Family portrait III
(Tan family and me on the first day of Spring Festival. Back row L-R is Ying’s mum, dad, sister, brother-in-law: Ying’s house, Singapore)
Ying’s sister (in purple) spent several minutes arranging the festive items on the coffee table in order that these photographs would have a New Year flavour. We perhaps overdid it somewhat with all the fruit, but I enjoyed the overall effect. The oranges are an essential accessory for New Year and are swapped and handed round, one in each hand. The little stuffed Tiger has three fishes on its face for prosperity, is coloured red for luck and has the character for ‘King’ on his head. You can try to spot the three fish here – (http://china.analoguegirl.co.uk/fish-face/). They are his eyes – I didn’t realise until Ying’s dad pointed them out to me.
No young person should be bereft of a pair of mandarin oranges for at least a week after New Year – just in case they might be offered a red packet, or hong bao. Basically, the oranges and hong bao are an exchange of good wishes for the coming year. Traditionally, the unmarried among these celebrations require only their oranges to hand to their elders, whereas the recipients should, in exchange provide a red packet. The oranges are handed over simultaneously with the envelope. These red envelopes have a sum of money inside, and I was included in this tradition most heartily. I was lucky enough to have a secret red packet pocket in my dress which was surprisingly perfect for the stuffing of envelopes. I did my best to say “xing nian kwai le” (Happy New Year) during the handovers as accurately as possible and to wish everyone good health, a prosperous year, relaxation, good luck in business, etc. (in English, I’m afraid). The practice is a lot of fun and there is some pressure in inventing different wishes for each new person or couple that accepts the oranges.
Behind us on the wall is a painting depicting a Chinese character, this one is Fu, meaning ‘luck’. It seemed like the best spot for a posed New Year portrait of the current family. Unfortunate really that my pasty features made everyone else look so dark in contrast – this caused some hilarity at the time, I am almost radiant with whiteness.
Note to Ying’s mum – I picked a nice one, didn’t I? No one looks ugly!
