We’ve escaped the deep freeze in Michigan and are now in tropical Singapore where the weather reminds me of southern Florida. It’s typically warm and humid all year, but this time around the temperatures are a tad cooler because of winds from China. Yes! Perfect! So, greetings from this colorful corner of the world where the local population is getting ready to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year on January 31.
After emerging from a frigid, cloudy, wintry white Midwest, my eyes are almost a little stunned by the color that I have encountered so far – lush trees [a particular favorite is the flowering Rain Tree], orchids of all shades, multi-hued apartment blocks, bright red paper lanterns and reams of sparkly lights and banners to usher in the Year of the Horse.
There are many traditions associated with the Lunar New Year – one example is the family reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve. On the menu will be foods rich in symbolism. There’s bound to be noodle dish to symbolize long life. Fish and other seafood like clams, scallops and abalone are a must because they represent wealth and abundance in the New Year. Other auspicious foods include dumplings, leafy greens, desserts like cookies filled with peanuts, coconut and sesame paste. Citrus fruits like oranges and pomelos are eaten and prominently displayed as these are said to bring wealth and luck. Red is a particularly auspicious color and red packets with money will be given to the younger generation by their elders. We will be participating in all the revelry and eating our way through it no doubt!
We’ve already had various reunion dinners with members of my family here in Singapore. Our traditions are quite different from the Chinese ones with no symbolism attached to foods as such. We’ve enjoyed elaborate rice biryani dishes, spicy chicken curries, kebabs, salads and local vegetables and various creamy desserts and fruits like papaya – one of our all-time favorites!
There’s a longstanding and well-established hawker food culture in Singapore and I plan to revisit some of my old haunts and new ones to savor the foods which I have missed for so long. Perhaps I’ll take some photos as well, if I can be patient enough to aim and shoot before digging in!
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