However, I gradually got into the mood of the imminent Dragon year this morning when I had the opportunity to shop around for new clothes, pyjamas and other Chinese New Year trinkets for our home.
Traditions and rituals have a funny way to slither unknowingly into our memories - enticing us to travel back in time to those wonderful days when we were young, when life was carefree, when our parents planned elaborate lunar new year celebrations. By replicating some of these age-old rituals, we are perpetuating not just traditions to pass on to future generations, but also social constructs of self and society for our children.
For me - these familiar rituals, these proverbial practices act as a powerful life buoy for me, imbuing a sense of calm, the significance of stability and a stalwart anchor that reassures and sustains me. The world around us might change, but such familiarity ensures me deep down in my soul that so long our essence, our awareness of what truly matters and our love for our closest family and friends remain the same - everything else is irrelevant.
I also hope to create this bubble of familiarity, tradition and reassurance for the Bees so that they can look back at their childhood fondly in future.
Which was why Hubby and I were invigoratingly packing the Bees' room this whole afternoon, although it can get tiring at times! And since Chinese New Year this year has a weekend before 初一, I was delighted to be able to indulge in a reunion dinner with my family. This year, we had dinner at Guilin Restaurant with my entire maternal family as well as Uncle Pat and Auntie Rose - and it was so heartwarming catching up with everyone despite all our hectic schedules.
I am certainly looking forward to more family bondings in the next few days! Happy Dragon Year, everyone!
2 comments:
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Denesa: Many thanks! And Gong Xi Fa Cai to you too!
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