From 6 to 12 yrs
I enjoyed every bit of Chinese New Year, cause I get new clothes, new shoes..most important big angpau from my Mom. She also cooks very good food and I remember I will help her to *pau* angpau for use during CNY. Then my neighbours will light up the firecrackers at midnite. It’s usually hung at the ciku tree….
From 13-18 yrs
I dread for every single Chinese New Year. I was staying with my step mother at that time, until 16yo. Every year we eat the same reunion dinner, no special recipe. She doesn’t give big ang pau like Mom does. And she doesn’t prepare all the praying stuff and cook *chai* for 1st Day of CNY. The worse is, she doesn’t go *pai lin* with Dad. She’ll just sit at home *mok kuaci* for the 15 days!!! What I hated most was I have to stay at home if my Dad doesn’t go *pai lin*, and I gotta see her face during the school break. I always wish that it will end very fast.
From 19-23 yrs
Can’t really recall what happened….as we grew older, we started to find reasons not to go to step mom house for reunion dinner. I moved to stay with my brother @ 16. I remember we told a lot white lies. We told Dad that we’re not going for dinner cause we are going to Uncle’s house (mother side uncle), but actual fact we never did go there. This is when I started to cook reunion dinner. Only 2 of us, so I started pretty small scale, trying to remember what Mom cook and copy her :). Though only 2 of us, but at least we enjoy our dinner. I remember when I was 23, I learned to cook *loh hon chai* from my then manager. We cook so much that it lasted for 2 days!!! But it was so tasty and well worth the time spent ;).
From 24-26 yrs
I’ve been reunioning with my then boyfriend’s family, now my hubby. They don’t really cook up a feast…but at least MIL cooks some good food, like abalone hehe…the atmosphere of CNY has somehow lost. Maybe because they are Christian family, so there isn’t any CNY songs, angpau packing or even watching the CNY eve Chinese Movie. Also because they stay in Taman Tun, there don’t seem to be much fireworks or firecrackers to be heard.
From 27-28 yrs
I’ve got Faythe with me to celebrate. Last year, she was still 1month+ old. Just sleeping while we all makan. This year, she’s a grown up toddler, parading her CNY baju (as per previous post). I hope I’ll have lots of fun with her during my 10 days off. I’m having open house 2 session this year, one for my school friends and one for my colleagues, but 90% of the time is for gambling hahaha…..I’m not a cards person, but I love mahjong…Daddy doesn’t like Mommy to gamble cause he says it’s not good, which I totally agree, but CNY mahjong session is a must and he allows that :). Nevertheless, the CNY atmosphere is not there. I didn’t deco the house much, cause FIL passed away and we are not supposed to celebrate. So I guess next year is when I can start to celebrate full force with more decos at home, if everything goes well.
Albeit all these ups and downs of CNY throughout the years….one which I look forward to every Chinese New Year is the McDonald’s Prosperity Burger.
I started eyeing on that when I was teenage, but didn’t have the chance to try it. When I started working, I became an instant lover of this burger. Packed with black peppery sauce, and a huge slice of beef…yum yum…it’s just so tantalising. Coupled with the curly fries and fizzy orange juice…it’s the perfect lunch for me when I’m working.
I still remember in 2003, I ate the burger like 2-3 times a week, until I got sore throat!!!…This year, I didn’t miss the golden chance. I’ve had 2 burgers so far, and I’m gonna eat it tomorrow hahaha…..PROSPERITY BURGER, HERE I COME!!!
It’s good to celeberate CNY with a toddler! More fun with them around.
I had my reunion dinner with PIL after married but still I’ve got the chance for reunion lunch with my parent every year. 🙂 But I still miss the CNY 1st day lon hon chai at my parent’s house (cook by me)coz MIL’s version is bit different. This year will cook again myself the lon hon chai!
I don’t take beef but have tried the chicken prosperity burger, the taste is so so only.
Happy Chinese New Year!
ya, everyone has got their stories for cny. like what i mentioned in my previous post, we will be going to karaoke pulak this year. very weird. cos PIL and MIL not here anymore, the 1st day we stay at home ant rot!!! no la, we go to hubby’s elder brother’s place but no food is serve one. just some biscuits and drinks… i miss my mom’s chai choy which she will cook every first day of cny…
CNY evolved huh for everybody throughout the years..
Like Jefferene, I don’t take beef.. the chic one taste mamatei. I remembered beef was better (I only started not taking red meat about 10yrs ago)..
Anyway, Happy Chinese New Year.
Btw, where did you get Faythe the CNY baju? Esp the samfu? So cute.
I miss my vege too during 1st day of CNY(after marry) as hubby side never practise it…well I’ll back to mum hse the same day to eat them..
Happy New Year ya…sure you’ll have fun with Faythe around..
hey….when i was pregnant last CNY, it actually brought hubs luck when he was the chongker! heheheh
Yummy. I love the prosperity burger too. Always eyeing on it during CNY. hehe
i felt so sentimental when i read your post.it may not be that ideal in the past but the future is bright.
for a start, you have lil Faythe to join in the celebration..not to forget, the lil life in you…he/she will add on the joy next year 🙂
HAPPY CHINESE YEAR & WIN LOTS OF $$$!!
Eh, don’t worry,while you play mahjong, surely I would come over & help you with the ‘chai’ & cookies!!!! Yay!
another mahjong kaki ah? Hooray!
expect me to drop by and sapu your cash on the table… LOL!
I was touched when I read your CNY flash backs..
Thank God now you have Faythe. Now, you can start your own tradional CNY celebrations, a memorable one with the family.
Happy Chinese New Year!
Sis,
thanks for sharing..The time when the both of us have reunion dinner without dad..well I will never forget those day, even though the 2 of us, at least I have a family to celerbrate with..
Sometime I wish mom was still around…when we try out mom CNY recipe & the Chai” Ohh yum Yum, wonder how we manage to cook a & copy mom version…HEy, wonder you be cooking CHai this y.r?
Counting down to come back K.L
to celerbrate CNY with you & fathye.
1 more day to go..
Happy Chinese New Year!!
i forgot to say…my hubby love Properity Burger too 🙂
erm..so this yeear got open house?? hehe..got invite blogger ar??
wahaha..
CNY is so much fun eh, especially when you can now bring Faythe around and pi nian and cook your chai for your family.
Hmmn, don’t think i ever try the prosperity burger, maybe should try huh. GONG XI, GONG XI!
jefferene: wah u also cooking loh hon chai hehe…yah, chicken taste so so only..beef better 🙂
mylittlechampion: hey why not u cook like ur mom’s veg oso
zara’s mama: got the baju from central market
jesslyn: make sure eat a lot eh 😛
mom2ashley: wahh really..so this year i better gamble kow kow 😛
sabrina: high five!!!
twolittlefellas: hehe just some old memories worthy to jot down
pummkin: yaya sure..give me a buzz when u come ok
egghead: u oso mahjong ah..where’s the last kaki?
milly: bloggers too many, if invite i pengsan liao lorr
contended mum: give it a try, sure u’ll love it 🙂