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Clarice, Rachelle, Isabelle, Ruzaini, Shermaine

Written By: Lee Jia Le Clarice(1)

[A] How I spend my Chinese New Year

The day has finally came. The day when my aunties, uncles, cousins would gather at my grandfather house to celebrate this festival. It was a rare chance for my family to have such gathering whereby all my relatives gathered and have a chat as my family is very big.

We would buy new clothes to celebrate this occasion even before the new year starts. At the first day of the new year, my family would vist my both maternal and paternal grandmother house.
The first place we went is my paternal grandmother house. When we reached the doorstep, we would prepare two oranges and wish our grandmother and with an exchange, a red packet from her. After receiving the red packets, we would have our meals settled there. By the time we finished, my relatives would be flocking in and giving us red packets as well. When we were all done with our meals, we would sit down and have a chat with each other. As we had already planned which place to go the next few days beforehand, my family would bade farewell with my relatives and proceed to my maternal grandmother place around 4pm.

As I'm closer to my maternal relatives, I felt happier when we were leaving my paternal grandmother house. We lived near each other which is a walking distance, hence the journey to both my paternal and maternal grandmother house was fast. When we reached my maternal house, we would prepare the oranges and they would prepare the red packets too. This year, my grandmother and uncles wouldn't be able to give any red packets as my grandfather passed away last year. It was said that they wasn't supposed to celebrate any happy festival like the Chinese New Year. To me, I do not mind having less red packet as I think that Chinese New Year was not about receiving more red packets, but it is about the only time when all our cousins and relatives would have a break and finally, gathered to have a good chat with each other. Just like the past years, we would settle ourselves in a room and have a game of black jack. We played along not because we wanted to win more money, but for the fun of it and also, to catch up with each other when we missed out so much time together. This improves our relationship. At night, my auntie would cook a wonderful feast after we were all done with gambling.

As Chinese New Year is not just one day, the next few days would also be packed with visitings. My cousins and I cherished every gatherings we had as we could hardly see each other beside special occasions such as birthdays. Hence, the best thing we could do is to take some photos so as to keep this precious memories in our heart. As the time past, we felt happy as we flipped through the photo albums, seeing the happy times we spent together.

(Picture of My Cousins and I)

How I Spend My Chinese New Year

Every Chinese New Year, I will go to my paternal aunt’s house to celebrate with my family. My family is very big. Every Chinese New Year, we will all gather there for dinner. I always look forward to reunion dinners as I don’t get to get together with my cousins very often. We will have a sumptuous meal with shark fin soup, abalone and many other expensive dishes that we seldom get to eat.

After having our dinner, the children will have to offer their well wishes using traditional Chinese idioms before we can receive our red packets. It is really fun as we have to recite one to each elder and we must not repeat what we have already recited and it is difficult at times as my Chinese is not very good.

On the next day, my family will go to my maternal grandmother’s house for lunch. I really enjoy it as my grandmother is a fantastic cook. Everything she cooks tastes really good. After eating, together as a big family, we will set off to various houses and we will receive many red packets. At this time of the year, I get to meet up with many of my relatives that I see only once twice a year, during Chinese New Year and Christmas.

The thing I like most about Chinese New Year is the laughs we have together and the red packets I will receive. Many of my relatives are very generous and so I will get a lot of money. This is how I spend my Chinese New Year.

b) I spend all the festive seasons very differently from Jess. Jess does not celebrate Chinese New Year. I will always go visiting but Jess does not. He spends it with his immediate family while i spend it with my relatives. And Jess does not get many well wishes like i do. I get red packets on Chinese New Year and presents during Christmas.

Done by : RACHEL TAN (11) 2e5

Isabelle Tan (9), 2E5

How I spent my Christmas

Christmas is usually a big thing in my family. As we are all Christians, my family celebrates Christmas in our Church in Malaysia. As my grandfather is the Elder of the church, my cousins and I will spend our Christmas Eve night watching my grandfather write his sermon. During the day itself, my cousins and I will automatically wake up at 8 and troop downstairs for our breakfast. Most of the time, we finish our breakfast in about 10minutes as we will then rush upstairs to fight for the bathroom.
Once we're all washed up and changed, we will then make our way to the Church by different ways of transport. My grandfather will have to drive there even though it's just a few houses away, because he usually have to fetch other church members home after the service. My grandmother and I will go with him, whereas my cousins and their parents will take their time and walk there. While we're there, my grandfather will set up the electronics and my grandmother will prepare the wine and biscuits for the sacrament. People will start flooding in around 10am. By then, the pianist will have started playing some church hymns. My grandfather will then go up the stage to lead the singing. Although our church is very small, our voices are loud and strong. When I was younger, my cousins and I will go to the room for kids and slack there. Sometimes we'll play with the toys and as I'm the oldest one among them, I will always have to control the noise in there. By the time I was in Primary Five, I had to sit with my grandmother in the front row to listen to the sermon. Every year, there will be a gift exchange program. Last year, I was delighted when I received a bag of chocolates and sweets! :D
Usually after the service, lunch will be provided, the adults will be seated everywhere, having small talks while eating their meals. The children on the other hand, will be running around the space outside the church, but still within the gates. As the compound is very big, we are usually exhausted by the time we finished our games. Basketball, Soccer and Badminton matches are always held in the space. My cousins and I will always win the games as I'm always the oldest one around, and my cousins are fast runners. Although some other kids will complain about the disadvantage, we will still have a lot of fun. Once the adults are done with their chats, my cousins and I will bid our farewells to the kids in the church, we will always take a long time as we rarely get to see them.
Back at home, my cousins will always snatch for the computer, and then each one of us will agree that I will get to play first, since I'm the oldest. Being the oldest around has its advantages and disadvantages sometimes. :D My male cousins will always settle for all the games around, while my female cousin will always want to play the dress-up games. As for me, I'll play all the games too, except for the games in Disney channel; even the games in nickelodeon are more exciting! Around evening time, we will all sit around the dining table, awaiting our dinner. Christmas is also a day to reminisce about the past. We will always take a look at the photo albums and laugh at ourselves. While my uncle, aunty and grandmother are still flipping the photo albums, my grandfather will always make his way to the kitchen to get some fish food and then make his way to the gate. My cousins and I will always follow him. At the pond in the church, my cousins will each take turn to feed the fishes, and then run back to the church to get our nets and start our search for tadpoles and toads to feed the fishes. The bigger ones are thrown in the drains outside the gates. When we feel really naughty, we will even throw them to the opposite house and then run away! We have our own private sports games there too, but we'll always end up in a heap on the church floor, gasping for breath. When it's time to go home, we will watch some television program and then go up to our rooms to have our own private chats.
The next day, it'll be time for us to go back to Singapore, back to our homes. We will always promise to visit as soon as possible, and then it's goodbye. And that's how I always spend my Christmas. It's not the presents or gifts that matter, it's the time I spend with my family that I treasure most.

PART B [comparison]

1. I had to go to church on Christmas but Jess did not have to.
2. I had to travel overseas to visit my relatives but Jess did not have to.
3. I had cousins to celebrate Christmas with but Jess did not even celebrate it with anyone.
4. I did not receive any presents from my friends but Jess did receive from Leslie.
5. I had a Christmas party in the church but Jess did not have any.
6. I celebrated Christmas with my grandparents but he did not.

Part A

I always celebrate my Christmas by going for church service at the ‘Church of the Holy Trinity’ with my whole family. We usually attend the service at 11am.

My family and I would always go to the nearby coffee shop to have our breakfast first. After eating, we would walk to the church together. The church is normally crowded and sometimes we would even need to stand up throughout the entire service as there are not enough seats for everybody.

I like the singing of the church hymns the most. It is very soothing to listen to the choir singing in unison. It makes me feel happier somehow. After the church service, my family and I would adjourn to Tampines Mall and have our lunch at Jack’s Place. The Christmas lunch at this restaurant even comes with a novelty pack.

Later in the evening, we usually have to attend a buffet dinner at my auntie’s place to celebrate my cousin’s birthday and Christmas. After dinner, all of us would start to exchange our Christmas gifts with one another. Eventually, we would return home with some gifts.

The true meaning of Christmas is to give from the bottom of our hearts and to share joy together. That is what Christmas is all about.

Part b

• Jess’ parents did not have enough money to buy her children Christmas present so Jess and his sisters did not get any presents from his parents but my parents have enough money to get me and my brothers presents each. I feel I’m so lucky. Some families are so poor that they can’t afford to get any presents for their loved ones even if they want to.
• Jess was angry because he did not have any money and had nothing to give Leslie whereas my parents could give me pocket money and I would be able to buy something for my friends.
• Jess didn’t go to church with his family on Christmas but I went to church together with my family.
• Jess didn’t have lunch with his family in a restaurant as they are too poor but I went to a restaurant for lunch with my family.
• Jess did not have any relatives to celebrate Christmas together but I did and it was very enjoyable celebrating with them.
• Jess did not have any party to attend but I have a party to attend at my auntie's place.
  

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