it is the time of the year.......

So now it has come, the festive of lion dance, fire crackers, ang pows, mah jong, cards, visiting, eating, drinking, and among all those, family.

Chinese New Year has sure evolved. Sure, there are still some elements that are not there already, probably due to the modernization of the society, or the integration of cultures. Say, for example. The existence of fire crackers is because of one mystique creature, in chinese we call it 'nian'. This creature terrorise the poor chinese folks in those old days in China. And fire crackers are used to scare this creature away. The fire crackers worked so well, the creature never come back again, and the people would then use this fire crackers like a celebration, a remembrance. So yeap, this somewhat the story behind the extentsive use of fire crackers during chinese new year. Yea, sure we are talking about safety issues when the government decided to ban one of our culture's 'things to do'. To me, it's stupid. But that's another story. Maybe one day I'll talk about it. Wahahhaah

Now let's talk about another one. Family. In the past, during this festive, families gather together and hang out, just have fun as a family. Now because of modernization, people actually needs those short skits, advertisments, etc. to remind them to go home! Family values have really drop here. So why do I say modernization? It is because of this, people go to those big cities to work. And somehow or rather, we do not go back. Some even left their old folks back home without even calling to wish them happy chinese new year. Hmm... Pastor's sermon was really relevant here. The fifth commandment: Honor your parents. What pastor said, honor them, help them where ever they are, buy gifts for them, things like that. But I think first thing first, go home and see them!

Chinese New Year has sure changed. It still does have some of it old elements there. But I guess it'll never be the same again. But however it has changed, it is still chinese new year, so folks, remember to honor your parents, share great quality time with your family, collect lots of ang pows, give lots of ang pows, and just have a great chinese new year! Xin Nian Kuai Le, Wan Shi Ru Yi, Nian Nian Xi Le, Shen Ti Jian Kang, Da Jia Gao Xin! Wahhahahahaa


*To those who know what I wrote in my final sentence, good for you! =D