Three Beginnings 三初

Singapore

新加坡

January 1, 2023.

2023年1月1日。

Today is three beginnings - beginning of week, month and year.

今日是三初 — 周初、月初、年初。

It is the beginning of a new year, and it also symbolises new hope, new vision.

这是新的一年的开始，也象征着新希望、新愿景。

Hope 2023 will be a prosperous and healthy year for everyone.

希望2023年对每个人来说都是繁华和健康的一年。

Wishing all a Happy New Year!

祝愿大家新年快乐！

Three Ends 三末

Singapore

新加坡

Today is three ends - weekend, month end, year end.

今天是三末 — 周末、月末、年末。

It symbolises the end of everything, for better or worse, in 2022.

它象征着2022年一切事物的终结，无论好坏。

Time will not stop for anyone, 

时间不会为了任何人而停摆。

Be it good or bad, you know better.

好亦如此、坏亦罢，冷暖自知。

Everything will pass.

一切都会过去的。

What should be let go, just go with the drift.

该放下的，就随风而去吧。

Boxing Day 节礼日

Singapore

新加坡

Boxing Day originated in Great Britain, as a holiday to give gifts to the poor.

节礼日起源于英国作为向穷人赠送礼物的节日。

Today Boxing Day is primarily known as shopping holiday.

现今的节礼日主要被称为购物假期。

In olden Singapore, Boxing Day was a public holiday for working people and students.

在旧新加坡，节礼日是工作人士和学生的公共假日。

When Boxing Day fell on a Saturday or Sunday, there was a holiday on Monday.

当节礼日落在星期六或星期日时，星期一既放假。

However, in recent years this tradition has ceased.

然而，近年来这传统已经停止。

To me Boxing Day is to open the gift box day. (Wathehaha!)

对我来说，节礼日既是开箱日。（哇的哈哈！）

This year's Boxing Day gifts to myself to unbox are iPhone 14 Pro Max and Apple Ultra Watch.

今年节礼日送自己的开箱礼物的是苹果的哀凤14破脉和苹果凹凸表。

Winter Solstice 冬至

Singapore

新加坡

It is Winter Solstice again.

又是冬至节。

What is the winter solstice like for Heng Hwa people?

兴化人的冬至是怎么样的呢？

Heng Hwa people believe that the winter solstice night is grander than new year's eve and winter solstice morning is grander than new year's day. 

兴化人认为冬至晚大过除夕晚，冬至早大过年初一。

I remember when I was a child, my grandmother would set up ginger and ten pairs of chopsticks every winter solstice night, and then we started making glutinous rice balls.

记得小时候，每当冬至晚祖母就会摆好姜母和十双筷子，然后我们开始搓汤圆。

Any shape when making the glutinous rice balls must be in pairs.

搓汤圆时的任何造型都要成双成对。

There is also pithy formula for making the glutinous rice balls.

搓汤圆还有口诀。

冬至搓汤圆，家中出好儿。

汤圆搓圆圆，日日挣大钱。

金鸡搓两只，手脚会利落。

狗仔搓一双，出入都平安。

银币搓两片，闲心沿路逛。

元宝搓两个，儿孙出头日。

旁边放姜母，日子过大好。

鸳鸯嘴吮嘴，荣华兼富贵。

簸箕插五春，经常做乾坤。

中间放红筷，出门大吉利。

橘子放一堆，儿孙围成团。

汤圆包花生，保佑一家添财又添丁。

P/S: Nanyang people generally call Putian people Heng Hwa people.

注：南洋人普遍称莆田人为兴化人。

Bivalent Vaccine 二价疫苗

Singapore

新加坡

Went in today for my fifth dose (third booster jab) of vaccine.

今天去接种了我的第五剂（第三剂的追加剂）的疫苗。

This time it was the bivalent vaccine.

这次打的是二价疫苗。

I had chosen the Moderna / Spikevax bivalent vaccine.

我选择了莫德纳 / 史派威士二价疫苗。

As usual after the vaccination, there would be a fifteen-minutes observation period.

像往常一样，接种疫苗后，会有十五分钟的观察期。

As before, it was recommended to avoid strenuous activities for two weeks after vaccination.

如之前一样，接种疫苗后被建议在两周内避免剧烈运动。

Got my COVID-19 vaccination card which contained all my previous vaccination records.

获得了我的冠病疫苗接种卡，里面包含了我之前所有的疫苗接种记录。

In addition to free vaccination, there are also gifts to receive. Wathehaha!

除了有免费疫苗接种，还有赠品领取。哇的哈哈！

Repeal Section 377A 条文废除

Singapore

新加坡

Parliament repeals of Section 377A of the Penal Code, decriminalising gay sex.

国会废除刑事法典第377A节条文，正式将男男性行为除罪化。

The bill passes with 93 votes in favour and 3 against.

该法案以93票赞成，3票反对获通过。 

Parliament endorses changes to the Constitution to protect the current definition of marriage between a man and a woman from legal challenge.

国会同时批准修改宪法以保护现行的一男一女婚姻定义免受法律挑战。

The bill passes with 85 votes in favour, 2 against and 2 abstentions.

该法案以85票赞成，2票反对及2票弃权获通过。

It marks an important milestone in Singapore's journey towards social equality.

这标志着新加坡在推行社会平等道路上的重要里程碑。

Remember To Scan 记得扫描

Singapore - Changi Airport

新加坡 — 樟宜机场

Finally home.

终于回家了。

All travellers including Singaporeans entering Singapore need to scan and submit the SG Arrival Card before clearing immigration.

所有进入新加坡的旅客，包括新加坡人，都需要在办理出入境手续前需要扫描并提交新加坡入境卡。

Singapore's efficiency remains unmatched.

新加坡的效率仍然无以伦比。

Best feeling to be back home!

回家的感觉最好！

P/S: Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung stated in Parliament that the declaration of the SG Arrival Card will become a permanent measure to prevent the importation of infectious diseases.

注：卫生部长王乙康在国会表示，新加坡入境卡的申报将成为以防止传染病输入的永久措施。