Orange tree at the entrance to the ground floor restaurant at Sheraton Towers Hotel, near Newton MRT station, Singapore.
I chose red packets as my theme when I was topics master at a Toastmasters International speakers club, Eminent. I forwarded on WhatsApp on my mobile phone several pictures of red packets so that the President could display them. That way and I did not have to travel carrying a heavy laptop or even a thumb drive.
The first red packets I chose to display showed red packets with pictures of oranges.
In addition to red packets, people give oranges, at least two, or trees with orange fruit and red ribbons.
I asked everybody: 'What do you know about Chinese New Year And Red Packets? Is there anybody Chinese in the audience?'
Chinese flag
Red Packets And Chinese Families
My friend Mrs Lim immediately volunteered herself. She told us:
Singapore Flag
'Like in China, in Singapore red packets, for Chinese New Year, as well as other festivals, are traditionally given by the married and well-paid, employed elders to their younger children and nephews and nieces, children, friends' children, and younger relatives who are not married and not yet earning money. Some families give red packets to those who are earning a living and not yet married. And low-paid employees. We used to do this.
'Children are very excited to receive red packets. But our youngsters are well-paid and don't need the money. So we told them, we won't give you any money and we don't expect any from you. We will just give you our good wishes. And our time.
'Everybody was happy with that. But that's just our family, and how we celebrate Chinese New Year, with a get together.'
Oranges and Orange Blossoms
In Singapore my family has on the living room balcony a small 'orange tree' (identified by a local garden centre as a miniature lime tree). Just in time for Chinese New Year 2020, the oranges, I mean limes, started turning orange, and a small white flower came out. We have made orange-lime marmalade. I water and watch our tree daily, and encourage the rest of the family to take turns. Could I rely on my family and the neighbours and visitors to keep the orange tree alive when I am not there. We had one which died in early 2019. This one is thriving - under my constant care. But I worry about whether it will survive when I am away in England. On the screen at the meeting I had red packets showing oranges.
I asked the members of Toastmasters International who were at the meeting, 'What can you tell us about oranges or orange trees and why do you and other people like them?'
'The answer from S... was:
'Flowering trees are beautiful. I was in Melbourne, Australia, in spring and they had flowering trees given by the Japanese people. Wonderful. A carpet of flower petals. A cloud of flowers. A sea of colours. It makes your heart sing. It makes you happy. Orange trees have the same effect. The fruit and the flowers. Spring time, colour and fruit and growing, a time of hope.'
My other questions were about the designs of different red packets:
Red packet for Chinese New Year with fish design.
I asked:
'Who would like a red packet with the design of fish and water?'
Fish and water
Fish is the sign of Pisces, meaning fish, in the Western zodiac. The speaker said:
You see fish a lot in Singapore outside big buildings such as shopping centres, malls, blocks of flats and offices. Fish are thought to be soothing. They bring good luck. Watching fish is very restful.'
A heckler shouted, 'Eating fish is even better!'
'What if you are vegetarian? What would a fish say to that?'
'Fish would agree with me. Fish like eating fish, too.'
Children And Gifts
I said: 'Children receive red packets with joy. Why would you like a red packet with a picture of children?'
The respondent, P, said: 'I don't have children. Where children are concerned, I have my boundaries. But I like entertaining my nephews and nieces. They like my visits. So long as there's a finite time.'
Hecklers shouted various time limits, such as:
'Two hours.'
'Two minutes.'
The speaker continued, 'What I like about children is their enthusiasm. And their honesty. They tell the truth. If they don't like something they tell you. If they like something, they show it.'
About the Author
Angela Lansbury is British and a Singapore Permanent Resident. She is a travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2020/01/more-orange-trees-and-discussions-on.html
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