*Fast backward, I remembered my 2 grandmothers and my mother were busy at the kitchen preparing for the important meal. There was no gas/electric cookers then. Cooking was done on a specially constructed cooking range of cement and mortar. Firewood or charcaol was used as fuel. Eating was at an elongated oval wooden table that could sit about a dozen people at the dinning room. There were Peranakan food as well as typical Hokkien cuisine. We had ayam curry. Eating chicken meat was a treat then as it was served only on a festival or a celebration. Adults had tea or brandy and the children drank Fromroz aerated water. We had no refrigerator. We bought a block of ice and then knocked it into pieces with a hammer. Pieces of ice was added to the drink to make it cold. Dinner was rather quiet as no one was supposed to talk while eating. After dinner it was different. There were so much noises with adult getting kaki to play mahjong or cards, and children got excited talking about ang pows.
Last night we had Chinese New Year's eve re-union dinner. There was a foreign lady with 2 kids. The two boys are my daughter's God sons. Nevertheless, they had to observed our tradition of wishing the Patriach happy new year. See their postures. We started with 'loh hei', tossing of fish salad and followed by yummy steam boat. Enjoy viewing the video below.
A very close friend who seldom missed our family gathering
My two daughters 'pai nien'. She observed the tradition of kneeling.
Lo Hei!
Cheers!!!
We had steam boat for a change
Kids and maids at another table
2 comments:
Looks like a very happy family dinner, Philip. :)
yes, I am blessed and I try to pass on the family values to my children. We have gatherings at an average of one and a half times a month. We celebrated the birthdays of 9 adults and 5 children, Chinese New Year 4 times and Christmas once a year. We have 3 venues for the gathering. They are at Salam Walk, Island View and Marine Terrace. If my eldest son and his family of 4 were living Singapore, the gatherings wouild be twice a month. The most important thing is that the sibblings must get together often. That depends on the patriarch of the houselhold to get them together. I pray that my children would continue with the tradition when I am gone.
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