Kitty Fionna Sarang Heyo: 新年快乐！恭喜发财！万事如意！

~ Back to work and today is the 8th day of the Lunar New Year ~

Rested for 9days and felt great to be back to my office

Had our 收工宴 at Upper Thomson Road ~ Old Hong Kong Family Restaurant

Nice and Simple Dinner

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Our Family Photo taken at Hilltop Restaurant on 22 Jan 2012

Something we must have during our Reunion Dinner 发财鱼生

Rituals and Meanings

Yusheng plays on the homonyms where “yu” 魚 means “fish” but enunciated appropriately, it also means 馀 “abundance”; and “sheng” 生 means literally “raw” but enunciated appropriately, it means “life”. Thus Yusheng implies “abundance of wealth and long life”. In Cantonese it is known as “lo sheng” with “lo” 捞 also meaning “tossing up good fortune”. The tossing action is called “Lo Hei”, which means to “rise” (起 “hei”), again a reference to a thriving business and thus its popularity with businessmen during the New Year.

Step 1: All at the table offer New Year greetings.

Words: 恭喜发财 “Gong Xi Fa Cai” meaning “Congratulations for your wealth” or 万事如意 “Wan shi ru yi” meaning “May all your wishes be fulfilled”.

Step 2: Fish, symbolising abundance or excess through the year, is added.

Words: Nian nian you yu 年年有馀 and You yu you sheng.

Step 3: The pomelo is added over the fish, adding both luck and auspicious value.

Words: 大吉大利 Da ji da li.

Step 4: Pepper & Cinnamon Powder is then dashed over the ingredients in the hope of attracting more money and valuables.

Words: 招财进宝 Zhao cai jin bao.

Step 5: Then oil is poured out, circling the ingredients to increase all profits 10,000 times and encouraging money to flow in from all directions

Words: Yi ben wan li and 财原广进 Cai yuan guang jin.

Step 6: Carrots are added to the fish indicating blessings of good luck.

Words: Hong yun dang tou.

Step 7: Then the shredded green radish is placed on the fish symbolising eternal youth.

Words: Qing chun chang zhu.

Step 8: After which the shredded white radish is added – prosperity in business and promotion at work.

Words: Feng sheng shui qi and 步步高升 Bu bu gao sheng.

Step 9: Chopped Peanut bits are dusted on the dish symbolising a household filled with gold and silver. As an icon of longevity, peanuts also symbolise eternal youth.

Words: 金银满屋 Jin yin man wu.

Step 10: Sesame seeds quickly follow symbolising a flourishing business.

Words: 生意兴隆 Sheng yi xing long.

Step 11: Deep-fried flour crisps in the shape of golden pillows is then added with wishes that literally the whole floor would be filled with gold.

Words: Pian di huang jin.

Step 12: All toss the salad an auspicious 7 times with loud shouts of “lo hei” 捞起 and other auspicious New Year wishes.

Words: Lo hei 捞起 which is Cantonese for “tossing luck”.

The ingredients are mixed by pushing them toward the centre, an encouragement to push on the good luck of all at the table. If you can’t finish the salad, don’t worry, as usually a small amount is left behind to signify abundance.