Chinese New Year, what say you?
J-on
|
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
|
Share this post on Facebook
By Woon Pei-Jing
Chinese New Year (CNY) is just around the corner!
Talking about CNY, the first thing that pops up in my mind would be “yee sang”, a simple mixture of thin slices of raw fish, shredded vegetables, herbs and sauces.
All the ingredients for the dish are served separately on the same plate. They would be mixed and tossed and then lifted with chopsticks high up by everyone at the table, while saying out loudly the “good” words. Most interesting thing is that, it is said that the higher you toss the “yee sang,” the more you will prosper. The act of tossing the mixtures is very enjoyable as it sets in CNY mood!
So, what is CNY to you, my fellow Utarians?
Biotechnology student, Lim Sirn Sirn views CNY as a time for family and relatives. Also, it means change for the better.
This lady from Petaling Jaya is somehow bound to the Chinese tradition. On the first day of CNY, she will happily kneel down, serve tea, say ‘Gong Xi Fa Cai’ to her parents and then receive ‘Ang Pow’. According to tradition, the receiving of an Ang Pow is a gesture to mean that the recipient will enjoy a fruitful life.
Psychology student, Mar Pei Zhuong comes from a family who really look forward to CNY. To her, the eve of CNY is probably the high point of the celebration as all her family members and relatives from all around will enjoy a sumptuously prepared reunion feast at Genting Highlands.
Both Sirn Sirn and Pei Zhuong share a common opinion. They think that the ‘lion dance’ is the one thing that cannot be done without during the CNY. Sirn Sirn said that she would purposely go to a shopping complex not for the new year clothes, but to get a glimpse of the lion dance.
However, one man’s meat may be another man’s poison.
Communication Networking student Lee Ching Hong and Jasmine Low from Foundation in Arts think that CNY is just a two-day public holiday which is boring and “lame”.
“I rarely have family and relatives gathering during CNY,” said Jasmine.
As for Public Relation student Yeo Yun Shen, CNY to her means food and cookies, CNY TV programs, collecting Ang Pow as well as fire crackers.
But most importantly to her, new clothes and shoes are a must for the festival. “I am not going to celebrate CNY without all these new items,” she laughed.
Chemistry student Kevin Char was very close to his cousin brothers since small. But as they grow older, they drifted apart as they were busy with their own lives.
As such, CNY would be the best opportunity for him to rekindle close ties with his beloved cousin bothers as all of them would gather during the CNY.
A student from Foundation in Arts, namely Chan Jing Ru looks forward to celebrating a cheerful CNY every year. “I listen to a lot of CNY songs as they can create wonderful CNY ‘feel’,” she smiled.
Banking and Finance student Raymond Yap expressed that his feeling for CNY has changed a lot as he gets older compared to childhood days.
When he was a kid, he enjoyed the feeling in which all the elders insist of giving away Ang Pow only after hearing the CNY greetings from the children and unmarried adults.
Nowadays, in order for ‘convenience’, some elders will rather give Ang Pow to the parents or ‘representative’ from the family and ask them to spread around the Ang Pow.
“Last time I would be delighted to do some DIY on house decoration and CNY cookies baking. Now, my family would rather buy that stuff from the supermarket,” he said.
Obviously, everyone has his or her own view on CNY. Try to understand and appreciate the tradition of the celebration, then we would surely enjoy it.
Gong Xi Fa Cai!!!
Chinese New Year (CNY) is just around the corner!
Talking about CNY, the first thing that pops up in my mind would be “yee sang”, a simple mixture of thin slices of raw fish, shredded vegetables, herbs and sauces.
All the ingredients for the dish are served separately on the same plate. They would be mixed and tossed and then lifted with chopsticks high up by everyone at the table, while saying out loudly the “good” words. Most interesting thing is that, it is said that the higher you toss the “yee sang,” the more you will prosper. The act of tossing the mixtures is very enjoyable as it sets in CNY mood!
So, what is CNY to you, my fellow Utarians?
Biotechnology student, Lim Sirn Sirn views CNY as a time for family and relatives. Also, it means change for the better.
This lady from Petaling Jaya is somehow bound to the Chinese tradition. On the first day of CNY, she will happily kneel down, serve tea, say ‘Gong Xi Fa Cai’ to her parents and then receive ‘Ang Pow’. According to tradition, the receiving of an Ang Pow is a gesture to mean that the recipient will enjoy a fruitful life.
Psychology student, Mar Pei Zhuong comes from a family who really look forward to CNY. To her, the eve of CNY is probably the high point of the celebration as all her family members and relatives from all around will enjoy a sumptuously prepared reunion feast at Genting Highlands.
Both Sirn Sirn and Pei Zhuong share a common opinion. They think that the ‘lion dance’ is the one thing that cannot be done without during the CNY. Sirn Sirn said that she would purposely go to a shopping complex not for the new year clothes, but to get a glimpse of the lion dance.
However, one man’s meat may be another man’s poison.
Communication Networking student Lee Ching Hong and Jasmine Low from Foundation in Arts think that CNY is just a two-day public holiday which is boring and “lame”.
“I rarely have family and relatives gathering during CNY,” said Jasmine.
As for Public Relation student Yeo Yun Shen, CNY to her means food and cookies, CNY TV programs, collecting Ang Pow as well as fire crackers.
But most importantly to her, new clothes and shoes are a must for the festival. “I am not going to celebrate CNY without all these new items,” she laughed.
Chemistry student Kevin Char was very close to his cousin brothers since small. But as they grow older, they drifted apart as they were busy with their own lives.
As such, CNY would be the best opportunity for him to rekindle close ties with his beloved cousin bothers as all of them would gather during the CNY.
A student from Foundation in Arts, namely Chan Jing Ru looks forward to celebrating a cheerful CNY every year. “I listen to a lot of CNY songs as they can create wonderful CNY ‘feel’,” she smiled.
Banking and Finance student Raymond Yap expressed that his feeling for CNY has changed a lot as he gets older compared to childhood days.
When he was a kid, he enjoyed the feeling in which all the elders insist of giving away Ang Pow only after hearing the CNY greetings from the children and unmarried adults.
Nowadays, in order for ‘convenience’, some elders will rather give Ang Pow to the parents or ‘representative’ from the family and ask them to spread around the Ang Pow.
“Last time I would be delighted to do some DIY on house decoration and CNY cookies baking. Now, my family would rather buy that stuff from the supermarket,” he said.
Obviously, everyone has his or her own view on CNY. Try to understand and appreciate the tradition of the celebration, then we would surely enjoy it.
Gong Xi Fa Cai!!!
Watching ‘lion dance’ during CNY is a must to Lim and Mar.
Yeo : “No new clothes, no CNY.”
Char looks forword to celebrate CNY with cousin brothers who have been very close since childhood days.
Chan likes CNY songs as they rise up CNY mood.
Yap stresses ‘no one can be left out’ during CNY reunion dinner.
