16/02/2026

Nián Yè Fàn 年夜飯 Reunion Dinner 2026


A reunion dinner "Nián Yè Fàn" 年夜飯 (also known as Tuán Nián 團年 or Wéi Lú, 圍爐 meaning "gathering around the family hearth") is traditionally held on Chinese New Year's Eve during which family members gather for celebration. It is considered to be the most important part of the celebration and every family member is expected to return to their families. Traditionally, married couples will go the the man’s parental homes (and to the woman's parents on the second day of the festivities).

Reunion dinner is supposed to bring everyone in the family harmoniously together, but for some reasons or other, not following the tradition, is causing tensions among families. This is especially so if one is celebrating his/her reunion with his/her parents as well as with the in-laws. It is therefore not surprising that one would have reunion dinners on a different earlier dates and nowadays, some hold it a week or two before the actual day. By doing so, the traditionalists believe that the Chinese New Year's Eve Reunion Dinner is losing or has even lost its meaning and significance.

To keep up with the tradition that Chinese New Year's Eve Reunion Dinner should be held on its actual date, and that married couples should return to man's parental homes, many families are compromising in order to make everybody happy:
  • Eating reunion dinner twice, which means having the first dinner early, and then rushing off to do a second dinner by a certain time on the same actual day.
  • Alternating the dinners yearly, one year with parent and following year with in-laws.
    Posted by at
    Labels:

    14/02/2026

    Happy Valentine 2026

    7 Ideas To Make Your ‘Love Lockdown’ A Little Extra
    Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be less fun or romantic in the Covid-19 era

    With the lockdown and semi-lockdown still in place for many parts of the world, February 14 is going to look a little unconventional for many this year. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t do something a little different to show some appreciation for your loved one.

    Plus, Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year so the question is: Why not?

    Whether you're together or apart this Valentine’s Day, or if you want to do a little something special for yourself (because self-love is equally as important and Singles Awareness Day is the day after anyway), here are some stay-at-home ideas to break the monotony of lockdown and have something to look forward to:
    • Breakfast in Bed
    • Finders Keepers
    • Vlog your Valentine's Day
    • Let There Be Music
    • A Day of Firsts
    • Fine Dine In
    • Set Up Camp

    Posted by at
    Labels: ,

    01/02/2026

    Thaipusam 2026


    What is Thaipusam? Early morning prayers. Piercings. Pots of milk. A long procession. To those who aren’t familiar with the Hindu ritual of Thaipusam, it may seem a strange mix. It is, however, one of the more beautiful and spiritual religious rituals celebrated in Singapore – a festival steeped in ancient tradition.

    The two-day event is a thanksgiving festival celebrated by the Tamil people that involves asceticism and control over one’s senses. It’s held to honour Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war who represents virtue, youth and power – a deity revered for defeating a particularly nasty demon. Devotees seek blessings, fulfil vows and give thanks.

    The first day of Thaipusam, also known as the eve, sees a chariot procession starting from Tank Road at Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, a temple dedicated to Lord Murugan himself with 48 intricately etched glass panels angled to catch the light. The chariot takes Lord Murugan for a day’s visit to his brother Lord Vinayagar at Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple on Keong Saik Road. Along the route, he stops at several places, including Sri Mariamman temple on South Bridge Road (Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple, dating back to 1827). Here, he greets the goddess within, a manifestation of his mother. He then continues on to see his brother.

    read more
    Posted by at
    Labels:

    05/01/2026

    The 12th Day of Christmas 2026

    Peranakan Christmas
    TWELVE DAYS OF PERANAKAN CHRISTMAS

    Posted by at
    Labels: , ,

    31/12/2025

    New Year's Eve 2025

    https://msghit.com/en/f-chn?f=chin-chia-poor#

    What Does 'Auld Lang Syne' Really Mean?

    The grand finale to the holiday season, New Year's Eve, comes with watching the ball drop live and mixing up New Year's drinks, but of course there's also plenty of emotional reflection on the past year and the year ahead (we've got New Year's quotes for that!). While things may look very different this year, the traditional New Year's Eve song "Auld Lang Syne" will likely still find its way to your ears sometime during the holiday season as the world rings in 2021.

    Chances are, you've been part of a festive, heartfelt "Auld Lang Syne" singalong when someone breaks out New Year's songs, but do you know the real meaning behind the song? Here, a quick refresher on the traditional tune you'll hear on December 31:

    What does "Auld Lang Syne" mean? Originally written in a language called Scots, which is an ancient twist on English barely recognizable to modern-day English speakers, the phrase literally translates to "old long since," but has adopted a more fluid definition along the lines of "for old time's sake" or "the olden days."

    Where does "Auld Lang Syne" come from? The phrase technically dates from the 16th century (think 1580s—truly vintage), but was solely an oral tradition for the first few hundred years. It was not formally written down until around 1788, when the poet Robert Burns incorporated the phrase into one of his works. (Burns is the most commonly credited poet, though other names have appeared in various histories of the phrase.) He was so enamored with the phrase and its esteemed place in Scottish traditions that he submitted his poem to the Scots Musical Museum to preserve it forever.

    Posted by at
    Labels: ,
    Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)