I have been up since 5am this morning with huge stomach cramps :( I'm all tired and sleepy but cannot go to sleep.. This morning I have an appointment for a massage, and I'm utterly worried that I will actually fall asleep :S *Eeep*
Anyways, last night I went to Coco's for coffee with a good friend of mine who is rather Malaysian, and loves to tell stories about asian ghosts, traditions and ceremonies.
And then it occurred to me that my family does very little in the way of Chinese traditions. Having lived and grown up in Australia, I sometimes miss the traditions that I get to experience when I go visit family in Malaysia. I miss the two weeks of chinese new year celebrations, the huge family dinners that it affords, rolling glutinous rice balls in anticipation of the winter festivals, playing with lanterns and firecrackers, and getting ready for the autumn and moon festivals.
Whilst I'm rather anti-asian in some respects, I think that they're fabulous when it comes to enjoying and preserving traditions. There's always a big hoo-ha when I'm at my Aunty's place, and family really get into the spirit of things there.
Pics from a previous entry showing liondancers.. Trev - know where this photo was taken? =D
Here in Australia, these traditions rarely warrant more than a passing comment, little mooncakes (without really knowing the significance of the day), getting ang-pau but not understanding why, and definitely no rolling of glutinous rice balls in my home :(
Even more so, I feel as if we don't really have any traditions here in Australia. Sure, on 26th of Jan each year, my friends and I make our annual mecca to the foreshore for a day of good ol' aussie beer, face paint and fireworks, but that's really it isnt it, and on the 25th there's the annual Anzac day parades. But beyond that, what does LAbour Day, Foundation Day and Queen's Birthday mean to me? To be honest, it's just an excuse for a public holiday and a long weekend (but hey, id still love more!), but where are the special days that make Australia - well, Australia?
