Reunion dinner @ CNY Eve

Well, as we already being informed, reunion dinner usually is held the night before a new year in Lunar calendar begins. It is the day where family members meet, eat, chat and laugh together. In ancient times, it is a 'pantang' for not attending the dinner. In modern days, it is not a must but advisable. Some even did not go back to their home town citing busy with their works, business or whatsoever reasons leaving behind their parents in 'kampung'. Remember the award winning Petronas tv commercial? It send a strong message to the youngsters not to forget about their parents who are waiting for their homecoming during this festive season.

As for my family, we had the reunion dinner on Thursday night. We had reunion dinner earlier each year ever since my sister (Jun Jun's mum) had married. She need to be on her husband side family for their reunion dinner. All of the above was my mum cooking including a kampung chicken delivered fresh from Kampung Bukit Tinggi, Pahang. For Chinese community in Malaysia, a new year will not be perfect with toasting yee sang. If not mistaken, this yee sang was originated from Malaysia. It consists of 7 different parts of vegetables and is mixed with slices of fresh fish. Do you know how to make a vegetarian yee sang? Click here for my post last year. After the reunion dinner, family members will wait the arrival of the first day of CNY. Parents will place a table at the entrance of the house which is covered with red wrappings. Then, they will put offerings and also other prayers item to greet the God of Fortune. Each year, the arrival of God of Fortune is different. So, you need to check the timing with the aunties to confirm the time as well as the direction of the prayers. Usually, during the prayers, crackers will be burnt to shoo away the bad lucks or spirits (if not mistaken) and to greet the God of Fortune. For typical Chinese, they won't care of being issued a summon letter but most importantly, they got the 'ong' or wealthiness from the prayers. In fact, things can be settle with an angpow to shoo away the policemen. It is the best time for them to 'cari makan' too. Usually, police patrol cars can be seen since 9-10 pm till the midnight of 1-2 am. This picture is freshly taken a moment ago during the prayers. I can feel the festive spirits as many burnt fire crackers. I guess it will be even more during cho 9.

That's the best shot. Taken from my house compound.

Finally, I took a brave move to post this picture. It was taken at Thean Hou temple and my friend force me to wear that. Check out my 'ong' hat and its tail. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my readers a Happy Chinese New Year. I had made the header above just for this festive season period. Hope it won't be so ugly as I do not know how to use photoshop, only know powerpoint. Once again,

1. For all my dear readers: TQ for your constant visiting and commenting. Love you guys so much.
2. For all $mile readers, may this year brings us more income$.
3. For non Chinese readers: Happy HoLIDayS!!

Tiger roars!! It's my year!! Gong Xi Fa Chai!!