This being new year, I thought I'd blog in a fresher, brighter colour. =p
This new year was unlike any other, I had a string of firsts and they include, first time I've ever been visiting so many friends' homes. First time I've had quite so many friends at my home too, and the first time I've been a 'banker' / 'dealer' in a game of Blackjack... I am not one who has luck in abundance when it comes to 'side' money so I normally refrain from gambling. After that session, looks like I've used up my beginners luck too, so this being a first could be a last as well. ;-)
At 26, I think I'm sufficiently old enough to start to learn about the many customs that we have to deal with during this festive season. From the ones who have to stick to at home, to the ones we have to perform at other people's homes. There aren't that many, and there are many an old wives tale about why we do it but all in all, I think, as long as we remain courteous, friendly and considerate we won't fall far from being perfectly in line.
One of the fun customs that I learnt more about this year is the packing and giving of a bag of presents when one visits another at their home. It appears that there must be three items in it, usually inclusive of at least three mandarin oranges (counts as one item) and people are becoming more creative with the other two items nowadays.
According to mum, I can put in biscuits, candies, wines, dried meat, chocolates, peanuts and a host of other items in suitable packaging. Needless to say, the bag containing dried meat would almost certainly be one of the most expensive. Unless you're stocking ultra expensive chocolates and biscuits of course.
There is also the part where the receiver has to give a bag in return when the guest leaves. There were times when this was forgotten or worst still, you forgot who brought which bag! yikes! I will admit to having gone through the above, and ending up not giving the 'return' bag. Much apologies.
But is there anyone who can tell me, why three items? Why put what we put in it? Is there a story behind it or is it just a gesture of politeness and civility?
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2019年2月24日 星期天 晴
7 years ago
1 comments:
The wise old lady has three friends but grew nine too many mandarins, baked nine too many biscuits, and dried nine too many chunks of bak gua. On the ninth day of new year, she gave to them each three mandarins, three biscuits, and two chunks of bak gua. The old dog ate the other three bak guas – loved it! – and made symbolic a cultural gesture through generations of word-of-dog marketing. Much like the naturalist who walks pass a tree bearing thorny fruits and thought it wise to split them open to reveal its flesh, of offensive odor, and savors it! Or bold Jon O’Swift who pry open a basket of oysters to find no pearls, and devours it! Now, isn’t that a wonder.
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