Chinese New Year Eve

Today is Saturday, but it is not a normal weekend, for after today, we are entering into another Chinese New Year - Year of Tiger.

Woke up around 9, then headed to the Central Market to get fresh food - for during the coming holidays, most of the shops close, I need to buy some fresh fruits, meat and vegetables.

Actually, I seldom go to market at such early time, I usually go after work, I believe if today I shop after 6, all the fresh food will be gone.

I can see a lot of people in the streets - doing the shopping in this Chinese new year eve morning.
With a lot of food around, and a lot of people shopping, this is really the atmosphere of celebrating the Chinese New Year.

Everything today in the market is quite expensive - fish, meat and vegetables... knowing there will no supply starting from tomorrow, everyone buy a lot, thus, it is normal the price goes up.

When I was young, I heard mother said that in order to save money, the smart housewives usually finished the shopping 2-3 days before the new year eve.

After the shopping, went to Yam Cha with father, I am smart enough this time, as I reserved
the table few days ago, we arrived at 10:30, and we got the table immediately.

Then, did a small shopping - father bought a pair of new shoes - the elders said that in the first day of Chinese New Year, one should wear new shoes to get rid of the little man, thus bring good luck for the coming new year. Besides, one should not buy shoes during the first month of the Chinese New Year - because the sound of "shoes" in Chinese has a meaning of "hardship" .

However, I did nothing for myself, except for the food.

I also ended up to buy several things in two different markets - Red Market and the S. Lourenço Market.

With the bus and walking, only few hours, I finished all the shopping in three wet-markets today.

Now, it is time for me to rest!!!