Frannywanny

The Hungry Ghost Month is finally over! *phew* As much as I try to avoid being overly superstitious, it's hard not to feel a bit fearful towards this dreaded month every year where we're warned to avoid making big decisions, signing contracts, moving to a new home and of course, getting married or doing anything wedding related. It's also this month when Chinese all over the world would take extra pre-caution against accidents and sickness. Finally, it's over and it's time to celebrate! In a week's time, we will be having the Mid-Autumn Festival and it's so interesting to see how one holiday is being celebrated so differently across the region. Here in the Lion City, it's customary for families to light up pretty lanterns and to eat as much mooncakes to their heart's delight. Meanwhile, in Manila, most of us love this time of the year as it's when we play the Mooncake Dice Game (pwa tiong chiu) . I'm so happy that my Fil-Chi friends w...

It's currently the ghost month in the lunar (Chinese) calendar and this means, it's the season where we try to avoid traveling, making big decisions, signing contracts, making big purchases and getting married. It's the most feared for month of the year as this is when they say, the ghosts and spirits would be most active. Yesterday, the 15th of the 7th month is said to be the worst day of all. During this time, people would offer food to the gods to ask for extra protection and would avoid places like hospitals, wakes and cemeteries. Come the 15th of September (a month from now), the ghost month has officially ended and it's time to celebrate! This day is called the Mid-Autumn Festival  where families gather to have a good meal and enjoy an abundant supply of mooncakes. While I love Chinese New Year food such as sticky tikoy  (glutinous rice cakes), tang yuan (glutinous stuffed rice balls), dumplings and yu sheng salad, Paul's favorite Chinese holiday is actual...