Time flies…those days when I was younger (not too long ago though :P) CNY was the best time of the year…1 month before this festival arrives, the young ones will be very excited because we get to have new clothes, new shoes, play firecrackers and most of all…the ang pows!!!
Those days my family and 7th uncle’s family stayed with my grandparents…so, when CNY was near my mom and 7th aunty would be busy cleaning and cooking while our dads were busy cleaning their cars and repairing any electrical items which were spoilt for some time…nobody would care until CNY and suddenly time seems too short for everyone. Well, what we the young ones do? Of course, we need to pretend helping our parents (let’s just say if we really did, they will have more to clean up…hahaha…) I remember, we looked forward to night…it’s firecracker time! We used to gather a few cans and fire them everywhere. Whoever managed to have the loudest blast would seem to be the winner!
On the 1st day, all the young ones would be dressed up like ‘super models’…even if our shoes were hurting our feet, we would never complain…as early as 8am, my Ye Ye’s house would turn into a busy ‘market’ as all the Wong’s would return home. Everyone had to queue to pour tea and wish Ye Ye and Ma Ma with the best wishes…then it would be from the eldest to the youngest…the whole house were filled with laughter and joy…all arguments and grudges which they had were forgotten on this day…the children were compared on their heights while some were busy showing of their new baju and ehem, jewellery…
Our family moved out eventually and these CNY routines only lasted for another year or so. Ma Ma was sent to an old folks home since she needed medical care 24 hrs…she left a couple of years thereafter and it was then Ye Ye’s turn to be sent to an old folks home…I never understand why but I never dare to ask…
Since then Ye Ye’s house had never been the same…CNY had changed…instead of gathering in a common place, we started to visit every of my dad’s siblings’ home. There were 4 of them…if each house we need about 2 hours, we would need 8 hours to complete…so, we have to start early. My dad would wake us up early because we have to eat before we start visiting…waking up early is already torturing – worst was asking me to eat rice that early…sigh…I hate eating rice when the sun is only starting to shine!
By the time we finished all 4 houses, my mom, bro and myself were practically ‘half-dead’ while my dad, half drunk. By night, dinner was simple comparing the night before when we had reunion dinner…and the dishes…well, there were the same – the only different is lesser portion…
Our 1st day doesn’t stop at dinner. We have to make our way to Ulu Kelang to visit my mom’s aunty. Usually we arrived at 930pm and everyone in Yee Poh’s house was already half ‘partying’ with mahjong and drinking…at that age, I was too young for mahjong and drinking…what we do? Well, either we sit by the side of the mahjong table and hand over drinks to the players or sit with dad and Yee Kong to hear them cursing at politicians in the country and in their office…both choices were great for me…else I won’t know how to play mahjong neither would I know that in any generation of mankind, politicians are mostly sucks – whether they are working for the country or those in our office!
2nd day, yet again my dad would wake us early to ‘hoi lin’…again is about having rice…sigh, who the heck created such culture!!! Later on that day, it’s my dad’s turn to receive his siblings and other relatives…although I was made into “Ah Sei” for the day…I was proud of my part time role as a ‘bar waitress’…hmmm, I guess the alcoholic gene is in me because I love to pour beer…and pour beer and pour beer and pour beer…seeing my relative and cousins in my home, I feel the special warmth where 364 days were missing…
Well, I am not sure about other family. Although it has been a routine for every CNY on whom we visit or who would be coming…and as the years gone by…some of my family members have ‘left’…we also have ‘additional’ members along the way - somehow the topic of conversation has never change…best is we never grow tired of the same questions neither are we annoyed in answering them…hahahaha
Now, my dad is no longer around to wake us early and we do not need to eat rice that early…again CNY has changed…
I guess as we grow, the feel and the way we celebrate CNY will somehow change…these days when CNY is near, we confess that we ‘lost’ the feel we used to have…I wonder whether this ‘feel’ will return when our life changes to another stage i.e. when we have children and that they are old enough to understand this festival…then would it be like when I was young and were in Ye Ye’s house…I wonder…
“Gong Hei Fatt Choy” “Chook Lei Lin Lin Yau Kam Yat, Sui Sui Yau Kam Chiu” “Chook Fook Lei Loong Ma Ching San, Po Po Kow Sing, Wang Choy Chow Sau” “Chook Lei Sam Seong Si Seng”
Those days my family and 7th uncle’s family stayed with my grandparents…so, when CNY was near my mom and 7th aunty would be busy cleaning and cooking while our dads were busy cleaning their cars and repairing any electrical items which were spoilt for some time…nobody would care until CNY and suddenly time seems too short for everyone. Well, what we the young ones do? Of course, we need to pretend helping our parents (let’s just say if we really did, they will have more to clean up…hahaha…) I remember, we looked forward to night…it’s firecracker time! We used to gather a few cans and fire them everywhere. Whoever managed to have the loudest blast would seem to be the winner!
On the 1st day, all the young ones would be dressed up like ‘super models’…even if our shoes were hurting our feet, we would never complain…as early as 8am, my Ye Ye’s house would turn into a busy ‘market’ as all the Wong’s would return home. Everyone had to queue to pour tea and wish Ye Ye and Ma Ma with the best wishes…then it would be from the eldest to the youngest…the whole house were filled with laughter and joy…all arguments and grudges which they had were forgotten on this day…the children were compared on their heights while some were busy showing of their new baju and ehem, jewellery…
Our family moved out eventually and these CNY routines only lasted for another year or so. Ma Ma was sent to an old folks home since she needed medical care 24 hrs…she left a couple of years thereafter and it was then Ye Ye’s turn to be sent to an old folks home…I never understand why but I never dare to ask…
Since then Ye Ye’s house had never been the same…CNY had changed…instead of gathering in a common place, we started to visit every of my dad’s siblings’ home. There were 4 of them…if each house we need about 2 hours, we would need 8 hours to complete…so, we have to start early. My dad would wake us up early because we have to eat before we start visiting…waking up early is already torturing – worst was asking me to eat rice that early…sigh…I hate eating rice when the sun is only starting to shine!
By the time we finished all 4 houses, my mom, bro and myself were practically ‘half-dead’ while my dad, half drunk. By night, dinner was simple comparing the night before when we had reunion dinner…and the dishes…well, there were the same – the only different is lesser portion…
Our 1st day doesn’t stop at dinner. We have to make our way to Ulu Kelang to visit my mom’s aunty. Usually we arrived at 930pm and everyone in Yee Poh’s house was already half ‘partying’ with mahjong and drinking…at that age, I was too young for mahjong and drinking…what we do? Well, either we sit by the side of the mahjong table and hand over drinks to the players or sit with dad and Yee Kong to hear them cursing at politicians in the country and in their office…both choices were great for me…else I won’t know how to play mahjong neither would I know that in any generation of mankind, politicians are mostly sucks – whether they are working for the country or those in our office!
2nd day, yet again my dad would wake us early to ‘hoi lin’…again is about having rice…sigh, who the heck created such culture!!! Later on that day, it’s my dad’s turn to receive his siblings and other relatives…although I was made into “Ah Sei” for the day…I was proud of my part time role as a ‘bar waitress’…hmmm, I guess the alcoholic gene is in me because I love to pour beer…and pour beer and pour beer and pour beer…seeing my relative and cousins in my home, I feel the special warmth where 364 days were missing…
Well, I am not sure about other family. Although it has been a routine for every CNY on whom we visit or who would be coming…and as the years gone by…some of my family members have ‘left’…we also have ‘additional’ members along the way - somehow the topic of conversation has never change…best is we never grow tired of the same questions neither are we annoyed in answering them…hahahaha
Now, my dad is no longer around to wake us early and we do not need to eat rice that early…again CNY has changed…
I guess as we grow, the feel and the way we celebrate CNY will somehow change…these days when CNY is near, we confess that we ‘lost’ the feel we used to have…I wonder whether this ‘feel’ will return when our life changes to another stage i.e. when we have children and that they are old enough to understand this festival…then would it be like when I was young and were in Ye Ye’s house…I wonder…
“Gong Hei Fatt Choy” “Chook Lei Lin Lin Yau Kam Yat, Sui Sui Yau Kam Chiu” “Chook Fook Lei Loong Ma Ching San, Po Po Kow Sing, Wang Choy Chow Sau” “Chook Lei Sam Seong Si Seng”
3 comments:
The feel of CNY will only come back when..government suddenly open their stupid eyes to have the firecracker legalize again..of course, for me...will be as soon as my uncles and aunties stop their fight and forgive each of everyone...and make the youngsters to come back for eve dinner NO MATTER how many BF or GF they are busying with!
=.="
instead of waiting others to change..we, ourself can make a change n bring back the atmosphere of CNY..let's work at it.. :)
Discuss with how bad is the situation is when we meet up...Is not even within our control, as we are just KIDS in their POV.
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