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Singapore - Health Sciences Authority (HSA)

新加坡 — 卫生科学局

Ten weeks have passed, it is time to donate blood again!

十周过去了，又是捐血时！

Anyone who has donated blood knows that the interval between blood donations is three months, and the earliest can only be ten weeks later.

有捐过血的人都知道捐血的间隔期是三个月，最早也只能在十周后。

Regular blood donors all have one thing in common: they automatically donate blood when the time comes.

定期捐血者都有个共同点：那就是时间一到就会像着魔般的自动去捐血。

I would jokingly call myself a blood cow, just like the dairy cow on the farm.

我会开玩笑地称自己为血牛，就像农场里的奶牛一样。

In addition to saving lives, donating blood also does more good than harm to the donor's body.

除了拯救生命之外，捐血对捐献者的身体也利大于弊。

This time Burger King is also offering discounted meal packages to blood donors.

这次汉堡王还为捐血者提供了优惠餐配套。

Green 青

Singapore

新加坡

As we all know, Singapore is a multiracial country.

众所周知，新加坡是个多元种族的国家。

Because of this, many religious beliefs have emerged.

正因如此，也衍生出多种宗教信仰。

For example, some Buddhists and Hindus do not eat beef, some Christians do not eat meat on a certain day, and Muslims do not eat pork.

例如，有些佛教徒和兴都教徒是不吃牛肉、有些基督徒在某一天是不吃肉、还有穆斯林是不吃猪肉。

Because of this, hawker centres or food courts in Singapore use colour trays to differentiate between foods.

正因如此，新加坡的熟食中心或食阁会用颜色托盘来区别食物。

There are two main colours of trays: green and brown.

托盘颜色主要分为两种：青色和褐色。

Muslims admire green colour, so the utensils and trays used for halal food are mainly green.

穆斯林崇尚青色，所以清真食物的器皿和托盘是以青色为主。

When Singapore was founded, it experienced racial riots, so the ancestors of all races cherished peace.

新加坡在开国时，曾经历过种族暴乱，所以各族祖辈们都很珍惜和平。

Respect for each other's religious beliefs is passed down from ancestors to the next generation, so Singaporeans are more disciplined when dining and do not put pork on halal utensils and trays.

尊重彼此的宗教信仰是从先辈们传承给下一代的，因此新加坡人在用餐时比较自律，不会将猪肉放在清真器皿或托盘上。

Contrive 忽悠

Thailand

泰国

Speaking of Songkran Festival, many people may mistakenly think that this year’s Songkran Festival in Thailand lasts for 21 days.

提起宋干节，很多人可能会误以为今年泰国的泼水节为期21天。

Some fact check, Songkran Festival is held on April 13 every year.

科普一下，宋干节是每年的4月13日。

In 2018, the Thai cabinet extended the national holiday to seven days, from April 9 to 16, so that citizens could return home for the holidays.

2018年，泰国内阁将全国节日延长至七天，即4月9日至16日，以便公民可以回家过节。

Do not say that the government is contriving everyone.

别说政府忽悠大家。

In fact, what they mean is that tourists can go to various provinces to celebrate Songkran Festival during this period.

其实他们的意思是，游客可以在这期间去各别省份欢庆宋干节。

In addition to the Songkran Festival in Thailand that involves splashing water, there are actually similar water splashing festivals around the world.

除了泰国宋干节涉及泼水之外，其实世界各地也有类似的泼水节。

Choul Chnam Thmey (Cambodia) - It is very similar to Thailand's Songkran Festival, but this festival will focus more on doing merit and dancing to celebrate but the celebration time is not as long as Thailand's.

Choul Chnam Thmey（柬埔寨）— 它和泰国的宋干节很相似，但这个节日会更注重做功德和跳舞来庆祝而庆祝时间没有泰国那么长。

Thingyan (Myanmar) - It is very similar to Thailand's Songkran Festival, but in the eyes of the Burmese people, the festival is not about playing with water, but more about going to the temple to do meritorious deeds.

Thingyan（缅甸）— 它和泰国的宋干节很相似，但在缅甸人民的眼中，这个节日上不是倾向于玩水，而是更倾向于去庙里做功德。

Dai Ethnic Water Splashing Festival (Yunnan) - It is held for three days from April 13th to 15th every year. On the first day, people will come out to buy things in the village's unique market. On the second day, they will put up lanterns by the Lancang River. On the last day, people will wear beautiful costumes to hold a water splashing ceremony.

傣族泼水节（云南）— 每年4月13日至15日举办三天，第一天人们会出来在村里特有的市场上买东西，第二天会在澜沧江边放灯，最后一天人们会穿漂亮的盛装来举办泼水仪式。

Fiesta del Agua y del Jamón (Spain) - Held on June 23, when the bell rings at 12 midnight, the water-splashing battle begins with beer and fireworks.

Fiesta del Agua y del Jamón（西班牙）— 6月23日午夜12点钟声响起，泼水战在啤酒和烟花中拉开帷幕。

Wattah Wattah or Basaan Festival (Philippines) - Held on June 24, douse passersby or unsuspecting commuters and visitors with water.

Wattah Wattah 或 Basaan 节（菲律宾）— 6月24日举行，向路人或毫无戒心的通勤者和游客泼水。

Vardavar or Vartavar (Armenia) - The festival, usually held in July, allows to douse strangers with water.

Vardavar 或 Vartavar（亚美尼亚）— 这个节日通常在七月举行，允许向陌生人泼水。

Waterfight NYC - Cousins ​​Brian De La Cruz and Joshen Abreu founded this annual event in 2011. (Now defunct)

大水战（纽约）— Brian De La Cruz 和 Joshen Abreu 表兄弟在2011年创办了这项年度活动。（现已停办）

Lahaina Noon Phenomenon 拉海纳正午现象

Singapore

新加坡

March 23 at 1.11pm, Singapore experiences Lahaina Noon Phenomenon.

3月23日下午1点11分，新加坡出现拉海纳正午现象。

A Lahaina Noon Phenomenon is also known as Zero Shadow Day.

拉海纳正午现象也称为无影日。

The so-called zero shadow does not mean that there is no shadow at all.

所谓无影，并不是说完全没有影子。

This means that an object's shadow appears minimal.

这意味着物体的影子显得很小。

This is a natural phenomenon where an object does not cast a shadow when it is upright.

这是一种自然现象，物体直立时不会投射影子。

The Lahaina noon phenomenon occurs twice a year, on the spring and autumn equinoxes.

拉海纳正午现象一年出现两次，分别在春分和秋分。

The astronomical equinox results in an equal amount of daylight and darkness.

天文春分导致白天和黑暗的时间相等。

P/S: Due to historical reasons, Singapore's time is one hour ahead compared with the solar time. This means that solar noon does not occur until about 1pm, rather than noon, which also explains why sunrise and sunset times in Singapore are observed at about 7am and 7pm respectively.

注：由于历史原因，新加坡时间比太阳时快一小时。这意味着太阳正午要到下午 1 点左右才会出现，而不是中午，这也解释了为什么在新加坡日出和日落时间分别在上午 7 点和晚上 7 点左右。

Hing Hwa People 兴化人

Singapore - Outside Ngee Ann City

新加坡 — 义安城户外广场

The first Hing Hwa Food & Cultural Festival officially starts from March 12 to 17, 2024.

首届兴化美食文化节，于2024年3月12日正式开办至17日。

Admission is free, but need to purchase a S$20 food coupon to use it to buy food.

入场免费，但需要购买20新元的食品券才能用来购买食物。

More than 20 kinds of Hing Hwa delicacies are available for purchase.

超过20种兴化美食供选购。

Food prices range from S$2 to S$5.

美食价格介于2新元至5新元。

In addition to Hing Hwa delicacies, there are also performances on site.

除了兴化美食，现场也有表演。

There are also paintings and calligraphy for literati to purchase.

更有书画共文人雅士购买。

Can recognise this toddler?

可认得此娃？

He is Cai Yucheng, the three-and-a-half-year-old "drum head" with more than 300,000 fans.

他可是坐拥30多万粉丝的三岁半小“鼓头”蔡昱程。

Many fans at the scene rushed to video and take photos of their idol.

现场好多粉丝都争先恐后的给偶像录影、拍照。

Does anyone know what the Hing Hwa delicacies on the table are?

有谁知道餐桌上的兴化美食是什么？

In addition to Hing Hwa people and people of other dialect groups, there are also Western tourists who come to try new food.

除了兴化人与其他籍贯的人外，还有西方游客前来尝鲜。

Take everyone on a tour.

带大家全场走一回。

Walk around to the left.

左边走走。

Shop around on the right.

右边逛逛。

Also take a look at the middle.

中间也要看一看。

If someone tells you that he is Hing Hwa people, then nine times out of ten he is from South East Asia.

如果有人跟你说他是兴化人，那他十之八九是南洋人。

If someone tells you that he is Putian people, then nine times out of ten he is a new immigrant.

如果有人跟你说他是莆田人，那他十之八九是新移民。

By the way, there are approximately 27,000 Hing Hwa people in Singapore.

顺便补充一点，新加坡大约有2万7000名兴化人。

The population does not seem to have increased much since I was a child.

从我小时候到现在人口好像没怎么增加。

P/S: People in South East Asia region, generally follow what their ancestors told them that their ancestral home is Hing Hwa, so they still call themselves Hing Hwa people.

注：南洋人普遍沿用祖辈们告诉他们自己的祖籍是兴化，所以至今还是称自己是兴化人。

LONG Q 长龙

Singapore - Waterloo Road (Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple)

新加坡 － 小坡四马路（观音堂佛祖庙）

Long queue...

长龙...

Seeing the long queue again.

又见长龙。

According to reports, there are about a thousand people in the long queue.

据报道，这长龙大概有千人之多。

It turns out that everyone comes to borrow money from Goddess of Mercy.

原来大家是来跟观音菩萨借钱的。

End Successfully 圆满结束

Singapore - People's Park Complex

新加坡 — 珍珠坊

Lunar New Year has passed just like this!

农历新年就这样过了！

Lunar New Year's decorations, even the flying dragons, at this moment also needs to come down to the ground.

农历新年的装饰品，哪怕是飞龙在天，此刻也需要落地。

Today also happens to be February 29th, which happens every four years.

今天也恰好是四年一度的二月二十九日。

Hope this extra day will bring good luck to everyone and that your wishes will end successfully.

希望这额外的一天能给大家带来好运，也祝大家的愿望能够圆满结束。

Break Bloody Disaster Curse 破血光之灾诅咒

Singapore - Health Sciences Authority (HSA)

新加坡 — 卫生科学局

There are so many taboos during the Lunar New Year.

农历新年的禁忌何其多。

Among them, the bloody disaster curse is the most terrifying.

当中又以血光之灾，最令人畏惧。

As the saying goes, "There are policies from above and countermeasures from below."

所谓“上有政策，下有对策”。

Fortune tellers have this ability.

算命师就有这能耐。

Since it is a bloody disaster curse, all matters related to blood can be taken into consideration.

既然是血光之灾，那举凡就跟血有关的事项都能考虑在内。

The fortune teller advises the general public to get rid of the bloody disaster curse by cleaning their teeth, donating blood and accumulating merit.

算命师建议普罗大众破解血光之灾的方法就是去洗牙、捐血又能积功德。

Although I am afraid of death, but I am not superstitious.

虽然是怕死之人，但我不迷信。

I deliberately donate blood during Lunar New Year because relatively fewer people donate blood during this period.

我刻意在农历新年捐血是因为这段期间捐血的人相对少。

Some time ago, the blood bank was in urgent need of type O blood, and the Ministry of Health also called on the public to actively donate blood.

前段时间，血库O型血告急，卫生部还呼吁民众踊跃出来捐血呢。

Seventh Day Of First Lunar Month 正月初七

Singapore

新加坡

The seventh day of the first lunar month is Human Day!

正月初七是人日！

Many people may not know the origin of Human Day.

很多人未必知道人日的来由。

Legend has it that in ancient times, the earth was dark and barren.

传说远古时期大地一片黑暗、荒芜。

Since the creation of the world, the sun, moon and stars have appeared in the sky, and mountains, rivers and vegetation have appeared on the ground.

自盘古开天辟地后，天上有了太阳、月亮和星星，地上有了山川草木。

After Nüwa created chickens, dogs, pigs, sheep, cows, horses for six consecutive days, she created humans on the seventh day to take charge of the six animals.

女娲一连六日，依次造出了鸡、狗、猪、羊、牛、马后，第七日捏出了人，用来主管六畜。

The custom of "Human Day" began in the Western Han Dynasty and has a history of more than 2,000 years.

“人日”习俗从西汉开始，至今已有二千年多年的历史。

Wishing all my readers Happy Birthday!

祝我所有的读者生日快乐！

P/S: Nüwa was originally the leader of an ancient clan in the era of Chinese legends, and later became the ancestor of mankind in Chinese mythology.

注：女娲原为中国传说时代中的上古氏族首领，后成为中国神话中的人类始祖。