Gong Xi Fa Cai 2020

It’s Lunar New Year today, and I started my day cleaning up the apartment. I’m a bit under the weather today so I couldn’t go out to watch the festivities near home. Luckily I’ve shot some photos of the pre-Lunar New Year decors a week ago in Singapore.

Last week over dessert, I asked my colleagues in Singapore what they do on this festive day. I found that a family dinner is a must, and oranges and ang paus (red envelopes filled with crisp dollars are given away. They also celebrate the day wearing new clothes and shoes. The festivities run for 15 days, and next week there was going to be a lion dance at the office grounds.

I asked them what the small orange tree at the lobby signified, and they said that tree is traditionally put up at building lobbies (it is quite pricey too). The colorful plants next to it symbolize wealth (gold) and good fortune (red). I had to touch them to see if they were real plants – they were!

Meanwhile here in Manila we at home enjoyed the Chinese Tikoy, given to us by our neighbor. My aunt cut it into pieces, dipped them in beaten egg, and fried them. Yum!

Peace and prosperity to all of you in 2020 and beyond! Gong Xi Fa Cai!