When was the last time we had the big cleaning up of the house? It used to be always the main activity of the family when the Chinese New Year was approaching. It would be normally 1 to 2 weeks before the actual new year days that every home in the village would gather all their family members to clean up or even paint the house new to get ready for the big days. Now this good culture is rarely practised anymore!
During the period of big cleaning, bamboo tree became a convenient and useful tool for the villagers. They would cut down the stem and tie the leaves as the broom or brush. Using that, far and hard to reach spots and corners of the house, and all the spider webs were swept clean.
Chinese are particular about the dates which such cleaning activity is being carried out. Only on certain dates are to be seen as viable and good based on the ancient guidance of a book, which is published and printed in Hongkong annually. This book is commonly known as "Tong Seng" the content of which notifies and indicates the date, time period and direction for certain rituals to be performed so as to avoid bad omen but invite blessings or good luck.
As a small boy, I was particulary interested in participating in this house cleaning up job with my mum. The changing and pasting of new year bright red posters and decoration were my favorites. Amidst the popular Chinese New Year songs by the various radio stations, the excitement could be felt in the air when the new year mood was slowly built up in this manner. We even as kids knew very well that the actual new year day would be at its peak of celebration and very soon this once a year event would be considered as over. For that reason, I specially enjoyed the waiting and the anticipating moment for the coming of the new year.
Those were the bygone days in my memory. But with every approach of the Chinese New Year, my heart could not stop anticipate its coming and thrilled with excitement. Though the new year will never mean the same to me now as an adult compared to the time when I was a kid, but the whole episode of events always links me back to the past and reminisces the good old days that I once enjoyed very much.
May God bless us always young at hearts to enjoy every day and moment of the coming new year.
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