Introductory Message
HO~HO~HO~ Season’s Greetings from 「茶隅FUN逅」. We wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy dōng zhì. May the New Year bring with it peace and happiness! In December, across the English speaking world, the spicy smell of mulled wine fills the air, choirs are perfecting the harmonies of traditional Christmas carols, and star-shaped fairy lights criss-cross the streets. Even in China, Santa Claus are occupying the lobbies of CBD buildings. What are your Christmas season traditions? Do you have your own choices of food, film and music for creating Christmas atmosphere and excitement? Are you attending an office Christmas Party and stuck for the obscure idea of secret Santa? Or you prefer to skip all the Christmas nonsense and celebrate the arrival of winter by eating traditional Chinese warming food? Well, this year, you could add ‘attending 「茶隅FUN逅」’ to your list and join us for an evening of festive talks and songs.
手持萨克斯风的红袍老爷爷已经攻占了CBD写字楼的大堂，超市里称蔬菜的阿姨也早早带起了鹿角帽，你的2018圣诞季开始了吗？你有每年必看的圣诞电影吗？你最爱的圣诞歌曲是哪首？你希望小精灵在袜子里为你藏什么呢？周六来「茶隅FUN逅」喝茶唱歌聊圣诞！
This session started with a bit of singing/humming/lyrics-reading...
Jingle Bells
Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
O'er the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bobtails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, hey
Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh
About Christmas
Some observations and opinions from the participants
Lin: In Japan, Christmas is for couples. Although it's not the most important festival, Japanese people enjoy the longest vacation for Christmas. Working during Christmas is highly appreciated. An interesting observation is that some young Japanese people would 'hire' a date to celebrate Christmas as it is expected or supposed to be a romantic occasion.
Rock: In the US, watching live The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is a Christmas tradition for many Americans.
Janny:In England, people celebrate Christmas with their family while young people usually spend new year's eve with friends. Traditional Christmas dinner includes roasted turkey, stuffing, yorkshire puddings, pigs in blanket, brussel sprouts, roasted potatoes, cranberry sauce, mince pie, Christmas pudding and trifles.
Christmas Films
- Home Alone (John)
- Love Actually
- It's a wonderful life. (Janny)
Christmas Songs
- Jingle Bells
- We Wish You a Merry Christmas
- Santa Claus is Coming to Town
- Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
- Twelve Days of Christmas
- Silent Night
- Oh Holy Night (Nathan Carter)
- Last Christmas
- All I Want for Christmas is You
- Christmas in My Heart
- Kiss me Baby, it’s Christmas
Celebrating the arrival of Winter: the Fuzhounese Way
In Fuzhou, local people start celebrating the Winter Festival on Winter Solstice (/ˈsɒlstɪs/) eve. A very traditional food is called ”米时“ (pronounced as 'C'), which is made of sticky rice and regular long rice. Traditionally, senior members of the family will lit up a pair of candles, set two oranges and two bundles of spring chives on the table and chant best wishes for the family while rolling the boiled sticky rice balls in the soybean powder - sugar mixture. Besides, people also make 元宵 dumplings - a type of savoury rice balls.
Date & Time: 22/12/2018 19:30-21:00 (Warm and clear)
Attendees: 14 Nanxian, Janny, John, Lin, Celia, Tiffany,Tony, Mike, Joan, Vicky, Daisy, Regina, Mandy
Archive files: 2 Short videos, 4 Photos, 1 Signin Form
Minutes taken by Janny
