Sunday, February 12, 2006

Chap Goh Mei (元宵节)

gigantic colourful joss stick

Today is the last day (15th day) of Chinese New Year celebration. This day is also known as Chap Goh Mei (which means 15th night of CNY in Hokkien dialect) or 元宵节/Yuan Xiao Jie. Well, it is also the Chinese Valentine Day.

In the past, eligible young ladies will throw mandarin oranges on Chap Goh Mei into the river as a gesture of hope to get good husbands. Surprisingly, these traditions are still being practiced today :) Those who are interested can go to Esplanade, Penang to have a look :)
(side note : Fruits are expensive nowadays.. Shouldn't waste the fruits by throwing them into the river. More practical to just consume the fruits. Hahhaha... But to those who wish to participate, I have no objections as well.. But please don't throw rotten mandarins. And don't forget to write down your contact number, email address or blog address on the oranges. And good luck to the throwers and pickers).

21 comments:

[null] said...

Aiyo, not only waste fruits but water pollution also...

HappySurfer said...

Chen, love your side note. Makes me laugh. Happy Chap Goh Mei.

Chen said...

tibbar,
hahaha.. yeah yeah, water pollution too...

last time I even joked with my friends of setting up nets under the river so that we can trap oranges - for consumption later on :D

happysurfer,
glad u like my side note :D

@ロウ 。LOW@ said...

It's amazing that those imported fruits are actually cheaper than some of our local fruits...

I wonder if anyone really call the number on the mandarin oranges? And I don't think we can eat any of those, especially from Klang river, eh? :)

Jellyfish said...

u know...
nearby your hospital... (HUKM) taman permaisuri there..

u need to register n pay RM10 for each orange u wanna throw.

and for guys, they will charge RM10 for each guy who wanna participate
kekekekeke

Cynthia said...

wahahha.. Chap Goh Mei ! I just knew from Kina's mum sms it is Chap Goh Mei.. sorry lah.. no one remind me here.

iml said...

Esplanade, Penang was the happening place during Chap Goh Meh night some 20 years ago. I am glad the tradition is still going strong.

Chen said...

@ロウ.low@,
it is indeed sad to know that the imported fruits are cheaper than the local fruits :(

I guess the handwriting on the oranges will fade :P And I don't dare to eat those oranges as well :D

Jellyfish,
wah.. so expensive?
Need to register summore to participate??
really cut throat..

cynthia,
aiks... next time I will remind u few days before the major Chinese festivals, kekeke...

it's my life story,
yeah, it is good that the traditions is still going on & the future generation won't lost touch..

day-dreamer said...

元宵节快乐!

I see lots and lots of new stuff around. Could only blame myself for being absent for such a long time. Really sorry about that. Busy, busy... :( Anyway, thanks a lot for still dropping by my blog. Means a lot to me, the support you give. Hope to see you around...

sbanboy said...

Hi hi hey I thot u told me guys throw apples ???? Ayo too late to throw liow or else I will leave my hp no ... hehe

Hey when u gonna put up ur cooking pictures ?

Chen said...

day dreamer,
Happy Chap Goh Mei :)
Good to know that u are doing fine :)

sbanboy,
that is what I heard as well..
girls throwing oranges
guys throwing apples :)

But...If someone throw $$, I will go & scoop :D

Those dishes are just normal dishes :D I didn't take photos just now :)

c a r c a r said...

oh so fast, chinese new year is over ...after today...

wow chinese and western valentines is two days in different,好love啊!
haha...

Chen said...

carcar,
yeah loh.. another 14 minutes..
have to say bye bye to CNY liao :D

err... someone is in the LOVE mood? :D

Anonymous said...

Perhaps they should reconsider changing this tradition and teach people to be more direct ... like throw the mandarin at someone you are insterested in or something. No need to beat around the bush and do wishful thinking. Save everybody the time and trouble. Hehe ...

Winn said...

HAHAH. i dun understand why must it be oranges? i'd throw apple..but i never been to event like this in my life...

but sounds interesting la

c a r c a r said...

someone is in the love mood? oh yes! and someone = jellyfish!

wahaha!

gus said...

One orange per person is okay I guess. Unless you're a player. Yeah, a blog address is mighty helpfull for someone to know you better. Unless you're a player.

Francis Ho said...

Was thinking it would be more original if they throw durians instead in Msia!

Robin CHAN said...

will they be fine for litering or dirtying the river?

haha.. sure is a good way to get rid of the CNY oranges..

Alicia said...

RM 10 per orange.. that's a very good profit eh..

Chen said...

loong,
hah? throw the mandarin at someone one is insterested in? This is dangerous :D Later kena sue, then susah :D

Winn,
Don't throw the poor fruits.
Give it to me :D
Don't waste fruits :D

carcar,
I presume jellyfish is in the floating mood now.. Tomorrow is V Day :D

agus,
I guess most people won't just throw one oranges.. At least few.. But if need to pay RM10 per oranges, mmmm... then really need to reconsider again :D

fh2o,
muahhaha.. throw durian? u must be kidding :D
spikes in the heart then?
Later get a spouse full of thorns leh.. Hhahhaa...

robin,
if u have excess oranges, please pass them to me :) Thank you very much :D I like to eat oranges..

alicia,
yeah loh.. those people are really "good". Can even turn this tradition into a $$$ making event :)

strength2strength,
It is written in the paper. I never participate in the programme nor going there to have a look :D Rather stay at home zzzzz :)