Come on and celebrate

Chai Shen Tao. Here comes God of Prosperity. Yeah, MacDonald also launched Prosperity burger too. Yes, Chinese New Year is here. Red is seen everywhere. The colour of prosperity. Funny thing is I don't feel properous (except my tummy that tells me that I'm rich in other areas) and I'm wondering, is it just me or I don't feel the mood of celebration? I'm not saying anything but I just don't feel like celebrating, however I feel good about the days of work leave though.

Back in the old days (I'm old you see) Chinese New Year was THE celebration that I wait for, year after year. Fire crackers of all types and sizes were found in almost every street corner and waited to be bought and I was the one buying. That time money has some value, more chunks in a note, than now. I usually bought about 100 bucks worth and it was ALOT at that time. By the end of the 15-day celebration, I would have used up about 4 boxes of 144 sticks of Moon Travellers along with other brands and types. I played the red firecrackers so much that I nearly blew my fingers off...several times. Will that deter me? Ha! I laugh at my mother...not in front of her at least. Ah yes, those were the days my friends. Sigh. (I noticed that I sigh alot too).

Ang pow was the second thing that I often look forward too during Chinese New Year. I have no idea that Ang Pow was the primary thing that everyone seek for during the festive season. Now I look at both my parents, it would the last thing I wanted them to do, to part with their money that they have saved for us kids. I'll never find the heart to ask from them but it is customary to take, sigh, I wish they have a rule saying that no adult above age 21 would be allowed to receive the ang pows. I wish but most people would say, try to get off your parents as much as possible (yup I met these people before) so that you don't have to pay so much. I can't. I just don't have the heart. How I wish I could pay them all in return but with my current pay, I could only pay slightly more than half of what the expenses incur in a month. Damn it! Why life can be so hard on the ones I cared for. Now I got to think of my future too. Another sigh.

Coming back to Chinese New Year, I look around and I see that the whole atmosphere is fading. Commercialism is high but the culture is fading...fast. The actual concept of celebrating is heading towards commercialism and lost its meaning of celebration of a New Year. Hope, family reunited, clearing of debts (a Chinese thingy - by new year, all debts should be cleared before the new year), etc. These and more have lost its meaning. Tradition is good but when the meaning is lost or no recognized then tradition would be lost, faded into history books.

Hmm....today is the New Year's Eve and a family gathering is often done and eat together. I looked at my setting in my own household, it is fading too. Just a few of us but tradition is tradition. Anyway, I got too much to say but I can't...my dinner is ready and my father beckons me to the table. Happy Chinese New year readers. Happy Chinese New Year.