Wednesday, December 29, 2010

18/12/2010 CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY

To celebrate every Chinese festival, my brothers would take turns to host a dinner for all the family. I have been told to go to SS 2 for the Tong Yuen Festival- Winter Solstice. To the Chinese this festival is consider more important than Chinese New Year.

I was in for a surprise when I arrived. They had cleared the living room and put up the Christmas lights- plain but beautiful white lights with glittering snowflakes. Most magical.


My sisters-in-law had been busying preparing the foods.

The Menu:-
Mushroom Soup
Spaghetti with choice of meat/tomato sauce and a creamy mushroom sauce.
Roasted Pork Knuckle
Glazed Ham
Fried Chicken
Salad- cherry tomatoes, cucumber, celery, carrot, edamame
Blanched baby Choy sum
Of course Tong Yuen - those glutinous rice flour balls in ginger syrup.



Most of the foods are store bought- but it is the thoughts that goes into buying them and getting them on the table.


When we all started to get the table ready, the atmostphere suddently transformed. Never mind, that those are plastic tables covered with plastic sheet. Never mind that we sat on plastic stools. Never mind the tableware were mismatched. We became very merry and we were all excited - just like children getting ready for our first sit down Christmas dinner together! Candles were lit and lights were dimmed. Music in the background - mind you its more of classic music (thanks to Amanda) rather than the usual jingle bells!

We just sat back and relaxed. The tinkling of the cultery, the laughter, the food and the wine - this is truly a magical moment - a whole family eating together - just like the Tong Yuen- a complete circle of hope, joy and happiness.

We later sang a birthday song to my Sister-in-law.












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