Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : Asia Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Zeev Hed who wrote (8011)	2/15/1999 6:41:00 PM
From: Stitch	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 9980

Zeev, Folks; warning:The following long post is OT <<Bosco, I'll take V-day, any day and any V-day (G).>> Good Morning and Gong Xi Fa Chai! We had a good Valentine's Day here. My wife and I spent the better part of an afternoon at our favorite tea shop. We sampled several new teas and added to our tea pot collection. I have long had an interest in teaware from China and have a growing collection of Formosan and Yi Xing tea pots. These can range widely in price and quality and the tea lore that surrounds them is extensive. As you might imagine, this is a wonderful time for collectors here as the market for antiques and art is severely depressed. I have added to my own small collections of paintings, ceramics, oriental rugs, and jade this past year and plan to buy some more over the next few months. While St. Valentine's day is pleasant I would have to vote for Chinese New Year. Frankly it beats our tradition of Guy Lombardo, hangovers, and football by a long shot. My wife has told me of the new year celebrations she recalls as a young girl growing up in Ipoh. On New Year's Eve and all through the night it was virtually impossible to sleep from the continuous sounds of firecrackers and Lion Dances. She spoke of strings of fireworks made to the height of the tallest building in Ipoh in those days, which was eight stories. These would be hung and lit for the crowds delight down below. In the morning the streets would be inches deep in paper wrapper from the fireworks. Lion Dances would be commissioned by the wealthier businessmen. After the performance the businessman would go to the roof of his home or work place (sometimes the same) and hold out an ang pao (envelope with money). The dance troupe would form a human chain to claim the prize. My wife saw these performed as high as three stories. In addition a designated troupe member would serve the business owner a pomelo which would inevitably result in an enhancement of the ang pao received. The key was that he must open the fruit with his bare hands. Furthermore he must endeavor to open it in a way that it appeared lotus leaf-like. Not a trivial feat of strength. She spoke about the foods and the reunion dinners on the Eve of the first day. This is when families get together, enjoy a feast, and pray to ancestors and prosperity god. The dinner often includes a full roast pig and there are merchants that specialize in catering these around this time of year. Devout families will often eat vegetarian food, (a practice that we honor as her mother is a practicing Bhuddist). Beginning the first day and extending through the entire 15 day period of New Year the Chinese trade visits. This always begins with a visit to the Husband's eldest family member. It is followed by a visit to the wife's eldest family member, and then the visits are proscribed by a complex protocol that I have yet to undertake an understanding of. Gifts of oranges, cakes, bisquits, peanuts, jewelry, and ang paos are exchanged. Everyone must serve tea to their elder family members. In our small family, my wife and I serve tea to my mother-in-law and my son serves tea to us all. This small tea ceremony is performed on the first day. Everyone dresses in new clothes on New Year's and all signs of anger are shunned. (My wife recalls warnings of "I'll spank you later" if she misbehaved on during the new year celebration). Worker's know they will not get scolded in the period just prior and through New Year celebrations and often begin to slack off before the official holiday. Food is an essential part of Chinese thought, focus, and , of course, holidays. My wife recalls being treated to roasted duck drumsticks and the special candies made from hardened molasses most of all. (I have laid in both to surprise her today. The search for the latter involved a trip to Chinatown and asking several people before I found the guy who still makes the stuff. It was a small group of old men that finally knew but our conversation with my very broken Cantonese and their equally broken English is worth a story by itself.) I could go on and on about the traditions of the Chinese this time of year. Our home is festooned with read lanterns, messages of hope in calligraphy, mandarin orange trees, pussy willow, and origami folded from the bright red ang pao envelopes. Today will be a busy day of receiving visitors (my mother-in-law is the eldest and lives with us, and is is also the best cook in the family). To all I wish a Gong Xi Fa Chai from Kuala Lumpur. Best, Stitch (anyone interested in Chinese tea and teaware may want to visit holymtn.com