I spend Christmas with great enjoyment but for Jess, he doesn't do much and just exchange gifts. I went to the shopping centre while he went to Terabithia.
I get to travel to visit my relatives while he doesn't even visit them.
He only exchange gifts with Leslie while I exchanged gifts with a whole lot of my friends.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Chistmas in England
Last year my family went to England to visit my uncle. Luckily, the season was winter which means that it was a Christmas joy to me and my family. The weather was snowy and i could hardly see anyone. It was like a fog. But eventually, my family and I managed to find my uncle's house. His house bell is extremely unique, it was the sound of "jingle bells". We had a good chat, talking of past happenings. I maybe be a teenage but my gifts are still toys and i like it this way. :) During the night, we kids went out to play a game which i have never played in my life: "snowball fighting". It was great fun, i got hit most of the time. We played for few hours and returned to my uncle's house. Next, he took us to a shopping centre, it was huge! Decorated with brightly coloured lights, with an enormous Christmas tree in the middle of the shopping centre. It was glorious! Mascots of Santa Claus were roaming around, entertaining children and giving out sweets. Even if I'm a teenage, I'm still in childhood world. Satisfied with our shopping, my family and I went back to the hotel. I really had a great time, hope I go to England soon:)
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Hari Raya Puasa and Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year Celebration:
The reunion dinner is one interesting occasion where family members gather together to indulge on sumptuous. delicacies such as steamboat with giant prawns, abalone, shark fin soup, fish maw soup, crabs,
During this period, all family members have this opportunity to gather and to catch up on past happenings.
This is the time for people to enjoy goodies such as orange juice, love letters, pineapple tarts and many more.
Children also get to enjoy their red packets which are filled with money.
Mandarin oranges and well wishes are exchanged with family members and friends.
Visitation to relatives and friends house is a common practice to all Chinese during this period.
New clothes and shoes are being worn with great pride.
Houses are decorated with red banners with Chinese characters such as "Fu".
Pussy willows are commonly found during this period to decorate houses.
These decoration can be found at many places mostly at China Town where people normally shop at.
Hari Raya Puasa
One month before Hari Raya Puasa, all muslims are encouraged to fast to test their endurance of not having food and feeling how the poor would feel.
On the day of Hari Raya Puasa, we ask each other for forgiveness.
The children receives money in green packets from the elders.
People get to enjoy sumptuous food such as rendang, lontong, ketupat, satay and many more. Yummy :p
On this day, we visit our relatives and friends, we would exchange well wishes with one another.
The younger ones would kiss the hands of the elder people to signify respect.
Traditional clothes such as kebaya, baju kurung for ladies and baju melayu and songkok for the men are worn during this special occasion.
In the morning, we go the mosque to pray.
The reunion dinner is one interesting occasion where family members gather together to indulge on sumptuous. delicacies such as steamboat with giant prawns, abalone, shark fin soup, fish maw soup, crabs,
During this period, all family members have this opportunity to gather and to catch up on past happenings.
This is the time for people to enjoy goodies such as orange juice, love letters, pineapple tarts and many more.
Children also get to enjoy their red packets which are filled with money.
Mandarin oranges and well wishes are exchanged with family members and friends.
Visitation to relatives and friends house is a common practice to all Chinese during this period.
New clothes and shoes are being worn with great pride.
Houses are decorated with red banners with Chinese characters such as "Fu".
Pussy willows are commonly found during this period to decorate houses.
These decoration can be found at many places mostly at China Town where people normally shop at.
Hari Raya Puasa
One month before Hari Raya Puasa, all muslims are encouraged to fast to test their endurance of not having food and feeling how the poor would feel.
On the day of Hari Raya Puasa, we ask each other for forgiveness.
The children receives money in green packets from the elders.
People get to enjoy sumptuous food such as rendang, lontong, ketupat, satay and many more. Yummy :p
On this day, we visit our relatives and friends, we would exchange well wishes with one another.
The younger ones would kiss the hands of the elder people to signify respect.
Traditional clothes such as kebaya, baju kurung for ladies and baju melayu and songkok for the men are worn during this special occasion.
In the morning, we go the mosque to pray.
Christmas
Jess' and my family would exchange presents during christmas.
Jess's family exchange christmas presents by putting Christmas stocking while I put my presents under the Christmas tree.
The electric racing car set that Jess recieved from his father was an expensive one but it wasn't working well because the cars kept falling off at the curves.
Joyce An's present was a talking doll was no longer talking.
Jess' family had ham and sweet potato while my family have turkey, ham ,chicken ,lamb chop, veggies.
Jess's family exchange christmas presents by putting Christmas stocking while I put my presents under the Christmas tree.
The electric racing car set that Jess recieved from his father was an expensive one but it wasn't working well because the cars kept falling off at the curves.
Joyce An's present was a talking doll was no longer talking.
Jess' family had ham and sweet potato while my family have turkey, ham ,chicken ,lamb chop, veggies.
Easter
For my family, we go to church but do not have to buy new clothes. but compared to Jess' family, where his mother would try to her best to get new clothes for the family to look their best and not be embarrassed.
Jess' family attends church service only on Easter but my family attends it every Sunday.
Jess' family used to attend church every week, but an incident occured when his mother got mad at the preacher.
Jess' family attends church service only on Easter but my family attends it every Sunday.
Jess' family used to attend church every week, but an incident occured when his mother got mad at the preacher.
Festivals of Singapore
Singapore is truly a cosmopolitan nation, with it's many races and religions existing in harmony. In a melting pot like Singapore each year sees the celebration of a variety of religious festivals. These festivals are Hari Raya Puasa, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and the Christmas to name the main ones.
Hari Raya Puasa is the day celebrated by the Muslims to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. It is a month of fasting observed by Muslims to offer special prayers during the fasting month. Muslims to offer special prayers during the fasting month. Muslim homes are gaily decorated with colourful lights for the occasion. Stage shows such as Malay dances and songs are part of the celebrations.
Chinese New Year is celebrated by the Chinese to mark the start of the new year according to the Chinese calendar. Each year is designated by an animal holding special significance for the Chinese, for example, the year of the Dragon, year of the Tiger, etc. It is also a time for reunion of all family members during the reunion dinner held on the eve of the New Year. Red packets containing money are handed to the younger ones by the elders as a sign of prosperity. Public displays of Dragon and Lion dances are often held by dance troupes to add to the festivities.
Deepavali on the 'Festival of Lights' is a religious celebration of the Hindus. It falls either in the month of October or November of the year. It is celebrated to mark the triumph of good over evil in Hindu mythology. Every Hindu household is decorated with oil lamps that burn to signify darkness being overcome. On Deepavali day every member of the family takes an oil bath early in the morning and offer prayers. This will be followed by a sumptuous breakfast among family members. The occasion is one of much joy and festivity.
Christmas is the religious festival of Christians who may be of Chinese, Indian or other descent. It is celebrated on the 25the of December each year and marks the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of Christian god. Christians gather for midnight services on Christmas eve at their churches. The day itself is celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike visiting Christian homes and is markedly a festival celebrated by all races in one way or the other.
Hari Raya Puasa is the day celebrated by the Muslims to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. It is a month of fasting observed by Muslims to offer special prayers during the fasting month. Muslims to offer special prayers during the fasting month. Muslim homes are gaily decorated with colourful lights for the occasion. Stage shows such as Malay dances and songs are part of the celebrations.
Chinese New Year is celebrated by the Chinese to mark the start of the new year according to the Chinese calendar. Each year is designated by an animal holding special significance for the Chinese, for example, the year of the Dragon, year of the Tiger, etc. It is also a time for reunion of all family members during the reunion dinner held on the eve of the New Year. Red packets containing money are handed to the younger ones by the elders as a sign of prosperity. Public displays of Dragon and Lion dances are often held by dance troupes to add to the festivities.
Deepavali on the 'Festival of Lights' is a religious celebration of the Hindus. It falls either in the month of October or November of the year. It is celebrated to mark the triumph of good over evil in Hindu mythology. Every Hindu household is decorated with oil lamps that burn to signify darkness being overcome. On Deepavali day every member of the family takes an oil bath early in the morning and offer prayers. This will be followed by a sumptuous breakfast among family members. The occasion is one of much joy and festivity.
Christmas is the religious festival of Christians who may be of Chinese, Indian or other descent. It is celebrated on the 25the of December each year and marks the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of Christian god. Christians gather for midnight services on Christmas eve at their churches. The day itself is celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike visiting Christian homes and is markedly a festival celebrated by all races in one way or the other.
Chinese New Year
I just love Chinese New Year. It is a time when all of our family members and relatives come together for a reunion. On the day that we are having a reunion. Our relatives will bring red packets and give them to all of the children. However, only married couples can give red packets, In exchange, the children, give two Mandarin oranges to them and say some kind words. Before we start the reunion dinner, we all gather around the table and pull it up high. It is said that the higher you pull it, the better luck you have once you pulled it high enough, we then say words of encouragement, Finally, we get to eat it, just between you and me, i do not really like eating it as it tastes horrible, on the eve of Chinese New Year, our family offers prayers to the Gods and Goddesses. We present foods and delicious to out ancestors and burn joss sticks and joss paper at altars while we ask for blessings. I love Chinese New Year very much.
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