If there’s one community event that was memorable for us in SG50, it was Chingay 2015. So it is with great excitement when we knew we were invited to be part of Chingay 2016 again. Well, our expectations were surpassed in every way. Chingay 2016 is bigger, better with not one but a few fiery dragons to boot. There is even a huge 'balloon' dragon ‘gliding’ gracefully through the air and interacting with the crowds seating on the spectator stands at the F1 pit building. Chingay is not only … [Read more...]
Saving the CNY Festive Spirit with IKEA
Chinese New Year is one of the biggest festivals we celebrate in this part of the world. As a child, I used to look forward to the revelry of the occasion to play with my cousins and to feast on my late maternal Grandma's Foo-chow cooking. Before that happened, we youngsters have to help spring-clean the home as the adults zipped in and out between home and numerous shops trying to stock up the home with supplies for Chinese New Year. Fast forward many years down the road … [Read more...]
Traditional CNY Greetings & Goodies (Plus an Emicakes Giveaway!)
Chinese New Year 2016 will take place from February 8 to 22 this year. During the Lunar New Year period, it is a tradition for us Chinese to greet our family, friends and loved ones with auspicious sayings when we meet. Here are some we can teach our children: Popular Greetings for Monkey Year 2016 猴年吉祥 Hóu Nián Jí Xiáng | Have an auspicious Monkey year 猴年大吉 Hóu Nián Dà Jí | May you be extra lucky this Monkey year Common Greetings and Sayings for Chinese New … [Read more...]
More Books & Crafts to Welcome the Lunar New Year!
I shared a CNY book list in 2013 on resources available in our local National Libraries which we can read with our children to prepare for the Lunar New Year. I've found more titles to add to the list. Here are some of our picks: All titles available for loan at our National Libraries. 1. The Day the Dragon Danced. By Kay Haugaard; illustrated by Carolyn Reed Barritt. Call Number: English HAU Sugar and her Grandma are going to the Chinese New Year's Day parade, but Grandma is … [Read more...]
DIY AngBaos for Chinese New Year
We are still in bereavement and will not be celebrating Chinese New Year this year. But I'll like to share two easy Red Packet templates from the Timmy & Tammy series of Children's Books which you can DIY with your kids. It's simple, just download, print, cut and fold. And you'll have two very unique Red Packets which you can present to those you love. A good craft to keep the kids occupied tonight after the reunion dinner... Download here Download here We are avid supporters of local … [Read more...]
‘How to help your kids love Chinese’ – Reflections from a ‘Banana’ Dad
*Banana – a colloquial term to describe a Chinese who only appreciates Western customs thereby making him Yellow on the outside, white on the inside. “You don’t know Chinese? Why don’t you know Chinese? Aren’t you Chinese?” Ever have one of those statements haunt you for a long time? Well, mine is the question above which was hurled at my friends and I more than two decades ago when I was an undergraduate in Australia. You see, we were walking along one of the many beautifully tree-lined … [Read more...]
Glimpses of CNY 2014
I posted on Facebook that I'm a 'old-body' at heart. Of all the festivals, I look forward to Chinese New Year the most. The significance of spring cleaning, away with the old and welcoming of the new; the acts of giving home a new coat of paint, new light bulbs, new curtains, bedsheets and for family members, new sets of towels, clothes and shoes. These kept me busy in anticipation for weeks. But nothing rejuvenates me more than the coming together of loved ones - aunties, uncles, cousins, … [Read more...]
Festive Greetings to usher in the Year of the Horse!
Counting down to the arrival of the Lunar New Year. As we enter the last days of spring cleaning and getting our homes ready to welcome guests, here are '8' auspicious greetings our kids can use when they go visiting!骏马迎春,(jùn mǎ yíng chūn : As the handsome horse gallops to welcome Spring) 1. 祝你龙马精神(lóng mǎ jīng shén : we wish you great health & vitality) 2. 事事马到成功(mǎ dào chéng gōng : speedy sucess in all your endeavours)3. 金马玉堂(jīn mǎ yù táng : gold, silver … [Read more...]
Books & Crafts to welcome Lunar New Year!
With the arrival of the Lunar New Year in less than 4 days, why not soak in the festive mood and read some of these books from the National Library (NLB) with our kids? I was just informed that we have a new library at Chinatown which carries a wide range of books on the Chinese culture! I shall endeavour to check out the collection soon. All titles available for loan from our National Libraries. 1. Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin. Call Number: English 394.26 … [Read more...]