Just a recap of the event that happened on Chinese New Year Eve (年除夕) as I didn’t have the time to edit the photographs and upload them here sooner. Anyway, we started with an offerings and prayer 🙏 to the deities and ancestors. It was still drizzling outside as I made my way under an umbrella with the Joss Paper (金纸) or Hell Money (冥钞) to the bin downstairs. In Singapore, local authorities installed large, designated metal containers in neighbourhoods for safe burning of paper offerings.
Fa Gao (发糕), often referred to as Chinese Prosperity Cake 🧁 or Fortune Cake, is a traditional steamed cake popular during Chinese New Year and for ceremonial offerings. Known for its unique, “bloomed” or split-top appearance, it is a symbol of wealth, growth, and good fortune.
Nian Gao (年糕), translated as Year Cake or Chinese New Year’s Cake is a sticky, sweet delicacy made from glutinous rice flour 🌾 and brown sugar. It is a traditional staple food consumed during the Lunar New Year, symbolizing growth, progress, and rising prosperity in the coming year.
We bought a set of Roasted Duck (烧鸭), Roasted Chicken (烧鸡) and one kilogram of Roasted Pork (烧肉) though we didn’t use the chicken for the offering. The duck and chicken for offering to the deities must include both legs as it symbolises wholeness and integrity. These foods later became part of our reunion dinner which also included pork ribs & fish maw soup, broccoli stir-fry and this bowl of Cherry Tomatoes 🍅 & Japanese Cucumbers 🥒 slices. I know I didn’t have the pictures of the “feast” as mum didn’t really do the cooking due to advanced age and sis took up the mantle, but she can’t do complicated dishes.