Chinese New Year (CNY)

Kung Hei Fat Choy! 

Melissa here.....Chris and I enjoyed our first Chinese New Year here in Singapore. The celebrations last for about 15 days and there we so many events around town that we could not possibly attend them all. But here are some highlights.....

Yuesheng with colleagues. We had a blast performing "Lo Hei" with new friends! 

Yúshēng” (鱼生, aka “Yee Sang” & “Yu Sang”), literally means “raw fish” in Chinese but since it sounds like Yúshēng (余升) which means an increase in abundance. Chinese living in Singapore & Malaysia (especially businessmen and working people) love to eat this dish during the Chinese New Year (CNY) season as it is a symbol of abundance, prosperity and good fortune. For those unfamiliar with this dish, it is an Asian-style salad with various shredded vegetables and served with assorted toppings, a sweet plum sauce and slices of raw fish (usually salmon sashimi or mackerel). Each ingredient added is well thought of because there is a corresponding auspicious greeting with it. Eating Yu Sheng during CNY is a cultural activity for Chinese living in Singapore and Malaysia, but not so much in other Chinese-populated countries such as Hong Kong, where the practice is almost unheard of. This may be due to the origins of the dish, which was created by 4 master chefs in a Singapore restaurant kitchen way back in 1964. Yu Sheng is one of those few local foods born and popularized in Singapore.

In a ceremony known as “lo hei” (Cantonese 撈起 or 捞起), families, friends and colleagues gather around the table.

1) Say 恭喜发财 and 万事如意 when putting down the Yu Sheng on the table.

2) Say the auspicious greeting for each ingredient as it is added to the plate.

Here is the corresponding CNY greeting of each ingredient:

- red items (carrot, red yam, red ginger): 鸿运当头
-green items (cucumber, green yam): 青春常驻
- white radish (daikon): 风生水起/步步高升
- pok chui crackers: 翩地黄金
- pomelo: 大吉大利
- cinnamon powder: 招财进宝
- Chinese 5-spice powder: 五福临门
- plum sauce: 甜甜蜜蜜
- crushed roasted peanuts: 金银满屋
- roasted sesame seeds: 生意兴隆
- olive oil: 多多油水
- white pepper powder: 招财进宝
- raw fish slices: 年年有余
- abalone slices: 年年包有余

3) When all the ingredients have been piled on the plate, then everyone, on cue, proceed to toss the shredded ingredients into the air with chopsticks while saying auspicious wishes (吉祥话 Jíxiáng Huà) out loud to mark the start of a prosperous new year. It’s believed that the higher you toss, the greater your fortune!

We had Harry (colleague's 10 yr old) translate the greetings for us.

Later we went to Chinatown to see the Lantern Light Up. After a fish spa (carp pedicure!), some shopping,  dinner at hawker stall and watching some mahjong, Chris and I walked around to see the lights. It was beautiful. The streets were lined with hundreds of silk horses and gold coins.

Fish spa....tickle tickle! 

mahjong

 

The next day went went down to Marina Bay to another CNY festival. Here we sampled sugarcane juice, rubbed the God of Fortune for good luck and went on a boat tour around the bay. 

God of Fortune. People were rubbing their dollars and lotto tickets against him and touching him for good luck.

Chris in the cabbage carriage. Cabbage is good luck too, this year!

Sugarcane juice. Not too sweet, but very refreshing on a hot day!

 When we got back from downtown, we took Jazzy on a walk to the Chinese Heritage Center and Garden, here on NTU campus. What a happy girl! 

Next CYN we hope to see a lion dance and to catch the fireworks. Here is to a great 2014! Happy and Prosperous Year of the Horse to ALL!