Karaoke music blasts through the speakers, the smell of delicious food
fills the house and messages on red paper decorated the walls.
Once again, it is Chinese New Year - the season of hope and happiness.
On
the eve, grandparents are constantly looking forward for all their children and
grandchildren to come home.
Since
all their children have move over to the town, no doubt, at this age, they are
afraid of loneliness.
They
always search for someone to accompany them.
"The
more, the merrier as we got together for our reunion dinner and celebrating
this festival with them," smiled the grandfather, Tan Hong Joo, 92 when he
mentioned.
"Every household prepares for the New Year, weeks before the day,"
said Lim Soo Kin, 51.
"It was extremely exciting and I could never wait until it was New
Year’s again.
"As this was the time I can get everything new, from top to bottom.”
"The festive mood begins to dispel the chill in the air."
 |
| Great-grandparents with their great-granddaughter- Emma. |
"Reminiscence the old days when I'm still a kid," explained
Tee Hui Kim, 83.
"There is no shopping mall.
"All the new clothes that we wore in the festival were sewed by our
parents.
"The style was consistent among all my six siblings.
"Somehow, people thought we were triplets or twins.
"As being the youngest in the family, I have no choice but always
wearing hand-me-downs from my elder sister," she said.”
"Chinese New Year is perhaps the most exciting part of the event.
"The table lades with delicious food such as chicken, fish, duck,
and pork.
"My eyes grow large and my stomach growls as I stare at the food!"
said Tan Siew Hong, 65.
 |
| The four generation. |
"During the old days, these foods are not affordable," explained by Tan Siew Kuan, now in her sixties.
"This episode reminded me that during our childhood, everyone will only
hunt for the drumstick when the chicken is ready to be served.
"You guys are just so lucky that these cooking can be eaten almost
every day," she continued.
"For
Hokkien people, the grand celebration will kick off on the ninth day, which is
the Thnee Kong Seh (Jade Emperor's birthday)," said Tan Kok Tong, 54. “
"It
was the most amazing night where relatives will gather in our home for dinner
and children will play fireworks till midnight.
"I
love my grandmother's cooking, the variety of taste which I can't get back from
memories.
"Plenty
of foods will be prepared such as the whole roasted pork meat, mee shua
(noodles represent long life) to honor the Jade Emperor," he recalls.”
 |
| Emma excited to celebrate CNY with her great-grandaunts. |
He explains, "This celebration plays a significant role because the Hokkiens believe that our ancestors from the Fujian province in China survived persecution from Sung Dynasty soldiers by hiding in a sugar cane.
"Therefore,
the must-haves were sugar cane stalks.
"This
traditional celebration of Jade Emperor is for the next generation to remember
the story behind."
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