Thursday 29 February 2024

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。

Wednesday 21 February 2024

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。

Friday 16 February 2024

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。

Wednesday 14 February 2024

Happy 11th Birthday 11岁生日快乐

Singapore

新加坡

North-South-Dong-Xi is ELEVEN years old.

Valentine's Day every year is also the birthday of North-South-Dong-Xi.

Published 344 articles including this.

These days, most people are only willing to "see" with their eyes.

Will anyone still take the time to "read"?

Even if not many people read, I will insist on continuing to write.

Must repeat this very important phrase every year, hope North-South-Dong-Xi has years to keep everyone company.

~*Happy 11th Birthday North-South-Dong-Xi*~


《North-South-东-西》十一岁了!

每年的情人节也是《North-South-东-西》生日。

发表了 344 篇文章,包括这篇文章。

这年头,大多数人只愿意用眼睛“看”。

还有人会花时间“读”吗?

尽管读的人不多,我还是会坚持继续写。

每年都要重复这句很重要的话,希望在未来的时间里《North-South-东-西》可以一直陪伴大家。

~*《North-South-东-西》11岁生日快乐*~

Monday 12 February 2024

All Get Rich 龙众发财

Singapore - Gardens By The Bay

新加坡 — 滨海湾花园


The annual River Hongbao makes its grand debut again.

一年一度的春到河畔又在隆重登场。


River Hongbao enters its 38th year this year.

春到河畔今年迈入第38个年头。


River Hongbao will be open to the public from February 8 to 17.

春到河畔将从2月8日至17日开放给公众游览。


Admission is free

入场免费


Opening hours: 2:30pm to 10:30pm

开放时间:下午2点半至晚上10点半


Nearest MRT station: Gardens by the Bay Station

最近的地铁站:滨海湾花园站


It is recommended to go at night.

建议晚上时分去。


To better appreciate the lighting.

才能看到璀璨的灯饰。


The twelve zodiac signs of horse and rat

十二生肖之马与鼠


The twelve zodiac signs of dragon and tiger

十二生肖之龙与虎


The twelve zodiac signs of rooster and sheep

十二生肖之鸡与羊


The twelve zodiac signs of rabbit and monkey

十二生肖之兔与猴


The twelve zodiac signs of ox and dog

十二生肖之牛与狗


The twelve zodiac signs of snake and pig

十二生肖之蛇与猪


The wishing pond

许愿池


Five Directions of God of Wealth

五路财神



Food stalls selling snacks

卖小吃的摊位



More than enough every year

年年有“鱼”


Get free calligraphy and painting

免费领取字画


And riddles

还有猜字谜


Entrance

入口处


140-meter-long floating dragon lighting

长达140公尺的悬浮巨龙灯饰


Host of the evening's program

当晚的节目主持人


Despite the drizzle, the auditorium was still packed.

尽管下着毛毛雨,观众席上仍然座无虚席。


Performers from Taiwan

来自台湾的表演嘉宾


30 sets of 18-meter-long firecrackers (360 degree video)

30组18米长鞭炮(360度视频)


Everyone’s favourite God of Wealth.

大家都喜爱的财神爷。

I wish you all:

All Got Good Fortune,
All Got Big Money,
All Got Money Spend,
All Got Prosperous!

在这祝愿大家:

龙众好运来、
龙众发大财、
龙众有钱开、
龙众兴旺发!

注:龙众(闽南语)全部的意思,有钱开(闽南语)有钱花。

Saturday 10 February 2024

Spring Festival Trivia 春节冷知识

Singapore - Chinatown

新加坡 — 牛车水

As we all know, the Lunar New Year is the Chinese New Year's Day.

众所周知农历新年是华族的元旦。

"Yuán" means "first" and "dàn" means "day", so Yuándàn is New Year.

“元”意思为“首”,“旦”意思为“日”,所以元旦即是新年。

What is the difference between Yuándàn and Spring Festival?

那元旦和春节又有什么区别?

Before 1912, China did not use the Gregorian calendar, but the lunar calendar.

在1912年之前,中国是不用阳历的,中国用的是农历。


In ancient times, the Xia Dynasty used the Xia calendar, and the Xia calendar used Meng Xi month (Yuan month) as the first month.

古时候的夏朝使用夏历,夏历以孟喜月(元月)为正月。

However, in the Shang Dynasty, the Yin calendar used by the Shang Dynasty used the La month (twelfth month) as the first month.

但到了商朝,商朝使用的殷历以腊月(十二月)为正月。

The Zhou calendar used the winter month (eleventh month) as the first month.

周朝的周历以冬月(十一月)为正月。

After Qin Shihuang unified China, he decided to use Yangchun month (tenth month) as the first month.

秦始皇统一中国后,又决定以阳春月(十月)为正月。

In other words, "the first day of the tenth month" became "New Year's Day" at that time.

也就是说,这时候的“十月初一”变成了“元旦”。


It was not until the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty that the previous state of "changing back and forth" of the New Year's Day basically ended.

直到汉武帝时期,才基本结束之前元旦“变来变去”的状态。

During Taichu period of the Han Dynasty, Deng Ping and others created the "Taichu calendar" and reset Meng Xiyue (Yuan month) as the first month.

太初元年,邓平等人创立“太初历”,重定夏历孟喜月(元月)为正月。

The first day of Meng Xiyue (the first day of the first month in the Xia calendar) is called New Year's Day, which was used until the end of the Qing Dynasty.

把孟喜月的第一天(夏历的正月初一)称为元旦,一直沿用到清朝末年。


In 1912, in January of that year, Sun Yat-sen issued the "Order of the Provisional President on the Promulgation of Almanacs", requiring the Ministry of Internal Affairs to compile and print a new almanac, and then stipulated that January 1 of the Gregorian calendar is the "New Year", but it was not called "Yuándàn".

1912年,那一年1月份,孙中山发布《临时大总统关于颁布历书令》,要求内务部编印新历书,随后又规定阳历1月1日为“新年”,但不叫“元旦”。

In January 1914, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the then government proposed in a report to the president: "It is proposed to designate the lunar calendar Yuándàn as the Spring Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival as the Summer Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival as the Autumn Festival, and the Winter Solstice as the Winter Festival".

1914年1月,当时政府的内务部在给大总统的呈文中提出:“拟请定农历元旦为春节,端午为夏节,中秋为秋节,冬至为冬节”。

Later, only Yuándàn "Spring Festival" was approved, so the traditional Lunar New Year was renamed "Spring Festival".

后来只有元旦为“春节”被批准,所以传统农历新年易名为“春节”。

The traditional name "Yuándàn" was placed on January 1 of the Gregorian calendar.

传统的“元旦”名称被搁在了公历的1月1日。

Friday 9 February 2024

Customs, Taboos 习俗、禁忌

Singapore - Chinatown

新加坡 — 牛车水

Lunar New Year is a big day for the Chinese.

农历新年对华人来说是个大日子。


From the first to the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, some customs and taboos to share with everyone.

农历新年的初一到十五,习俗、禁忌跟大家分享一下。


It is a custom to visit relatives' homes for New Year greetings on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

正月初一到亲戚家拜年是一种习俗。

The younger generation pays respect to their elders by saying auspicious new year greetings, the elders will give red packet to the younger generation.

晚辈给长辈拜年,讲拜年吉祥话,长辈就会给晚辈红包。

Avoid killing animals and cleaning on the first day of the Lunar New Year, as this will sweep away the blessings of the new year.

正月初一当天避免杀生和打扫卫生,会把新一年的福气扫出去。


It is a traditional custom for married daughters to return to their parents' home on the second day of the Lunar New Year.

正月初二回娘家是华人的传统习俗。

In ancient times, daughters generally would not return to their parents' home easily after they got married, and it was also difficult for brothers and sisters to reunite.

在古代,女儿嫁出去了一般不会轻易回娘家,兄弟姐妹间也很难团聚。

This day is the day when sisters reunite.

这天就是姐妹团聚的日子。

Everyone sits together, stays with their parents, and exchanges feelings.

大家团坐在一起,陪在父母身边,交流感情。

Do not wash clothes on the second day of the Lunar New Year because it is the birthday of the Water God.

正月初二忌洗衣服,因为是水神生日。

Let the Water God rest well and avoid irritating the Water God.

让水神好好休息,避免惹怒水神。


On the third day of the Lunar New Year, "Red Dog" Day has the same Chinese pronunciation as "Argument".

正月初三赤狗日与赤口同音。

People usually do not go out to pay New Year greetings to avoid quarrels with others.

通常不出门拜年以避免与他人发生口角。


Welcome the Stove Lord on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year.

正月初四迎接灶王爷。

As the Stove Lord wants to count the population, so everyone should stay at home, light firecrackers, burn incense and offer fruits to welcome the Stove Lord.

因为灶王爷要清点人口,所以人人都要在家不出门,点燃鞭炮,焚香敬果迎接灶王爷的到来。

On this day, the leftovers eaten during the New Year are put together to make a hodgepodge.

这一天还要把过年来吃的剩菜合在一起,做大杂烩。

It is taboo to go to bed before 11pm on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year because the Stove Lord will count the people after 11pm.

正月初四忌讳晚上11点前入寝,因为灶王爷会在晚上11点后清点人口。


The fifth day of the Lunar New Year is the birthday of the God of Wealth.

正月初五作为财神的诞辰。

People welcome the God of Wealth to their homes on this day and hope that they will have good fortune in the new year.

人们在这一天迎接财神到家,希望自己在新的一年财运亨通。

The fifth day of the Lunar New Year is also called "breaking the fifth day", which means that after this day, all the taboos can be broken and no longer observed.

正月初五又称“破五”,是说过了这天,所有禁忌都可被打破,不再遵守了。


The sixth day of the Lunar New Year is the opening for business day, which is auspicious because of the "Six-by-Six Great Fortune".

正月初六开市大吉,因为“六六大顺”。

The seventh day of the Lunar New Year is everyone’s birthday.

正月初七是所有人的生日。

Legend has it that Nüwa created humans on the seventh day.

传说女娲第七天才造出了人。

According to tradition, seven kinds (colours) of vegetables should be eaten on this day.

按照传统,要在这天吃七种(色)菜。


The eighth day of the Lunar New Year is millet’s birthday, also called Shunxing Festival.

正月初八是谷子的生日,也叫顺星节。

It is the day when the stars descend to the lower realm, the day when the stars appear in full bloom.

是诸星下界的日子,星斗出得最全的一天。

If the weather is sunny on this day, it means a good harvest of rice this year; if it is cloudy, it means a poor harvest.

如果这天天气晴朗表示今年稻谷丰收,天阴则欠收。

The ninth day of the Lunar New Year is the "Heaven Day", which is the birthday of the Jade Emperor, so on this day you cannot dry the quilt.

正月初九这一天是“天公日”,就是玉皇大帝的生日,所以这一天不能晒被子。


Do not touch stones on the tenth day of the Lunar New Year because it is the birthday of the Stone God.

正月初十不碰石,因为是石头神的生日。

On the eleventh day of the Lunar New Year, the father-in-law invites his son-in-law to dinner, because on the second day of the Lunar New Year, the son-in-law came to his father-in-law's house with new year goodies.

正月十一这天岳父要请女婿吃饭,因为初二女婿大包小包来岳父家。


The twelfth day of the Lunar New Year, people begin to prepare for the Lantern Festival, buy lanterns and build lantern sheds.

正月十二人们就开始准备元宵, 选购灯笼、搭盖灯棚。

The thirteenth day of Lunar New Year is the "Lamp Birthday".

正月十三为“灯生日”。

On this day, a lantern is lit in the kitchen to pray for prosperity in the family and marriage for the children.

这天在厨房点盏花灯,祈求家运兴旺,为子女求得婚姻。


The fourteenth day of Lunar New Year is the birthday of Empress Linshui.

正月十四是临水娘娘诞辰。

Legend has it that Linshui Empress can subjugate demons and is the protector of women and children; pregnant women pray for a smooth delivery, and couples pray for children.

传说临水娘娘能降妖伏魔,是妇幼保护神;孕妇祈求顺产,夫妻祭拜求子。


Watch the lanterns on the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year.

正月十五看花灯。

On the Lantern Festival, everyone comes out to watch the lanterns, guess lantern riddles, and eat dumplings.

上元节,这一天大家都出来看花灯,猜灯谜,吃元宵。


Do not borrow money from others during the Lunar New Year, and do not press for debts.

过年期间别向别人借钱,也别催债。

If you are entangled with money at the beginning of the New Year, you will have a bad year.

新年开始就被金钱纠缠,一年都会过的不顺心。

Do not cry in the Lunar New Year.

新的一年不要哭哭啼啼。

People think that if you cry in the new year, you will have bad luck in the new year.

人们认为新开始就哭哭啼啼,那新的一年也会霉运不断。

People believe that breaking bowls, cups, etc. during the Lunar New Year is unlucky. 

人们相信新年打破碗、杯子等都是不吉祥的。

But if you do break something, quickly say "Peace every year."

但是如果真的打破东西,赶紧说“岁岁平安”。