Discovering
Hokkien
Hokkien Customs
Spring Rice: It is a bowl of cooked rice -with a sprig of red paper flower called Spring Flower stuck on it. The spring rice is placed on the altar from the 1st to the 15th of the first month of the lunar year. By the 15th, the rice turns mouldy and orange, signifying abundance and surplus throughout the new year. Spring rice is a typical Hokkien Chinese New Year custom.
Mee Sua: Symbolises longevity
Egg: Using chopsticks to break the egg shell signifies a life breakthrough.
Bed setting: Involves getting a young boy to jump on the marital bed in the hope that the newlyweds will beget a son soon.
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A lady who can speak well and has been blessed with good fortune (好命婆) is invited for bed setting.
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Requirements for “好命婆”: with a pair of children and her parents are in good health condition.
“Stepping on treasure, you are a pleasure to be around in the new family”: putting red packets with fate coins under four corners of the bed in hopes of popularity.
Ceremony before the marriage: On the morning of the wedding, the bride and bridegroom will find a good fortuned couple to comb their hair
During Baby's first month: Snip off a portion of the hair.
During the baby's fourth month: Shave eyebrows, snip off a few eyelashes, shave off the hair and perform an anti-drooling ceremony (stringing a chain of round biscuits around a baby's neck in the hope that the baby will not drool excessively anymore)
During the baby's first year: Let the baby step on Ang Ku Kueh, signifying an expansive journey ahead.
“Zhua Zhou” (One-year-old catch): Abacus, Pen, Money, Food
以上的视频来源于 —— ©zaobao.sg
Getai Culture
1940 – 1950: Start of Getai
Getai performance initially functioned as the warm-up show for the main performance. As time went by, it slowly replaced the main performance. As of today, Getai is an indispensable entertainment for “good brothers” (wandering ghosts) during the celebration of the Hungry Ghost Festival.
1970 - 1980: Emphasis of Stage Design on Getai
In the early days of Getai, the stage design was humble and shabby, with a single spotlight and basic sound equipment. On days of thunderstorms, the corded microphones might even result in electrical faults.
In the past, Getai followed a “first come, first served” basis. Many performers had to queue from morning to dawn to perform one more show.
Only until 1990 Aaron Tan, a local Getai entrepreneur, replaced this practice with a pre-arranged program rundown. It has since resolved the issue of queuing.