festive
1:14 AM
We lament that the Lunar New Year celebrations wane a little more year by year, that the festivities die down and quieten as we grow older.
I remember the excitement in the atmosphere whenever Chinese New Year came around the corner. I remember the new clothes my mom bought for me (much to my dismay, because I hated dresses and skirts) after weeks of prowling in shopping malls. I remember my seven aunties and uncles and their families streaming into our house on New Year's Eve, with my grandparents coming in last (the grand entrance). I remember the my cousins and I sitting at a separate table with our domestic helpers pushing mouthfuls of food into our mouths and noisy babies wailing because of the chirpy atmosphere.
We skipped a couple of Chinese New Years because my family flitted between Jakarta and Singapore. Trust me, my grandmother was not happy.
Then we were home but we've grown older: I remember that awkward period -- when you're too old to play with the kids (pfffft), but too young to join the adults or older cousins in their conversations. We've all gone through that haven't we?
And now, it's safe to say I've settled in pretty well. Gone were the days of chasing my cousins around the house on the cool marbled floor. Gone were the gawkish periods of what-should-I-say-to-this-aunty or how-do-I-address-this-uncle. So many things have changed, we've lost some extended family but gained quite a few new members.
I like how we come together during this festive period. That doesn't change, not really. I wish it really lasted all 15 days though. My relatives, both maternal and paternal, are scattered all over the island and the only time we really come together for a good, hearty meal, is of course during the Lunar New Year. We don't say much, except the usual summaries of lives and the long reminisce of the past -- these stay golden.
We usually have the same routine every year -- these two houses on the first day, another house on the second, a few more houses in the next two days.
This year's Eve was also the birthdays of my older brother and two other cousins (all double-digits). I spent the afternoon baking a two-layer cinnamon and mocha cake with buttercream frosting. I only wished our climate was more suited for frosting (they melt as soon as I slap them onto the cake!). And for a change this year, we had dinner with my maternal side of the family at a restaurant. It was an eight-dish meal complimented with dessert, and cake afterwards ;)
The tradition we have at home is to always kick things off with a family photo (and collecting red packets!). We usually have my grandma's specialities for lunch but she decided in the past few years that there was too much work involved. It's always nice to hear people vying to talk over one another at these gatherings. And at my dad's side, we have a new addition to the family! Baby Ruth is... more than 20 years younger than me.
Day two is usually a day of gambling and watching movie after movie on the big screen television. Sometimes the kids sneak off to watch a movie in the cinema. This year though Bren and I (didn't sneak off) headed to town. We both decided how unusual it was to be walking the streets of Orchard Road during Chinese New Year because most of the people we walked past were non-Chinese. Which further accentuates the misunderstanding that Bren might be... I don't know, non-Chinese perhaps? (I'm kidding hahahaha)
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