10:50 am
Awesome pictures! Happy Chinese New Year…
Your CNY pressie: I just tagged you…heh 🙂
The Queen says: I tried to comment in your blog but was decline by your system. Can i owe you a tag. Will do it after my US trip.Â
Bernard said,
February 26, 2007 @ 12:21 pm
Happy New Year, Queen!
Have a good trip!!
Jan said,
February 26, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
You have great photographic skills……all the photos very well taken…..
Simple American said,
February 27, 2007 @ 4:59 am
That incense looks so unusual. I nevah seen before. Cute!
Galvin said,
March 1, 2007 @ 10:01 am
Firecrackers are illegal but some do get away with it. But unfortunately for this family, they were caught red-handed!
http://blog.galvintan.com/2007/02/28/high-price-to-pay-for-offering-to-heavenly-god/
The Queen says:Â So, did they get saman by the authority?Â
Hijack Queen » When the Clock Strike 12 said,
February 13, 2008 @ 6:50 pm
[…] last year I took the pictures of spiral joss stick? This year no temple visiting. But I’ve spotted some giant joss stick around housing […]