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Sunday, January 11, 2009
Amidst the capitalism and commercialism, what does Chinese New Year mean to us? Red Packets, buying and wearing new clothes, seeing close and distant family members (be it willingly or grudgingly), bah kwa, pineapple tarts, F&N Orange, having a few days off work, catching up with friends and chillaxing after the stressful visitings.
But looking back to thousands of years ago, Chinese New Year is the celebration of the arrival of Spring. Hence spring cleaning (cue in series of distressed moans).
Almost like a revelation. I knew that. I merely forgot it.
In another 50 years, I wonder what the essence of Chinese New Year will be. Will people remember that it's a celebration of Spring? Of the surviving of another frosty angry winter? Well, in ancient times, in ancient China, it was. Clearly not in tropical Singapore, where even the monsoon disappoints with its cool windy nights and sultry balmy days and threateningly dark skies that clear away like a noisy puppy's harmless incessant barking.
Let's not lose sight of the real essence of things amidst this capitalist turmoil.
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