Lichun The First Day of Spring

This week on 4th February 2010, we shall welcome Lichun, the first day of spring, ahead of the Lunar Chinese New Year which falls on 14th February 2010, also Valentine's Day.

The picture collage above has been composed of scanned images taken from red packets. These are some of the things we like to have or see during the festive season. In this entry of My World Tuesday, let me explain the meanings behind each picture.

Top row from left to right

1. The rectangular boxes is an example of a couplet we like to hang on both sides of main door to homes and offices. A couplet consists of 2 verses with auspicious sayings in poetry form. In the picture it says, "When spring arrives on Earth, prosperity and power is abundant."

2. The picture with "Fu" characters, is usually hung upside down when we decorate our homes and offices to denote prosperity that comes from heaven.

3. The "Chun" denotes spring. We like to display this character of any sayings that have this word to signify the coming of spring, a time of regeneration and growth.

Bottom row, from left to right

1. The words "Hua Kai Fu Gui" means 'When flower blooms, prosperity comes'. Beside the phrase is a pot of peonies, the Queen of Flowers in Chinese culture. The peony or mudan (牡丹) is the flower of riches and honour, romance and beauty. In Malaysia, we can't find read peonies, so we make do with silk flowers and put them in beautiful vases.

2. Cai Shen (財神) is the Chinese God of Prosperity. Just like Santa Claus who makes children happy during Christmas, Cai Shen is welcome by everyone, from young to old. We all want to welcome him to our homes. In Malaysia, you can see him on his rounds during promotions at shopping complexes and offices distributing red packets and sweets to kids and adults also like to receive gifts from him. Some people will touch him to 'get the wealth'.

3. A pot of citrus limes or tangerines with the words, "Tai kat tai lei" meaning 'abundance of wealth and prosperity'. We like to display them near our main door for wealth and prosperity.

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This is my entry for That's My World Tuesday. To view what others have in their world, please visit here.

City Daily Photo January 2010 Theme Day - Wood

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This is a typical Malay Kampung House in the rural area of Perak, Malaysia. Almost the whole house is made of wood. When I was a little kid, I have stayed in a similar house before. My parents were teachers and they were given a government PWD (Public Works Department) house to stay. Because the walls are made of wood and supported by stilts, it is actually quite cool inside eventhough the weather is hot and sunny outside. I love to play masak-masak (cooking), hide & seek and happy family with my friends, cousins and siblings under the house. Our pet cats and dogs love to nap here too. Some people keep chickens here. Those families that live in houses with higher stilts can also hang their clothes or fix a hammock under the house. Also, whenever it rains and there are flash floods, wouldn't you be glad you have a house like this?

Have you ever live in or visited such a house before?

A real Malay Kampung House

This is my entry for Monochrome Maniacs.

This is my entry for Monochrome Weekend Volume 2 Issue 23. My grateful thanks to Aileni for hosting this wonderful site. For other MM posts around the world, please click here