yesterday was...

yesterday the hokkiens (and some others) celebrated the jade emperor's day (tni gong).
and i actually was invited to someone's house for this celebration. after many years of persuasion, i finally relented. and boy, was i in for a surprise.

back at home, we only prepared the food stuff to offer for prayers and then waited for the clock to strike 12 midnight. shortly after burning silver papers and the joss sticks finished burning, we would gather everything and head to bed.

but here in bidor, it was celebrated in a larger scale. they are really celebrating the new year (well it is new year celebration after all rite). the hosts were dressed in their new clothes and preparing big meals for the guests coming. yes, the invite friends to come and celebrate with them, unlike us here. gosh, i felt so embarassed to be dressed in my green tee and shorts. and oh, slippers. the boys even came smartly in their shirts and shoes! i wanted a big hole to swallow me there and then. i even got a red packet. hehe...still qualify.

we had bbq pork, chicken curry, fried vermicelli, soya sauce chicken, sweet and sour vege, agar-agar and yam cake. had a filling meal.

then when it came near midnight, firecrackers were set off one after another. it was definitely not easy to get sleep before 1a.m. but it was indeed an eye opening event for me. i heard some celebrated even grander than the house that i went to. i dare not imagine the type of preparation and the cleaning they have to do after that. but i bet as guests, everyone would have a great time.