Our Lantern Celebration

For the past 2 years, the boys have been going to a neighbouring 'kampung' which would hold a small community lantern celebration. The great thing is they pass out toys & lanterns for free. And the boys would normally get the better ones because Kor-Kor's ex-babysitter is a volunteer at the community centre.

And oh ya...the best of all was all attendees were encouraged to walk around the 'kampung' with their lanterns! With all the kids, parents & grand parents also taking part, it was very 'yit lau' (merry)!

But this year, apa pun tarak, because of this H1N1 thing (I hope it really is this reason & not because S'gor gomen is running out of budget to give out).

So, to continue to uphold & pass on our Chinese tradition (ahem!), I tried to find the boys another 'group' to carry their lanterns with. We drove to 2 playgrounds, but nobody is celebrating. Sigh!

Then, we saw a small group, who seems to be like they are going somewhere. After tailing them for a while, I stopped to ask one uncle whether they are going to any celebration (that I dunno of).

"No la...it's only us..going around for fun" uncle informed.

Ceh...

So no choice, it was only us lo (plus the maid). So, we rummaged thru the store room to find their old 'free' lanterns. Left only the traditional types, the fish, rabbit & aeroplane shaped ones. The paper ones, with superhero patterns, and the battery ones all 'sudah koyak' (torn and broken). The sticks to carry the lanterns also disappeared already, so have to find branches from the playground.

So we set off, holding by the strings only. But due to the wind (or lanterns are not like they used to be during our generation), their candle lights keep blowing out. So have to settle the boys near the park bench to light a few candles, so that it's easier to re-light their lanterns' candles.

As it was really windy, we tried to arrange leaves to protect the candles lighted on the floor. The boys were so amused. And this mommy sorta encouraged them to 'experiment' cooking the leaves!

Initially the boys were scared & would run off screaming when the leaves caught fire. But after a short while, they began to gain confidence & would dare to get closer to the fire.

Then, 'cooking' leaves soon turned into 'cooking' sticks...

Soon, the few candles turned into a small bonfire...

And they got more & more amused when the fire gets bigger & bigger! Especially when they throw a dry stick or leaf in & that thing caught fire...

Only then I started to get worried. Shoot! Now they know how to start something like this when they are in the house.

This mommy so, so clever rite..teaching her kids how to build a fire!!!!

So I have to start the lecturing & nagging, to drill it in that this fire thing is only for one night a year (and may be during Chinese New Year). Only. (Kor-Kor got the message, but I'm not so sure about Di-Di though...mmmm...though I did tell them that I'll skin them alive if they ever try this at home!)

Still... that worrying doubt aside, it was fun! And may be a bit educational for them. Though we did get a bit off track, playing fire instead of playing with lanterns, haha!

And mommy get to re-live her childhood, playing masak-masak with real fires during the lantern festivities!!!!