Life in Singapore

Today is Chinese New Year, we begin the Year of the Rabbit. Bye, Tiger! Each of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac correspond to a year. The Year 2011 is the 4708th Chinese year. The Chinese believe that the first king of China was the Yellow King (he was not the first emperor of China). The Yellow King became king in 2697 B.C., therefore China will enter the 4708th year on February 3rd, 2011. Also, the Chinese Year uses the cycle of 60 Stem-Branch counting systems and the Metal White Rabbit is the 28th Stem-Branch in the cycle. Since (60 *78) + 28 = 4708, therefore 2011 is the Metal Rabbit year, which is the 4708th Chinese Year.It will be the normal routine every time chinese new year is just around the corner. Preparation starts a month before and spring cleaning is always the first thing in the list. Then come the celebration and each year, people have their meeting dinner with family and then throughout the whole of 2 weeks, they go from house to house to visit other family and friends and had a feast. valentine’s day is also about every couple’s love, so don’t settle for gifts intended for a straight market. Every couple wants to find the gift that really demonstrates their love for one another.

Preparations that need to be done are like cleaning the house, put up chinese new year 2011 decoration, buying new clothes and stocking up food that is enough for the whole of two weeks of celebration. Get yourself a set of new clothes and hair cut done before the Chinese New

During the preparation, red packets are prepared as well. Giving out red packets during Chinese New Year is a symbol of luck and wealth to the person who receives it. The red envelope was pack with money in it. It does not matter how much you put, it is the act that is important. People who are not married are those that get to receive red packets. When you receive red packets, you normally do not only say thank you but also to greet the elders and wish them with auspicious greetings. Same goes to during the visit to your relatives and friends house. You greet them with good wishes throughout the celebration. And, during the visits you usually end up with a feast. That is the joy of Chinese New Year.

On the New Year eve, gathering all the family members to have the reunion dinner is important. Usually, you get to see a spread of food on the table. As the dinner is somehow and important event in Chinese New Year, the food prepared are usually those of that are meaningful and meant auspicious. Family members gather around the kitchen to prepare the feast together. Dishes like fish, meat, vegetables, and dumplings are of those that are not to be missed. After the dinner, they gather around the living room watching television together while chit chatting. Some might started playing the poker card.
Some people say 2011 is a Golden Rabbit, White Rabbit, Metal Rabbit year. This is because the Stem-Branch Calendar is connected to Five Element theory. Chinese calendar used the Stem-Branch system to count the days, months and years. There are 10 Stems and 12 Branches in this system. Stems are named by the Yin-Yang and Five Elements (Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth).

Easter Sunday, as a religious celebration, is the day that Jesus rose from the dead after 3 days of death. In the upcoming year 2011 easter sunday will fall on April 24, 2011. Easter is a moveable feast, which means that it does not occur on the same date every year. It’s the first sunday, after the First full moon, after the 21st March. Easter is celebrated in both religious and secular ways by many christian families throughout the world. Traditional customs include the Easter Vigil, lighting of the Paschal candles, chanting of the Easter Proclamation, and readings from the Old Testament, singing hymns, baptisms, confirmation and Holy Communion.

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