It is Christmas day! So, did you go for the countdown party last night?! I did not, I was just staying at home to celebrate the Christmas of 2010. There was fireworks displayed here and I could hear firecracker from the neighbourhood.
This reminds me when I was celebrating the Christmas in Sydney, Australia when I was 10 year-old. In that year, I visited to Sydney and have met some Christian friends. So, on the Christmas day, they invited my mother and I to their Church for the celebration. After that, we went to the friend's house for dinner. I recalled that I was playing with other children with the fireworks after the meals. I was happy about it as it was my first Christmas in overseas.
I always have a wish that I would like to have White Christmas since then. The reason is White Christmas is beautiful and it is only the real atmosphere of the Christmas. Well, this is just my own thought. So, I am always looking forward for it. However, during my school days, I could not go to overseas for Christmas due to I am not come from a wealthy family as I could not afford to travel overseas.
When I started to work, I managed to have savings and I was thinking that I would able to achieve my White Christmas dream. However, I could not do so. This is due to I was required to stay for the year-end closing for my work. Moreover, my colleague is a Catholic, and she is having her Christmas holidays as I required to back-up for her works. Thus, I was not allowed to take leaves for the month of December. :(
After I resigned from my work, again I could not have White Christmas in this year. This is due to my health problem as I have to stay from the crowded area for the moment. Thus, I am staying at home for my Christmas this year. Well, I wish that I will have my White Christmas in next year.
Anyway, it's Christmas. Have a blessed Christmas, everyone. May we all get to spend quality time with our loved ones and express our love for them. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! :)
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year !!! ^.^
Hello there! Today is Christmas Eve. It is going to be the Christmas in less than 6 hours time. I would like to wish all of you to have a Happy and Merry Christmas! Happy New Year & HAPPY 2011!!!
Ho Ho Ho! Santa is coming to town. Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle all the way!!!
Ho Ho Ho! Santa is coming to town. Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle all the way!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
HAPPY 2011 !!!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Happy Dong Zhi!!! 冬至快乐!!!
Today is 22/12/2010, it is the Dong Zhi or Winter Solstice Festival (冬至).
Have you taken the tangyuan yet? Well, I did. I eaten the tangyuan since last night. I even took tangyan as my breakfast this morning. It was delicious as it was cooked by my mother for our family.
I am wishing all the Chinese to have a HAPPY DONG ZHI 冬至快乐!!!
Have you taken the tangyuan yet? Well, I did. I eaten the tangyuan since last night. I even took tangyan as my breakfast this morning. It was delicious as it was cooked by my mother for our family.
I am wishing all the Chinese to have a HAPPY DONG ZHI 冬至快乐!!!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
DongZhi Festival 冬至
The DongZhi Festival of year 2010 is coming in less than 6 hours. The Dōngzhì Festival or Winter Solstice Festival (冬至 pronounced as Dōngzhì; literally "the Extreme of Winter") is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese on or around December 22 every year when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest. In fact, the Dongzhi Festival is the most important Chinese festival celebration.
The origins of this festival can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in. The philosophical significance of this is symbolized by the I Ching hexagram fù (復, "Returning").
Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get together (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of tangyuan (汤圆) or balls of glutinous rice, which symbolize reunion. Tangyuan are made of glutinous rice flour and sometimes brightly coloured. Each family member receives at least one large tangyuan in addition to several small ones. The flour balls may be plain or stuffed. They are cooked in a sweet soup or savoury broth with both the ball and the soup/broth served in one bowl. It is also often served with a mildly alcoholic unfiltered rice wine containing whole grains of glutinous rice (and often also Sweet Osmanthus flowers), called jiuniang.
However, in northern China, people typically eat dumplings instead of tangyuan on Dongzhi. It is said to have originated from Zhang Zhongjing in the Han Dynasty. So, it is a difference between the northern and southern China even though all are Chinese.
Old traditions also require people with the same surname or from the same clan to gather at their ancestral temples to worship on this day. There is always a grand reunion dinner following the sacrificial ceremony. The festive food is also a reminder that we are now a year older and should behave better in the coming year. Even today, many Chinese around the world, especially the elderly, still insist that one is "a year older" right after the Dongzhi celebration instead of waiting for the Chinese New Year.
So, let us take a look of the different types of tangyuan available.
My favourite tangyuan is the picture above that fills with the peanuts. Yummy!!! :P OK, I want to wish all the Chinese a HAPPY DONGZHI FESTIVAL!!! 冬至快乐!!!
The origins of this festival can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in. The philosophical significance of this is symbolized by the I Ching hexagram fù (復, "Returning").
Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get together (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of tangyuan (汤圆) or balls of glutinous rice, which symbolize reunion. Tangyuan are made of glutinous rice flour and sometimes brightly coloured. Each family member receives at least one large tangyuan in addition to several small ones. The flour balls may be plain or stuffed. They are cooked in a sweet soup or savoury broth with both the ball and the soup/broth served in one bowl. It is also often served with a mildly alcoholic unfiltered rice wine containing whole grains of glutinous rice (and often also Sweet Osmanthus flowers), called jiuniang.
However, in northern China, people typically eat dumplings instead of tangyuan on Dongzhi. It is said to have originated from Zhang Zhongjing in the Han Dynasty. So, it is a difference between the northern and southern China even though all are Chinese.
Old traditions also require people with the same surname or from the same clan to gather at their ancestral temples to worship on this day. There is always a grand reunion dinner following the sacrificial ceremony. The festive food is also a reminder that we are now a year older and should behave better in the coming year. Even today, many Chinese around the world, especially the elderly, still insist that one is "a year older" right after the Dongzhi celebration instead of waiting for the Chinese New Year.
So, let us take a look of the different types of tangyuan available.
My favourite tangyuan is the picture above that fills with the peanuts. Yummy!!! :P OK, I want to wish all the Chinese a HAPPY DONGZHI FESTIVAL!!! 冬至快乐!!!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Rain Storm / Snow Storm
It is raining again. It is raining here everyday in this whole week. Moreover the rain is very heavily too. If there is no raining, it would be having nice breeze. I am kind of enjoying these nice breeze, as it makes me feel 'refresh'.
However, if it was raining too heavily, there were thunderstorm and lightning. But I do not want to make any complaints on these thunderstorm. This is due to I am staying with my family as I do not need to travel anywhere to meet my family. As compared to those people in Europe, they are having snow storm, eg. in England, Germany. The people cannot go back to their hometown or origin country as the flights have been cancelled due to the snow storm. Moreover, as the festive season is approaching soon, I believe they are eager to go back to meet their family. Thus, I am feeling sorry for those people who are suffering now. I wish all these storms can over soon so that the people can meet their family on the festive season.
Now, I pray for all those bad things would over soon and all the people to have a happy holidays. Peace!!!
However, if it was raining too heavily, there were thunderstorm and lightning. But I do not want to make any complaints on these thunderstorm. This is due to I am staying with my family as I do not need to travel anywhere to meet my family. As compared to those people in Europe, they are having snow storm, eg. in England, Germany. The people cannot go back to their hometown or origin country as the flights have been cancelled due to the snow storm. Moreover, as the festive season is approaching soon, I believe they are eager to go back to meet their family. Thus, I am feeling sorry for those people who are suffering now. I wish all these storms can over soon so that the people can meet their family on the festive season.
Now, I pray for all those bad things would over soon and all the people to have a happy holidays. Peace!!!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Christmas Shopping Spree
Time flies, it is the weekend again. Next Saturday will be the Christmas. I bet many people will go for the shopping spree for X'mas since it is YES (Year End Sales).
All the shopping complexes have decorated for the Christmas celebration. I have been to the Sunway Pyramid, Pavilion and IOI Mall. The Christmas decorations are beautiful respectively. Each of the shopping complex has its own theme for the Christmas decoration.
I recalled in my old office, my colleagues and I used to have decorations for the festive seasons, i.e. Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Deepavali and Christmas. The festive season that I like to decorate for is the Christmas. This is due to I think the Christmas accessories are beautiful. When I put or hanged the small accessories on the Christmas tree, I think they look beautiful. My colleagues and I were happily enjoying for the decorations after work.
Since I am not working now, I did not do the decorations of the festive season anymore, not even for my own house. But I will still enjoy the spirit of the festive season. I will enjoy the season holiday. So, let me wish you all in advance to have a very merry Christmas!!! Ho Ho Ho!!!
All the shopping complexes have decorated for the Christmas celebration. I have been to the Sunway Pyramid, Pavilion and IOI Mall. The Christmas decorations are beautiful respectively. Each of the shopping complex has its own theme for the Christmas decoration.
I recalled in my old office, my colleagues and I used to have decorations for the festive seasons, i.e. Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Deepavali and Christmas. The festive season that I like to decorate for is the Christmas. This is due to I think the Christmas accessories are beautiful. When I put or hanged the small accessories on the Christmas tree, I think they look beautiful. My colleagues and I were happily enjoying for the decorations after work.
Since I am not working now, I did not do the decorations of the festive season anymore, not even for my own house. But I will still enjoy the spirit of the festive season. I will enjoy the season holiday. So, let me wish you all in advance to have a very merry Christmas!!! Ho Ho Ho!!!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
My Little Niece has Returned Home
From my previous blog, I said that my little niece has went to her grandparent's house to stay over for some days. Well, she has came back home last night at around 9:15pm. Her grandparents have sent her back.
My little niece was looked very tired. It seems like she has grown taller since I did not see her for few days. I was wondering is she really has grown taller or I had seen wrongly. Haha! :P Anyway, she took a bowl of soup as her supper as given by my mother.
After that, she was telling us what had she done for those days at her grandparents house. She was telling that she and her cousin sister were playing 'Spy Game', watching TV, went for KFC, Nandos, followed her grandparents to the market, etc..
So, today, she is watching TV at home. Once my little niece has came back, my house becomes lively again. She was asking me if she is allowed to change the TV channel. Everything is back to normal once she has back home. I could hear her voice and I am glad to see her back.
My little niece was looked very tired. It seems like she has grown taller since I did not see her for few days. I was wondering is she really has grown taller or I had seen wrongly. Haha! :P Anyway, she took a bowl of soup as her supper as given by my mother.
After that, she was telling us what had she done for those days at her grandparents house. She was telling that she and her cousin sister were playing 'Spy Game', watching TV, went for KFC, Nandos, followed her grandparents to the market, etc..
So, today, she is watching TV at home. Once my little niece has came back, my house becomes lively again. She was asking me if she is allowed to change the TV channel. Everything is back to normal once she has back home. I could hear her voice and I am glad to see her back.
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