The Meaning of Chinese New Year - As Told From A Different Perspective

Firstly, I would like to wish my dear readers a very happy Chinese New Year. Gong Xi Fa Cai.

Since it will be a non-stop celebration for 15 days and nights, here are 2 stories for your enjoyment.

Preface

I did not write these stories. The author wants her identity to be a secret. But the stories are based on true incidences, conversations, people and places. Except for some exaggerated ones. The stories were written during our IT class in school. As we had nothing to do and no internet, our dear author decided to write a story, no make that 2, of our lives, which were told by conversations we had during that class. Our author listened to what we talked about and cleverly put them into a story for your enjoyment and entertainment. Sadly, she did not write about her experiences, which in my opinion is a pity as they are very interesting. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the stories as they are funny and have moral values, or at least I think they do.

HELEN AND THE MANDARIN ORANGE

A big thud landed in outer space. Ang pows started flying around, as if a certain magic had overcome the place. Helen looked gleefully at the ang pows and started jumping up and down, trying to grab as many ang pows as she could. With every ang pow she caught, she was richer. YAY!

Then she was sad because she couldn’t ‘plurk’ during Chinese New Year. That was one of the only setbacks that CNY brought. Other than that, it was all good. All of a sudden, the ang pows stopped flying and a big orange landed on her head. Helen stopped in her tracks, feeling bewildered with this occurrence. She didn’t quite like mandarin oranges. Tears started to roll down her face and very soon she was drowned in a pool of salty tears.

Then, the sun started shining and she smiled again. Actually, mandarin oranges were not that bad. Feeling altogether quite tired from the emotional stress, she rested her head on the huge, spongy mandarin orange. The mandarin orange made quite a good pillow and in no time she had fallen asleep. She drifted off into Dreamland.

In Dreamland, she met a girl named Sher Maine. Sher Maine was a very particular girl who insisted on people doing everything fast. Helen told Sher Maine of her misfortunes and her adventure with the Mandarin Orange Pillow. Sher Maine sympathized. Helen was touched and cried tears of happiness for someone understood her. Before long, their conversation had turned desultory and they had started talking about wine and how it was ‘good for health’. They were surprised to find that they did know quite a lot about each other.

Similarity no. 1 – They had a crazy fetish over Plurk and had a common hobby of influencing people to spend hours ‘plurking’.

Similarity no. 2 – They repeat their MSN conversations to each other until each knows the other’s ‘dark secrets’.

Conflict no.1
- Helen: Wants a certain teacher to teach Sher Maine in ‘Dreamland School’.
- Sher Maine: Is totally against it and is frozen in the fear of Helen’s wish which may very well come true. (Author’s Note: Well Helen, I have a feeling your wish might come true because in Dreamland, everything is possible :D) Sher Maine: NOOOOOO!!!!! *pours out buckets of tears*

No!!! Please don't!!!!

After identifying certain conflicts and similarities, they both had a lovely stroll down the lane. They arrived at a pretty ice-cream parlour, where Sher Maine treated Helen to a MANDARIN ORANGE ICE-CREAM!!!

Helen: Um… Sher Maine, were you listening to me just now?
Sher Maine: Of course! I do not have some hearing defect :P
Helen: Did you get something about perhaps… mandarin oranges?
Sher Maine: One word: You LOVE them.
Helen: WHAT???? *leaves the ice-cream parlour, while Sher Maine stares in disbelief*

Helen is jolted very rudely out of her dream. She pinches herself and wonders whether Sher Maine exists. Suddenly, she realizes that her hair is wet. ‘Oh no! It cannot be what I’m thinking it is!’ And then… a waft of orange-flavoured air reaches her olfactory organ. She sits up with a great shock and looks back. The mandarin orange sits there, open and squashed, with orange liquid squirting out of it. Oooh! An orange juice fountain! She rushes over and drinks the juice. It tastes ethereal. She drinks and drinks until she is entirely contented. At the end of the day, she can’t help but wonder if she actually likes mandarin oranges or not

Haha.

There's more to it. As we continued talking for the next period, this story came to life.

THE MEANING OF CNY

We sit staring at the computer, blank in the mind but our mouth being exactly the opposite.

Helen: What are you going to do during CNY? I’m going to take loads of pictures and drink shandy and beer into the late night.
Janice: Ooh!! That’s nice. I really want to experience getting drunk. I want to see if I’ll walk sideways, frontwards, backwards or zig-zag :P What are you planning to wear on the First Day Of CNY?
Helen: Hmm...mumbles an unending line of words which are foreign to the author. Among them were spaghetti straps & shorts. *The author shrugs*

Then, a genie appears and grants us three wishes. Janice squeals with delight and says, ‘I really want FOS clothes for Chinese New Year. And I really really want coloured contact lenses from Prangin Mall.’
Genie: Oh, don’t be silly Janice. Those things are easy to come by. They just need money. Ask me for something more meaningful.

Helen and Janice stare at each other and contemplate the genie’s statement. Well, he is right. Chinese New Year is not about the ang pows, cookies or oranges. The meaning of Chinese New Year goes much deeper. It’s about strengthening family ties, realizing how blessed we are and showing love to the distant family members of whom we hardly see. So, on behalf of Helen, I urge you to spend your CNY in the most meaningful way ever.

Lots of love,
The Author
(I think Helen will divulge my identity *sob*)

By the way, I do not like mandarin oranges and the first story has given me a phobia of them. However, every time I see mandarin oranges during these few weeks, I will definitely think of the author, the people featured and the stories here.


As said earlier, lots of love to everyone and have a blessed new year ahead.

Have fun!

Oh, and I want my ang pows, please and thank you!

And who said that money does not grow on trees?