The year is 1970. There were no hand phones, no Internet and definitely, no Facebook.
Life is a routine – going to the farm and back in the evening for adults; for the children, it would be straight home from school to do homework and help with the house chores.
Meals are equally simple: some steamed vegetables with an egg, if preferred, and rice. This goes on throughout the year – until Chinese New Year.
“Chinese New Year was the highlight of the year for everyone," recalls Karen Tang, now in her fifties.
“It would only be a month away and already the festive mood would be buzzing among the townspeople.”
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| "Ba Kua" for sale! On the streets and in shops. |
Many Chinese families were not well to do at that time.
A large family, usually more than ten, including the parents, meant less for each person as the resources had to be share equally.
Still, Chinese New Year was a break from the usual routine and mundane life; it called for a celebration!
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| In-demand profession decades ago. |
Everyone on the streets talked about their preparations for the festival and housewives gossiped about where to get the best deals.
If they were not out doing New Year shopping, people would be at home cleaning their houses.
House cleaning is done daily, but is more thorough and frequent when the god of Prosperity’s visit is near.
Even for the poor, money was saved the entire year to give themselves a treat on this special occasion.
“We liked to drink the F&N orange juice. We only got to savor it during Chinese New Year, where there were dozens of bottles for us to indulge in, “explains Clifford Yeap, who is nearly 70.
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| Ink painting on walls - fashionable then and now. |
On the eve, reunion dinner was a must for every family.
Even the most lenient parent would insist their children and relatives be home to eat together.
And who would not want to?
Everything they couldn’t usually have on an ordinary day is there on the dinner table.
Chicken is a common must-have at reunion dinners.
At that time, chicken meat was considered a delicacy because of the high price it was sold at.
There are also Chinese sausages, sea cucumbers and for those who get their bonuses early, shark-fin’s soup.
“The food was not plentiful, but it’s more than what we usually eat on a daily basis, “says Tang.
There’s more to look forward to.
“We each get a set of new clothes," she continues.
“This is the only time we get new clothes.”
The new clothes are worn the following day when children greet their parents and receive their red packets.
Having done that, it’s off visiting relatives and friends scattered around the village.
“The whole village is on the move, “says Yeap.
“People would walk to and fro from their neighbors’ houses and bumping into each other on the road.”
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| A coveted decoration in many Chinese houses. |
For the two days of the Lunar New Year, all housework and farming stops.
It is a time to relax and enjoy each other’s company.
And what do they miss most about Chinese New Year in days gone by?
“The firecrackers,” Yeap promptly responded.
“We [the children] used to get together and play self-made firecrackers.
“We made them during the day and lighted them during the night.
“That is the only time we stayed up late, having fun together.”
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