I've only been to one big street party - Swing Singapore in 1988. It was enjoyable because it was not so crowded at first, and when the crowd grew, my friends and I wisely left.
Don't like the LOUD noises they call music, or body-to-body squeeze.
But party-goes, by all means, continue to revel ... after all, our economy needs every boost it can get.
Sometimes, I wonder if party-goers like the atmosphere of numerous strangers for a reason - partial anonymity to hide some inner emptiness.
ReplyDeleteIn other societies, meeting and chatting with strangers with genuine interests is very much of the culture, so being in a party with lots of strangers is not quite the same.
ReplyDeleteme too.. and my family. we too don't like the loud noise and crowded places.
ReplyDeleteOne time is usually enough to let you know what you aren't missing.
ReplyDeleteYeah. My Irish colleague tells me how he is constantly astounded at how people here at pubs do not even bother to say hi to other pub patrons and stick to their own little groups, or themselves. In England and Ireland it is part of culture and courtesy to say hi to other folks whilst one is waiting for their pint to be served, not only because it takes a long time to pull it, but also because it's a nice way to meet people (I suppose their local pubs are the equivalent of our kopitiams).
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I'd be remiss not say that pre-Chinese New Year crowds in Chinatown is different.
ReplyDeleteNot that I actually enjoy it very much that I want to do it every year, but there's an atmosphere that is actually something I'd like to see continue, despite the changing times that more and more of the traditional goods displaced by alien merchandise.
Not sure if enough "authenticity" will be retained by the time my children are old enough to appreciate it.
There is a sense of schizophernia here when practically all my daily routines, from work to schools for the kids, revolve around the Gregorian Calendar, but I don't feel it's a New Year until Chinese New Year when I hardly kept track of the Lunar calendar.
ReplyDeleteHi Snowy,
ReplyDeleteI don't feel comfortable in the crowds too, I cannot stay for long with a lot of people around me... Sometimes, in crowded supermarkets, I feel really sick and I have to go out. It happens when I've spent too much time alone or almost alone in quiet places.
I found interesting your note about our different calendars and I like it. You see, I often wonder if I was right to wish a Happy New Year to my Chinese friends and didn't want to offend them. Maybe I should wish them now a Happy Gregorian New Year ? :-)
You know, when I was helping my mum to prepare the Xmas' eve, I asked her to explain me why we were celebrating a christian event in our family since we are not christian for many generations (I have to confess that every year I don't feel comfortable to celebrate Xmas)... First she laughed and explained that if we are not christians, it is still a good way to give some care to the ones we love and to show that we love them. She also told me that originally, it was a pagan celebration of the winter solstice and this explanation made my day! Now I consider that we are celebrating the winter on the 25th even if it is not my favorite season! :p
Well, I think most Chinese, like me, wouldn't take offence.
ReplyDeleteWhen greetings are genuine, even religious ones, I thank the wishers even if our religions differ.
Thank you Snowy ! :)
ReplyDelete