Siao Ting's New Year
New Year's Day
Red envelopes mean it's not just another day! On New Year's Day, after Siao Ting changes into her cheongsam, she walks to the living room where her parents are waiting for her.
She greets her parents in the traditional way, her hands clasped in front of her as if in prayer.
She then kneels in front of them to show her respect and offers them four tangerines in exchange for a red envelope called a hong-bow.
Why Not Three Tomatoes?
Siao Ting gives four tangerines because the Chinese believe that tangerines are a good luck charm.
The Chinese also believe that even numbers are lucky and odd numbers are not!
Close Outside, the streets are buzzing with activity as everyone hurries to visit their neighbors, friends and relatives.
The air smells of incense and smoke as people pay respect to the gods and burn paper money for their ancestors.
Burn Real Money?
This money is fake. The Chinese burn the gold and white paper sheets in large metal containers.
They believe the money is transferred to their ancestors when burned. Ancestors can then use this money as real currency in the other world.
Many people today burn paper houses, paper cars and even paper cell phones!
Close Siao Ting and her family pay respect to their living elders by visiting the extended family to exchange good wishes of "gong xi fa cai" (gong see fut tsai) which means congratulations and prosperity.
Back to school and back to track! School is Top Priority
On the sunny island of Singapore education is top priority. It is a crime if parents do not make sure their children go to elementary school!
Siao Ting arrives at school at 7:30 am every day and ends school at 2 pm. She then trains for the school's track and field team. For two hours, the students run around the stadium with weights on their legs and practice the baton relay.
After training, Siao Ting is tutored in math or Chinese.
Siao Ting's activities end at 9:30 pm and she hasn't even done her homework yet! So she is thankful that Chinese New Year brings a few days of rest from the normal routine.
In this spontaneous photo taken by Siao Ting's father, her high school track team has just won a gold medal in relay. Siao Ting (center row, first from the left) took part in relay and individual (she won a silver medal) events.
Close At her grandparents' house, Siao Ting eats a sweet dessert called yuan seow (you-an see-ow). It is made up of numerous sticky balls in a transparent liquid. This represents the full moon and the wish for a complete family.
Make Your Own Yuan Seow
Preparing Yuan Seow is simple once you have the correct ingredients. You can get the ingredients in any oriental grocery store. Ask your parents for permission to do this because you have to boil water.
All you need is:
- Glutinous rice flour;
- Powdered sugar;
- Sesame powder;
- Lard;
- Hot water.
Mix half a cup of hot water with the glutinous rice flour. Squish it till it turns into dough then divide it into 12 equal portions.
Mix the remaining ingredients together and freeze it. Divide this mixture into 12 equal portions.
Now wrap each portion of sesame mixture up with dough to make a small ball. Boil the balls for five minutes in water.
Close Siao Ting and her family stay for three days, then it's back to school!
Stash the Cash!
The fun isn't over! Siao Ting is excited about opening the 15 red gift packets she's collected! She has worked hard to collect red packets from everyone, including her married aunts and uncles as well as from her friends' parents!
Most of the red packets contain four dollars. But what a surprise! Her parents have given her $80. Her grandparents have given her $20. Altogether she receives more than $200 in New Year money!
"How important it is to save for a rainy day!"
—Siao Ting. Saving for a Rainy Day
Last year Siao Ting (right) put 70 percent of her New Year money in the bank and spent the rest on movies and birthday presents for her friends!
This year she hopes she will be able to buy herself a nice pair of track shoes.
This photo was taken during the annual track and field meet, at the stadium. Siao Ting and her friend are both wearing their school's track and field jacket specially for runners.
Close "My mother saved from a young age and this helped to pay for her college tuition," says Siao Ting. "I used to be more of a spendthrift. Now I understand how important it is to save for a rainy day!"
On a normal school day Siao Ting receives five dollars in pocket money. After lunch and break time, she usually has a dollar left over. She drops this dollar into her piggy bank.
"Once you start saving it really isn't that difficult," says Siao Ting. "Saving a little a day goes a long way. My piggy bank is already three quarters full!"
Time to slow down
It's time for Siao Ting to get back to her books. By the fifteenth day, all the red envelopes have been distributed and received. The Chinese New Year festivities wind down to a quiet end with the lantern day festival.
Children and adults walk around the neighborhood while holding lanterns. The lanterns are colorful and come in many shapes! Some are shaped like butterflies, fruits and dragons!
Siao Ting and her friends link arms under the full moon. They skip and sing traditional Chinese songs to wish each other luck during the upcoming New Year. They agree that Chinese New Year is by far their favorite holiday!
True or False: The first ever assassination attempt made against a United States President was intended for Andrew Jackson.
Click Andrew's head for the answer.
TRUE: Richard Lawrence was mentally ill. He tried to shoot Jackson with two pistols from point-blank range. Both misfired. Jackson then beat Lawrence with his cane.
contributed by
Jodie
Singapore
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