Boom boom paw!

11.2.11 saw many KLites going to work blurry-eyed and blood-shot eyes after tossing and turning sleeplessly in beds the night before. It was not because of something they ate or something that was in the air! It was because their Hockkein fellow citizens decided to display their annual piety by openly fulfilling their religious obligations in the open at an unearthly hour accompanied by a nocturnal barrage of TNT and explosive fireworks, oblivious that their act was a nuisance to the non-Hockkeins and non-Chinese. Yeah, everyone knew by then that it was the 8th day of Chinese New Year and the eve of the birth of the Jade Empress, which was celebrated with much pomp and splendour. In the spirit of tolerance, festivities and religion, nobody said anything.
It is funny how homosapiens rationalise their every action and tradition by their needs and environmental requirements, and availability - try getting coconut in Kashmir or Las Vegas for prayers! So, no need for coconut in Eskimo land or desert land for Hindu religious prayers.

The firecrackers...

They insist that firecrackers were essential for the lunar celebrations and were imperative to rid of evil spirits that were lurking to spoil your whole year. But we were doing quite okay in the post Emergency era and the time when the communist terrorist threat was real. Firecrackers were banned then as they could be mistaken for bullets fire-shots. Suddenly, as we get more affluent and peaceful, all these trivial ancient traditions have become more critical and indispensable.

Loud ear-drum shattering, high decibel vibrations of fire-crackers can disturb the psyche of any organism - babies will wail their heads off, a moribund sick patient may just tip over to the afterlife, make a dog or any fierce beast in submission with their tails between their hind legs. Hence, in old wild China, during the lunar festivities, to make it safe for the people to go out and enjoy the celebrations, away from prying wild animals along the village paths, somebody must have successfully tried letting out some crackers to keep them at bay. Over time, it became a tradition to burn crackers during CNY to keep away 'evil spirits".

On Yee Sang...

Another tradition that seems to have given the prominence of late is Yee Sang's practice, where friends and relatives get together to toast a dish of shredded fish, vegetables, fruits, and nuts for good luck on the 6th day of CNY. As we know, this practice started in the early 20th century in the most impoverished part of southern China, where times were terrible, food was scarce, famine was everywhere, and people were leaving their families and motherland for greener pastures. After merrymaking in the name of tradition for a good 5 days, the practical souls decided to put their leftovers - bits of fish, turnips, etceteras - into good use. Again this practice was extrapolated to foster friendship, prosperity and longevity.

Well, about Chap Goh Mei (the 15th and finale of CNY) and the throwing of oranges by maidens, err...., they did not have anything like St. Valentine's Day and heart-shaped chocolate candies to give away then. Anyway, Happy Valentine's Day!