I remember when I was young, CNY is all about wearing new clothes, shoes and receiving ang pows. Now, all grown-up with a family of my own, CNY is about catching up with family members and strengthening relationships (or re-newing strain ones), especially those whom I only meet once a year. Embracing it with good spirit, it is really a time to rejoice and appreciate one another; not about the reunion dinnner (or what is on the table) but making the effort to 'balik kampung' and ...
... to spend some time together. Memories like these will keep our relationships alive.
This year, all my siblings and their families were able to 'balik kampung' except for a brother who just left for overseas. We have been missing each other for a number of years and this year's celebration was amazing; there were 14 children and 16 adults (30 pax at one time). The children had so much fun together that they were reluctant to leave; my sister-in-law has to call out to her son a few times and he reluctantly went into the car.
An amazing time; in terms of family dynamics and sharing of stories. Hope we will have more amazing times ahead :)
30 pax sounds like my family's normal weekend dinner. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's always been about food and gambling and more food, which to us is our way of strengthening relationships.
Regards
Mark
http://earlychildcare.wordpress.com
It's good that your family members could meet up often for weekend makan.
ReplyDeleteNot so with mine. There is bound to be someone who is unavailable due to work or personal reason.
Well, actually, we used to meet up for more than makan.
ReplyDeleteThere used to be a lot of mahjong, for the older generation as well as the younger. But then too many egos got bruised after awhile, so the great tradition died down, to just the younger generation, and even that's begun to fade.
Regards
Mark
http://earlychildcare.wordpress.com