Introduction
Hello all, hope all of you are doing fine. It's been a good 15 days of celebration for Chinese New Year as we brought a close today on the 15th day.
15 Days of Celebration
It had been a jammed packed 15 days as I have been involve in numerous events across Singapore, covering event photography for multiple Chinese New Year celebrations.
It is a real joy to be part of these celebrations because it allows me to busk in the celebratory mood of the festival.
Over the years, people have said that the celebrations of Chinese New Year had dwindled down as compared to the past. But having involved in these celebrations in neighbourhoods across Singapore, I beg to differ as there are many individuals organizing celebrations to engage the community and bringing everyone closer.
If we look at how celebrations are going here at the event that I covered just over the weekend, everyone came down dressing in red and all ready to dap in the festivities and to gain some "luck" from taking pictures with the God of Fortune and also cheering to the acrobatic moves of the lion dancers.
Clashing of symbols and loud drums filled the event hall as the lion dancers performed and bring extra luck and fortune to the people whom attended the event. While there are so many different lion dance that I viewed, we cannot deny the hours put in by the performers to strengthen their physique and training with their partner to coordinate the moves so as to ensure they give the best performance.
And the highlight of every Chinese New Year celebration that I cover will be the tossing of Lou Hei, which essentially is representing the tossing of good luck. The ingredients include a nice portion of vegetables such as carrots, various sauces, raw fish and crackers, of which every single one of the ingredient symbolizes something in good luck. This is the segment where everyone will shout something auspicious as they toss the ingredients to the toss, the higher it is, the higher it "rises", which also symbolizes higher or more wealth.
On top of enjoying the Lou Hei together, there will always be toasting that will happen so that everyone will really busk in the good luck and festivities. And everyone will be shouting "Huat ah!" as they toast, cheering towards more wealth and prosperity.
Some might have commented such events are for the elder folks, but things are changing, I do see more people from younger generation coming into such events and celebrating together with the elderly of their community, bringing warmth to their neighbourhood. It is something that we need to see growing in the hearts of younger Singaporeans, coming together and carrying on the tradition so that these amazing customs will not be lost to time.
Before we start complaining that festivals are dying down and no longer the way they are in the past, why not bring your memories to reality, organize something for your community, volunteer and bring smiles to the people in your neighbourhood. Let's not rest on our laurels, continuing traditions require active work and everyone should be in it!
Closing
It was a great 15 days of celebration and reflection for me. We can definitely bring more to the community and be part of celebrations. Get involved, participate and things will celebrations that we remembered will once again be seen before our eyes.
Thank you for coming by and have a great day!
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