Happy Lunar New Year!

Painting by Xu Beihong

I am a few days late in sending my greetings for the year of the horse, the first day of the New Year being January 31.  But technically we have 15 days to celebrate the new year.  So, I am late, but not too late.

I came across this short Singapore film this morning, The Reunion Dinner, which follows a boy through three stages of his life as he celebrates the reunion dinner on Chinese New Year's Eve with his family.  I find it quite delightful. It also brings back memories of how my family celebrated the new year in Singapore.  Though the differences are many between the film's family and mine, the sentiments remain curiously similar.  I remember how as a youngster, I would look forward to wearing the pyjamas my grandmother lovingly sewed for all her grandchildren to be worn on New Year's Eve, to the elaborate meal, to the family gathering, and of course the ang-pows!  The film especially evokes memories of the love and pride my father had for me and my family.  It makes me miss my parents immensely.

Here's the link to The Reunion Dinner.  In the film, you will also catch a glimpse of Singapore through the decades and hear the Chinese dialect, Hokkien, which was my family's dialect as well.  Enjoy!