Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

Today, September 13, is Mid-Autumn Festival or what is popularly known in Malaysia as the Mooncake Festival or the Lantern Festival though not to be confused with the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the 1st Lunar month, i.e. the last day of the Chinese New Year celebration.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

This festival is one of the important festivals celebrated by ethnic Chinese all over the world. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Lunar Calendar. According to Wikipedia, it is also celebrated by the Korean and Vietnamese people.

Courtesy of Wikipedia

Here in Malaysia, Buddhist/Taoist families would make offerings to the Moon Goddess. Families would sit down to a hearty meal reflective of a wholesome family coming together. For more information on this Mid-Autumn Festival, you may want to check out Wikipedia.

So if you are celebrating, wherever you are, I wish you a Happy Mooncake Festival!

Courtesy of Travelchinaguide

Happy Chap Goh Meh - the last day of Chinese New Year

Like they say, all good things must come to an end.

Today is the final day of the 15-day Chinese New Year celebration which started on January 28. How time flies when you are having a good time, doesn't it? Yep, I hope you all had a wonderful time this year.

There's a name given to this day, the last of the 15th. It is known here as Chap Goh Meh, literally means the 15th day in the Hokkien and Teochew dialects. Duh!

Chinese merry-making and activities relating to all things Chinese New Year ends midnight tonight, ie, as of tomorrow, we move on into the Rooster year like normal days - no more Yee Sang (the speciality raw fish salad dish), no more hong pao (red envelopes), no more lavish dinners (at exorbitant prices, I might add), done with hosting and visiting relatives, New Year decorations can be taken down, the human exodus back to the city would have been completed (perhaps a week ago), life is back to normal, you know what I mean.

So here's wishing..

To round up the Chinese New Year celebration, families will gather once again for a final round of Chinese New Year dinner feast - of Yee Sang and all food synonymous with the CNY.

Oh yes, there's one activity that's related to this Chap Goh Meh and that is tossing oranges into a lake or a body of water. This is only meant for single ladies and is a tradition from the old days in China.

This tossing of oranges is done with the belief of hitching up with a good partner ending in wedded bliss. In these modern times, contact information is also spelled out on the orange. This activity begins as night falls. It's done on a large scale in the Klang Valley, Penang and Malacca. But of course it can be performed anywhere where there's a sizeable body of water. It's fun to watch. (The cleaning up the day after is something else though.)

Let me update this post with a short video of an orange-tossing event that took place last night at a lake at Taman Jaya.


Here's the article that goes with the video from The Star: Tossing fruits in hope of finding love

7th Day - Happy Birthday to Everyone!

Source: Wikipedia

Today, Feb 3, is the 7th day of the new year of the Rooster. And today is officially the beginning of Spring.

The 7th Day of the first month of the lunar year is known as the common man's birthday. In Mandarin it is termed “renri” (人日), while in Cantonese it is 'Yan Yat'. The belief is that everyone becomes one year older on this day. Yes, that's an egg on the Chinese calendar.

Chinese restaurants will be fully booked for dinner tonight. That's a norm. We are only at midway of the 15-day Chinese New Year celebration and dinner gatherings are still ongoing until the 15rh day.

Many people are back at work but many will only return to work on Monday taking extra days off stretching it to the weekend for an extended holiday.

Shopping malls are enjoying a good crowd with their Chinese New Year decorations of phoenixes and lanterns. Here are some nice Chinese New Year decorations in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya (i.e. the Klang Valley), and Penang courtesy of Says.com.

A majestic phoenix at Pavilion KL
Image via Instagram @ndrewsnowdon

The Curve's imperial setup features the gorgeous carvings of Chinese and dragons, embellished in brilliant gold and deep red
Image via The Curve, Mutiara Damansara Facebook

Sunway Pyramid turned their concourse into a multi-level shoplot of yesteryears, complete with Chinese signage and a gigantic rooster statue
Image via Instagram @andrew_movez

It's red lanterns galore at 1 Utama Shopping Centre with a grand centrepiece for special performances throughout the festive season
Image via 1 Utama Shopping Centre Facebook

A scenic sight greets shoppers at The Mines Shopping Mall as they step into a traditional Chinese garden, complete with classic Chinese huts and a garden pond
Image via The Mines Shopping Mall Facebook

In line with the spring festival, intricate lanterns and floral motifs line the pathways of Mid Valley Megamall's CNY attraction
Image via Instagram @nic_kn9ck

In Penang, Queensbay Mall sets Chinese New Year in a winter setting to simply glorious results.
Image via Queensbay Mall Facebook

Lush greenery and blooming flowers surround a 20-ft tall phoenix at Gurney Plaza
Image via Gurney Plaza Facebook

5th Day of Chinese New Year 2017 -Year of the Rooster

The night is still young, so they say, as today is just the 5th Day of the Chinese Lunar Year. We still have 10 more days of merry-making - of lo sang at dinners, of wining, of collecting/giving ang pows, of meeting up with friends and family, of card games and mahjong sessions, of visiting relatives near and far, and of just about everything else synonymous with this celebration of welcoming the new year.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful time, those of you who are celebrating this most important festival in the Chinese calendar.

Today is February 1. It is a public holiday for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan which means offices and government departments in these three FTs are closed which allows for an additional day for festivities of the new lunar year.

Streets of Kuala Lumpur are still not as congested as usual but at the malls it's a different story. People come from near and far (even as far away as from Penang) to KL to check out the malls to take in the elaborate decorations put up. A great place for selfies and wefies, no doubt.


Today, let's take a look at how Chinese New Year is celebrated in some other cities around the world. By the way, did you know that there are an estimated 50 million Overseas Chinese?. This is the number indicated by Wikipedia for the year 2012. Thailand has the highest number at close to 9.4 million. Malaysia comes in second at more than 6.6 million and next is United States at about 5 million.

In Yokohama, Japan: A Chinese lion dance troupe performs at a park in Chinatown to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

The dragon dance performance in a street parade to mark the Lunar New Year celebrations of the Year of the Rooster in Hong Kong on January 28, 2017. - AFP

The Chinese dragon performance during the first Lunar New Year celebrations in Lumpini Park in Bangkok on January 28, 2017. The Lunar New Year marks the start of the Year of the Rooster. - AFP

Participants dressed up as roosters hold Spanish flags as they perform during celebrations for the Chinese Lunar New Year, marking the year of the Rooster, in Madrid's district of Usera on January 28, 2017. - AFP

Members of the Chinese community perform on stage during the celebrations of the Chinese Lunar New Year on January 28, 2017 in Rome. This Lunar New Year marks the start of the Year of the Rooster. - AFP

Children perform a lion dance using cardboard boxes on a street in Manila's Chinatown on January 28, 2017. - AFP

Yangon, Myanmar: A fire breather blows flames as a troupe performs a traditional dragon dance during the first day of Chinese Lunar New Year

In Kuala Lumpur - A Lion dance troupe performing at the MCA Chinese New Year Open House at Wisma MCA in Jalan Ampang.

Children gathered around the lion dance troupe at the MCA Chinese New Year Open House at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur, on Thursday.  - AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

Again..

Image source: The Star

Lucky colours to wear in 2017 - Year of the Rooster

We touched on Auspicious Days to Start Work in the new lunar year in the previous post. Now, let's see what are the suggested colors to wear and use to enhance good fortune and well-being in the Year of the Rooster.

As with all things celebratory, red is the predominant color in Chinese culture, more so for Chinese New Year which falls on Jan 28, 2017. Red clothing (of course), red lanterns and decorative ornaments including red spring couplets that carry auspicious phrases, and not forgetting ang pows, those red envelopes with lucky money inside.

Besides red, purple has also been recommended in this Year of the Rooster.

In 2017, the Year Of The Fire Rooster, Hong Kong feng shui master Mak Ling Ling says everyone should use more red or purple colored items to create good fortune – it’s as simple as that she says.

Below is what the feng shui master shared in her video.

Birth signs that clash with Tai Sui (see footnote below) in this Year of the Rooster are Dog, Rabbit, Rat and Rooster.

Mak Ling Ling advised that those who offend or rather whose birth sign clashes with Tai Sui should use red or purple objects to attract luck and appease Tai Sui.

She suggests that you can

Watch the video..


If you want to get lucky in love, here are the master's tips..



Today is the 3rd Day of Chinese New Year. Read about the significance of the 3rd Day of Chinese New Year


* Tai Sui, also known as Grand Duke Jupiter or Grand Commander of the Year, is one of the most highly respected and feared deities in the Chinese belief system.

It is believed that if your Zodiac sign clashes with the Tai Sui (normally considered as offended him) for that lunar year, bad luck will befall you for the whole year, the whole lunar year, that is..

In order to have a good and peaceful year, one would need to pay one's respects to the Tai Sui. This is normally done in a temple. And at the end of the lunar year, those who have done this ritual will go back to the temple to thank him for what is normally referred to as 'pay back to Tai Sui' - sort of like thanking him for a smooth past year.

Dongzhi or the Winter Solstice Festival - 21 December 2016

Today, 21 December, 2016, is Winter solstice and for people of Chinese descent around the world, today is celebrated as what is known as Dongzhi or the 'Tung' Festival.

It marks "the arrival of winter") and this festival is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese community and other East Asians. This Winter Solstice or Dongzhi Festival is celebrated either on December 21 or 22 of each year. This year it falls on December 21, today.


Most mothers (as like mine too) would be cooking up a storm in the kitchen as this day is a time for a family to get together. It is also the last major Chinese festival of the year, the next one being the Chinese New Year. Incidentally Chinese New Year will be on Saturday, January 28.

Borrowing from Wikipedia on the Dongzhi Festival..

One activity that occurs during these get-togethers (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of tangyuan (湯圓) or balls of glutinous rice, which symbolize reunion.

Tangyuan

Tangyuan are made of glutinous rice flour and sometimes brightly coloured. Each family member receives at least one large tangyuan in addition to several small ones. The flour balls may be plain or stuffed. They are cooked in a sweet soup or savory broth with both the ball and the soup/broth served in one bowl. It is also often served with a mildly alcoholic unfiltered rice wine containing whole grains of glutinous rice (and often also Sweet Osmanthus flowers), called jiuniang - but this one is probably still practiced in China.

More about Dongzhi - courtesy of Bing..

In northern China, people typically eat dumplings on Dongzhi. Wikipedia has this to say about its origin..

It is said to have originated from Zhang Zhongjing in the Han Dynasty. On one cold winter day, he saw the poor suffering from chilblains on their ears. Feeling sympathetic, he ordered his apprentices to make dumplings with lamb and other ingredients, and distribute them among the poor to keep them warm, to keep their ears from getting chilblains. Since the dumplings were shaped like ears, Zhang named the dish "qùhán jiāoěr tāng" (祛寒嬌耳湯) or dumpling soup that expels the cold. From that time on, it has been a tradition to eat dumplings on the day of Dongzhi.


And more..
Old traditions also require people with the same surname or from the same clan to gather at their ancestral temples to worship on this day. There is always a grand reunion dinner following the sacrificial ceremony.

The festive food is also a reminder that celebrators are now a year older and should behave better in the coming year. Even today, many Chinese around the world, especially the elderly, still insist that one is "a year older" right after the Dongzhi celebration instead of waiting for the lunar new year.



Here in Kuala Lumpur, we are nowhere near winter, of course. It's a sunny day with blue skies today..

KL skyline in the distance. More and more highrise buildings are springing up downtown. It used to be just the PETRONAS Twin Towers and one or two blocks but look at it now, and more to come. The KL Tower is actually to the right of the twin towers covered from view by that tall tree.

I wish you all a Very Happy Dongzhi!

Courtesy of Google images

Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated today, 15 September, 2016

Today, September 15th, the Chinese community around the world celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival. This festival is also celebrated by the Vietnamese.

Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as Moon Festival, Mooncake Festival or in this part of the world (Malaysia and Singapore) also referred to as the Lantern Festival (though not to be confused with the other Lantern Festival celebrated on the 15th day of Chinese New Year).

Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th Month of the Lunar year.

The Mooncake Festival is one of a number of traditional Chinese festivals. Malaysians of Chinese descent make up about 25% of the population of Malaysia so Chinese festivals are observed here in keeping up with traditions.

Traditionally, the Mid-Autumn Festival is in celebration of the end of the harvest season. Ancient Chinese emperors worshiped the harvest moon on this day of the year (the Chinese lunar calendar), as they believed the practice would bring them a bountiful harvest the following year.

The custom of offering sacrifices to the moon originated from worshiping the moon goddess, and it was recorded that kings offered sacrifices to the moon in fall during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1045–770 BC).

The practice of moon worship is still practised today, in this day and age. Only the Chinese Buddhist/Taoist community here in Malaysia follow the custom. A table would be set up outdoors with offerings of fruits and snacks and mooncakes, of course, together with lighting of incense/joss-sticks and candles.

Offerings are actually made to a lunar deity, Chang'e, known as the Moon Goddess of Immortality. The myths associated with Chang'e explain the origin of moon worship during this day. One version of the story can be found on Wikipedia, as described in Lihui Yang's Handbook of Chinese Mythology.

After dinner, family members would continue the festivity with more eating, mooncakes being a must-have food item, naturally. Other foodstuff associated with this festival include the pomelo, small yams or taro and water caltrops or ling kok (in Cantonese).

Children will play with lanterns. The lantern, like the mooncake, is synonymous with the Mid-Autumn Festival which explains why this festival is also called Lantern Festival.

Lanterns are traditionally handmade with paper and bamboo strips and lit by a candle. However, lanterns have evolved over the years and contemporary versions are sometimes made of plastic, lit by a battery-operated bulb and feature cartoon characters though traditional animal shapes or the star-fruit are still available.

The tradition of eating mooncakes during the festival began in the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368), a dynasty ruled by the Mongols.

At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the Han people's resistance wanted to overthrow the rule of the Mongols, so they planned an uprising together. But they had no way to inform other Han people who wanted to join them of the time of the uprising without being discovered by the Mongols.

The military counselor of the Han people's resistance army, Liu Bowen, thought out a stratagem related to mooncakes. Liu Bowen asked his soldiers to write "uprising on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival" on slips of paper, put them in mooncakes, and then sell them to the other Han people.

When the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival came, a huge uprising broke out and the Han people succeeded.
Source: China Highlights

Here's wishing you a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

U is for the Unseen

U is for the Unseen.

This is the last week of the A to Z Challenge. Though it's been challenging trying to keep up, it has been an interesting journey these past three weeks, and which now takes us to the letter U.

I have no idea why the word Unseen popped up. Let's go with it then.

Do you believe in the Unseen? The paranormal type I mean.

The ethnic Chinese of Taoist/Buddhist faith, of which this writer is a part of, just the beginning of this month took part in the ritual of tomb-sweeping, i.e., visiting tombs of departed relatives with food, incense, and other related offerings including money and clothes used in the other world.

This is a yearly affair around this time of the year. If you have seen a Chinese Taoist/Buddhist cemetery you would realise that it's very unlike the Christian ones. Chinese cemeteries have that air of 'scariness', or maybe it's just me or maybe it's the culture of belief of the afterlife and ghosts that gives us that feeling that our cemeteries are eerie.

For that reason, I make it a point never to take pictures in a cemetery when I make that annual pilgrimage to my grandparents' graves.

Speaking of taking pictures, I know someone who inadvertently snapped a picture of a ghostly figure appearing next to his friend whose picture was being taken. This took place at a staircase in a popular shopping complex downtown. Not sure if he still has that shot in his phone. That was quite some years ago.

Personally, I haven't had any such encounter. Thank goodness for that. But my roommate at a hotel in Auckland (that's right, New Zealand) had the experience. She saw one the very first night itself. Maybe because 'she' knew my girlfriend saw her, she thought it was ok to 'harass' my girlfriend after that. And she did, on the last night (fourth night) of our stay in this 5-star hotel. We were staying in one of the hotel suites.

(Lesson here - should you see a spirit/ghost, do not maintain eye contact or never let it know that you saw it. Pretend you didn't know it's there. Chances are it will also ignore you.)


I only knew about my roommate's encounter when she told me about it on the morning of the fifth day while we were waiting for our cab to the airport. My friend was not scared one bit. Such a brave lady! I would have asked for a room-change.

Want me to go on?

At dawn of the last morning of our stay, i.e. the fifth morning, I noticed my girlfriend (we slept in separate beds) was groping as if searching for something under the pillow and the sheets. At breakfast, I asked her about it and she said 'someone took off my pullover'.

You see, she had her pullover over a cotton short-sleeved blouse when we retired for the night. But come morning the pullover had been taken off and she suspected the 'thing' did it. Then she revealed that she had seen her the very first night itself. She was writing a postcard to send home. That was about 2AM when she saw a ghostly figure in white with wet long hair coming out from the bathroom. Yikes!

Why wasn't she scared, I asked her. She said she wasn't because she had with her not one but two amulets that her mom gave her.

A little about amulets. Over here, amulets are a part of the Chinese Taoist/Buddhist belief system. They are usually issued from the temple and mostly through a temple medium. He (usually it's a he) goes into a trance in which his body is being taken over by the temple deity and then he hears out anyone with a problem who need a solution. Together with the solution or advice provided (conveyed through a translator) amulets are sometimes issued when the occasion warrants it. I have seen these trance sessions and even been chased once by a medium, but that's for another day.

Back to the hotel episode, here's a tip to ensure a good night's sleep in a 'foreign' environment.

The next time before you retire for the night in a hotel room or in any strange place, do one of the following methods (someone in the know shared) on how to ward off spirits for an undisturbed good night's sleep.

1. Place your footwear each facing opposing directions by your bed. (See images.)

2. Sleep in the nude.

3. Sleep with your underwear at the head of the bed.



Nos. 2 and 3 are probably more for men but I practice the first one all the time - usually more than one pair. Yes, even in Auckland that time. Which explains, you think?

I didn't share it with my roommate because I thought she might think that I was overly superstitious. But you try it the next time you travel. I know it guarantees me a good night's sleep every time. It would too, for you. Tell me about it when you get back.


Image source: Yahoo!

Good days to start work in 2015 after Chinese New Year

The Spring Festival or more commonly known in this part of the world as the Chinese New Year is just days away - 1st day of the 15-day celebration begins on the 19th.

Some would have already called it a year and have started their trip back to their hometown over the weekend. Some are still not sure when to commence work after the long holiday.

If you are someone who sort of is concerned about starting the new year on the right footing (who doesn't anyway), here's a guide on good days or auspicious dates to start work after Chinese New Year.

That chart below provides not only the dates but the best timing as well, together with info on which animal to avoid which day.

I don't have info for best colour(s) to wear this year but I remember reading that red is the colour this year but then again, red is THE colour for Chinese New Year. You won't go wrong wearing red, right down to the unmentionables. :D

Happy Chinese New Year of the Goat!


2015 开市或开工吉日系列 2015 Auspicious dates and time for work resumption after Chinese Lunar New Year holidays:

Source: Goodfengshui

Happy Dumpling Day 2014

Today is the 5th day of the 5th month of the Chinese Lunar calendar and which is also known as Duanwu (double 5th). Today is a commemorative day for the Chinese community as we celebrate Duanwu Festival which we refer to it here as Dumpling Day or Zongzi Festival, the food synonymous with this festival.

Source: Google
This festival is also referred to as the Dragonboat Festival. There is a legend attached to the (rice) dumplings and the dragonboat which you can read about on Wikipedia.

I'm writing about it here so as to have a record of it and to keep the tradition alive (for me at least) and, to wish you if you are celebrating this festival. Happy Duanwu Festival!

Last year, I included a traditional recipe on how to make savoury rice dumplings, if you're interested to try making dumplings. Last year, it was celebrated on June 12.

Hey look! A Google doodle..

Valentine's Day and Chap Goh Mei - Double Celebration today

Today is Valentine's Day, so Happy Valentine's to you..

Google commemorates Valentine's Day 2014 with this interactive doodle..

Today is also a day of celebration for the Chinese community. After the past 14 days of festivities and merry-making ushering in the new year, all that will end tonight on this 15th day of the new lunar year.

In the Teochew and Fujian communities, it is called Chap Goh Meh which literally translates to "15th night". It is also known as Lantern Festival though not to be confused with that of the Mooncake Festival celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month.

So Happy Chap Goh Meh to you..

Today, also being known as the Chinese Valentine's Day, tradition holds that this is the night where maidens go to the river or lake to toss oranges with the hope of getting hitched. In contemporary times, technology advancement has notched it up a little where you'd find oranges bearing contact information. Oh yes, here in Malaysia it is still practised. If you are in the Klang Valley, head on over to the lake in Petaling Jaya (near A&W I think) and if you are in Penang, the Esplanade is the place to catch the oranges.

Gong Xi Fa Cai again and may the Year of the Horse be a better year for you! (The Year of the Horse is from Jan 31, 2014, to Feb 18, 2015. The Year of the Goat takes over on Feb 19, 2015, a Thursday, another Fire element year.)


** Friday Frolics comes on next..

Lucky Colours for 2014

Today is the 6th day of Chinese New Year and some of us are already back at work, me included. Hopefully we've picked the auspicious day to start the year right in this new Year of the Horse, the Wood Horse, that is.

Being a year with more wood element this year, thus a Wood Horse year, according to Feng Shui, some colours may be better than others to enhance our luck or personal well-being.

In 2014, being the year of the Wood Horse, the most influential colour is green, said feng shui expert Kenny Hoo.

We can reap the benefits of using colours. To create good qi, Hoo said, wear green clothes or use products that are green in colour. It is also a good colour for your house or product packaging or branding.

Check out what he says about Lucky shades

Individuals born from Feb 4 to May 4 should use more Metal and Earth colours like white and silver, yellow and brown.

For those whose birthdays fall between May 5 and Aug 7, use more blue to enhance your qi.

Those born between Aug 8 and Nov 7 should incorporate more green.

These individuals are very lucky this year because the Wood element is very strong.

“When the Wood Horse year takes effect from Feb 4, you will feel energised. Everything will fall into place. Even money will come your way easily,”

The lucky colour for those born from Nov 8 to Feb 3 is red.


Being a Feng Shui ambassador for Dulux Malaysia, Hoo also has tips on Ideal hues for the different sectors of the home in his Colour yourself lucky article in The Star, if you are interested.

Kuala Lumpur streets during Chinese New Year

Here's Kuala Lumpur for you yesterday - devoid of traffic jams. If not for the iconic Petronas Twin Towers you wouldn't know it's KL unless you can recognise the KL Tower which is on far left.

Source: The Star
The article in The Star says driving through the city was such a breeze and I can imagine that.

I've been asked whether shops are open during Chinese New Year. Oh yes, KL is open every day of the year including major festivals. However, if you are looking to visit Chinatown during the Chinese New Year you might be disappointed because most, if not all, of the shops run by the Chinese community would be closed for business and remain closed for the next few days. Elsewhere in the city, shops are open including fastfood outlets and shopping complexes.  By the way, 2014 is Visit Malaysia Year, so what better time than to visit Malaysia this year!

2014 Chinese New Year greetings - Gong Xi Fa Cai

Today is 31 January, 2014.  It is also Chinese New Year or also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year, a festival which is celebrated for fifteen whole days and today is the first day of the celebration.

In reality, the Chinese New Year festival starts with the Reunion dinner on the eve of the festival, in which family members from far and wide travel miles to return home to reunite with each other.

This new year is the year of the Wooden Fire Horse and from the many sources that I came across, this year promises to be a good year generally, better than the last. Being of the wood element, good colours to wear or use are green and brown. As for auspicious dates to start work in the new year you can check out an earlier post, 2014 Auspicious/Good Days to Start work in the Chinese New Year.

On this happy occasion of the Spring festival, let me wish you and your family..

Wait, there's more..

Source: Google
Happy Lunar New Year, everyone! May the new year bring you much happiness, good health and prosperity!