2015 New Year Greetings from Malaysia

Chinese New Year in Malaysia

10 Mar 2015 | From Wei Yi of Malaysia

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Just like any other festival in Malaysia, Chinese New Year is basically the time of the year to get together with family and friends. While each country may celebrate the New Year in an almost similar way, the concept of open house is normally practiced in Malaysia where the homes are open for friends and family to visit, regardless of race and religion.

The most important element of Chinese New Year is the reunion dinner, which is held on the eve of the New Year.  In Malaysia, a dish called yee sang is the first to be served. Yee sang, also known as the Prosperity Toss, is a teochew-style raw fish salad and everyone at the table will help to mix this salad with their chopsticks – with lots of noise and laughter. The tradition is that the higher you toss the salad, the more your fortunes will grow in the New Year.

Gift giving is an important component of Chinese New Year in Malaysia and the most common gifts amongst family, colleagues and business contacts are the boxes of oranges, or the live orange trees. Ang-poh – little red packets with new currency notes inside – are given to children, single adults and the elderly, and for children this is often the most exciting part of the celebration. A child with many uncles and aunties can potentially collect a lot of money from their ang-poh gifts.

From Algeria with love

Valentine Greetings from Algeria

10 Mar 2015 | From Mourad of Algeria 

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Now here's another Valentine greeting card I received from another male friend this time in Algeria. Though there's a different reason behind this parcel - with the Valentine card.

Mourad shared to me, through e-mail, that he received three Valentine cards from unknown 'mystery' girls. He found them in his office desk one day after having lunch - and with no notes, his friend told him that some girls left the cards for him. His friend did not spill any other details despite him begging. He was quite confused and perplexed with the situation and asked my thoughts about him. I told him not to get too bothered about it. They were probably his secret admirers, and joked that he might be the popular and good-looking one in his office. I even added that I haven't in my life received any secret Valentine cards - hahaha!

Mourad decided on sending one of the cards to me - either I keep it or give it to someone else. The latter won't work since I have no one to give it to =p The Valentine greeting card is a music-playing one. The kind of card which plays music when you flip it open. It has this very-girly-with-lots-of-rose-hearts-glitters-and-pop-ups vibe =p

Along with the card is a letter and a 2015 calendar. The envelope has a cool anime design that I suppose was drawn by his cousin.

My first Valentine greeting postcard

Valentine Greetings from Thailand

10 Mar 2015 | From Film of Thailand 

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

All month of February I was thinking if I would receive any Valentine postcard. But nothing came so I just shrugged that thought off - it is nothing important to begin with. Who would have thought that come March I will receive my first Valentine postcard since becoming a postcrosser. It came from a friend in Thailand, and he wrote and sent the postcard exactly last February 14, 2015. The floral-inspired postcard arrived with a matching floral stamp in the front and some cool Valentine stamps at the back side.

I do not celebrate Valentines - not that I have any reason to do so. But it is quite fun to have received such cards. Even though it came from a close male friend :)

2015 Chinese New Year Greetings

Hong Kong Chinese New Year Celebration  

3 Feb 2015 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Akubi sent me this card for the Chinese New Year. I just love the little fish attached to the greeting card. It pops up and transforms into a cute round fish! Since he couldn't send me a real live goldfish, he thought of sending this instead. He added that I seemed very much drawn into the big fat goldfishes when we were in Oceanpark HK and I kept staring at their cuteness. Hence the card. Haha, clever! 

The Lunar New Year is one of the most important festivals for the Chinese. Hong Kong Chinese New Year Celebrations are some of the city's landmark events, including the Parade, the Lion and Dragon Dances, and stunning fireworks. The annual Hong Kong Chinese New Year Fireworks extravaganza is an essential part of the celebrations.

The Spring Festival is the biggest holiday in China. Hong Kong people celebrate differently than in the Mainland. They mark the occasion with a unique fusion of modern fun and ancient customs. The three days of night parade, giant fireworks, and horse racing often make it to the top of the lists of world festival events. 2015 is the Year of the Goat, or also known as the Year of the Sheep, Chinese New Year was held on February 19, 2015. Chinese New Year is celebrated on the first moon of the Lunar Calendar, which normally falls in January or February, and is also known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival. The festivities continue for the next fifteen days culminating in the Lantern Festival with the first full moon of the year.

Hong Kong's Chinese New Year celebration was recently listed by Forbes as one of the world's 10 best festival extravaganzas, along with Germany's Oktoberfest and Brazil's Carnival. Lonely Planet also lists the Hong Kong Chinese New Year as one of the world's top events.

Merry Christmas from Romania

 

Christmas in Romania

3 Feb 2015 | From Edi of Romania 

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

'Craciun fericit ?i un An Nou Fericit!'

Christmas is popularly known as 'Craciun' in Romania. The observance of Christmas was introduced once with the Christianization of Romania but it was then interrupted during the Communist period (1948—1989), as concepts as religion, Jesus Christ or the Church were banned. In the post-communist Romania, Christmas started being celebrated again more festively.

Christmas and mid-winter celebrations last from 20th December to 7th January. The 20th is when people celebrate St. Ignatius's Day. A very important Christmas custom practiced in Romanian villages is 'Ignatius', the sacrifice of a pig in every house in the honor of Saint Ignatius. It is traditional that if the family keep pigs, one is killed on this day. The meat from the pig is used in the Christmas meals.

The Christmas celebrations really begin on Christmas Eve, 24th, when it's time to decorate the Christmas Tree. This is done in the evening of Christmas Eve. In Romanian, Christmas Eve is called 'Ajunul Craciunului'. Fir trees happen to be the main Christmas trees here. Gift exchanges take place in Romania in the evening of Christmas Eve, same here in our country and contrary to the American way of opening gifts on Christmas morning.

In Romanian familes, all the women cook for three days leading up to 'Craciun'. Christmas dinner in Romania is a rich, multi-course meal. On the top of the menu comes various kinds of pork sausages, along with plum brandy and home made pickles. All the members of the extended family enjoy the feast together.

Merry Christmas from Ukraine

                                     

 

Christmas in Ukraine

3 Feb 2015 | From Lidiya of Ukraine 

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

"Z Rizdvom Khrystovym!"

Along with the Christmas card is a sheeps-in-love 2015 calendar from Lidiya. Many Ukrainians have a day off on Christmas Day, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is an annual public holiday across Ukraine and falls on January 7, the Orthodox Christmas date. The period from January 7-14 is a festive week, in which it is customary for some people to dress up, visit homes, sing Christmas songs (eg. Kolyadka), and wish each other blessings.

'Sviata Vechera' or Holy Supper is the central tradition of the beautiful Christmas Eve celebrations in Ukrainian homes. The dinner table sometimes has a few wisps of hay on the embroidered table cloth as a reminder of the manger in Bethlehem. Many Canadian and American families wear their Ukrainian embroidered shirts on this occasion.

At the end of the Sviata Vechera, the family often sings Kolyadky, Ukrainian Christmas Carols. In many communities the old Ukrainian tradition of carolling is carried on by groups of young people and members of organizations and churches calling at homes and collecting donations.

Ukrainian Christmas customs are based not only on Christian traditions, but to a great degree on those of the pre-Christian, pagan culture and religion. The Ukrainian society was basically agrarian at that time and had developed an appropriate pagan culture, elements of which have survived to this day.

Merry Christmas from Germany

Christmas in Germany

20 Jan 2015 | From Celine Adrienne of Germany 

POSTCROSSING SWAP

'Frohe Weihnachten!'

Christmas, or Weihnachten, is considered by Germans to be the most important of the major holidays. The German holiday season is a time for introspection, celebration, and family and friends; it is less consumption-oriented than in the United States. Christmas preparations often begin on the eve of December 6th. People often set aside special evenings for baking spiced cakes and cookies, and making gifts and decorations.

Both December 25 and 26 are legal holidays in Germany and are known as the First and Second Christmas Day respectively. Businesses are closed, and time is spent visiting with extended family. Goose is the traditional fare on the First Christmas Day, or perhaps rabbit or a roast. These are accompanied by traditional German fare such as apple and sausage stuffing, red cabbage, and potato dumplings. The second Christmas day is usually a quieter time, a day for peaceful contemplation.

In parts of Germany, people believe that the Christ Child sends a messenger in Christmas Eve. He appears as an angel in a white robe and crown, bearing gifts. The angel is called Christkind. There is also a Christmas Eve figure called Weihnachtsmann or Christmas Man, he looks like Santa Claus and also brings gifts.

Christmas Trees are very important in Germany. They were first used in Germany during the Middle Ages. The Christmas tree was traditionally brought into the house on Christmas eve. Germany is also well known for its Christmas Markets where all sorts of Christmas foods and decorations are sold. Perhaps the most famous German decorations are glass ornaments.

Merry Christmas from Malaysia

Christmas in Malaysia

7 Jan 2015 | From Wei Yi of Malaysia 

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Christianity in Malaysia is a minority religion practiced by 9.2% of the population (2010 census), most living in East Malaysia. As such, Christmas in Malaysia may not be as festive and long as comapred to other parts of the world. In Malaysia, Christmas is only celebrated on Christmas Eve. The actual first day of Christmas is often business as usual for many Malaysians. The lush decorations cannot be taken down soon enough after Christmas, as then all the mall will repeat the same ‘contest’ for the nearing New Years Eve (which is immediately followed by Chinese New Year preparations). The is no second day of Christmas, as this is only custom in a few countries in the world.

Most Malaysians, celebrating or not, flock to the shopping malls – a typical Malaysian past time. There, they enjoy the activities and events organized by the malls and even do some shopping, taking advantage of the Christmas and Year End Sale. On the night of Christmas eve, when the clock strikes twelve, various locations perform firework displays to welcome Christmas with a bang. Malaysians flock to these locations earlier during the day to get good spots to view the magnificent displays of fireworks.

Merry Christmas from South Korea

Christmas in South Korea

7 Jan 2015 | From Heewon of South Korea

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

'Meri krismas' (메리 크리스마스)

There are more Christians in South Korea (the Republic of Korea) than in other asian countries such as China and Japan, so Christmas is celebrated more widely. Because Christianity and Western culture are both fairly new in Korea, most of the Christmas celebrations are very similar to those found in Europe and the United States, but they also include Asian modesty and cultural awareness.

Korean Christmas traditions are less elaborate than most holiday celebrations in the West. Non-Christians may enjoy family gatherings and gift exchanges, but in general the holiday is much more subdued and it is not one of the largest holidays on the Korean calendar. In fact, for many families New Year's Day is a more important holiday and is spent celebrating with large gatherings, while Christmas celebrations are more popular with teens and children.

Celebrating Christmas with Korean cultural awareness can introduce new meaning to the holiday. Many families who want to celebrate their Korean heritage or share unique cultures choose to incorporate Korean traditions into their holiday festivities.

Merry Christmas from Macedonia

Christmas in Macedonia

7 Jan 2015 | From Goran of Macedonia

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Среќен Божик и среќна Нова година

(Sreken Božik i srekna Nova godina)!

Macedonian people give a lot of attention to the celebration of Christmas, which begins with the Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas. Unlike most of the world the unique thing in Macedonia is that Christmas Eve is on the 6th of January and Christmas is on the 7th of January. This is because the Macedonian Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar which is 14 days behind.

Christmas begins early in the morning with a service at the church. The Communion service is given only after the feuding are reconciled and invite each other to their homes as Christmas is known as a time of forgiveness and tolerance. People should clear their souls of any hate and manifest the purity of this day. In some villages in Macedonia, after the service the girls go by orchards and tie the trees to be preserved from diseases and be fruitful. This custom is accompanied by many songs and smiling faces.

Christmas is a holiday full of symbolism. The Macedonian celebration of Christmas is different from place to place, but either way Christmas cannot be imagined without the Christmas Eve, the Christmas twig, the straw and the Christmas cake. More here.

Frieden für alle, "Peace for all"

7 Jan 2015 | From Andreas of Germany

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Peter Gut, "Frieden für alle"

Aus Dem Buch, "Tierisch Unter Strom"

Kein & Aber Verlag

At first, I wasn't able to get the humour shown in the postcard. Until I've read Andreas message telling me that the goose is a favourite German food during the Christmas season. So that's why he's gonna blast the stove!

Goose has a distinct flavor which makes it a favorite European Christmas dish. In Germany, roasted goose is a staple for Christmas Day meals. Roast goose is also a popular ingredient for post-Christmas meals. There are a number of recipes for Boxing Day which make use of left over roasted goose from one’s Christmas Day banquet. The most prevalent stuffings are apples, sweet chestnuts, prunes and onions. Typical seasonings include salt and pepper, mugwort, or marjoram. Also used are red cabbage, Klöße, and gravy, which are used to garnish the goose. Another version of roast goose is the Alsatian-style with Bratwurst-stuffing and sauerkraut as garnish.

An American Christmas

Christmas Day in the US

7 Jan 2015 | From Emma of USA

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

This is only the third Christmas-inspired postcard I have received from the official Postcrossing. The other two are a Christmas greeting postcard from Germany and a Santa's helpers postcard from the Netherlands. 

In United States the festive season of Christmas traditionally begins on the fourth Thursday in November, just after Thanksgiving. The United States of America has many different traditions and ways that people in celebrate Christmas, because of its multi-cultural nature. Many people in the United States celebrate Christmas Day on December 25. The day celebrates Jesus Christ's birth. It is often combined with customs from pre-Christian winter celebrations. Many people erect Christmas trees, decorate their homes, visit family or friends and exchange gifts.

The Qixi Festival

The Chinese Valentine's Day

12 Aug 2014 | From Hsiang-Ling of Taiwan

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

The Qixi Festival, also known as the Qiqiao Festival, is a Chinese festival that celebrates the annual meeting of the cowherd and weaver girl in Chinese mythology. It falls on the seventh day of the 7th month on the Chinese calendar. 2014 Chinese Valentine's Day is on August 2, 2104. It is sometimes called the Double Seventh Festival, the Chinese Valentine's Day, or the Magpie Festival. This is an important festival, especially for young girls.

The story began from the good-looking poor orphaned boy living with his elder brother and sister-in-law. After his parents past away, his brother inherited the house and the land. The boy owned an old ox. He needed to work on the farm's field with the ox everyday. So he was called a cowherd. His daily life was just like in a Cinderella story.

The 7th daughter of Emperor is good at handcrafting, especially weaving clothing. So she was called a Weaving Maid. The Emperor likes her skill to weave clouds and rainbows to beautify the world.

It is a love story about the 7th daughter of Emperor of Heaven and an orphaned cowherd. The Emperor separated them. The 7th daughter was forced to move to the star Vega and the cowherd moved to the star Altair. They are allowed to meet only once a year on the day of 7th day of 7th lunar month.

Hsiang-Ling now resides in China to look for a job after completing her university degree.

Source: Chinese Fortune Calendar

Santa's little assistants

Zwarte Piet

28 May, 2014 | From Mitchell of Netherlands

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Zwarte Piet is the companion of Saint Nicholas in the Dutch folklore or folklore of the Low Countries. The Zwarte Piet character is part of the annual feast of St. Nicholas, usually celebrated on the evening of 5 December (Sinterklaasavond or the St. Nicholas' Eve) in the Netherlands, when sweets and presents are distributed to children.

Christmas Greetings from Tunisia

Mboni Chrismen

14 Mar 2014 | From Nicole of Tunisia

SURPRISE CARD

"Mboni Chrismen" is how they say "Merry Christmas" in Tunisia. I received her greetings a little late for Christmas, but of course I was very happy to receive it. The envelope was postmarked 23 Dec 2013 in Tunisia, then it was postmarked 29 Jan 2014 by our local post office, but it was only delivered to me 14 Mar 2014. Well, that's why they are called snail mail :p

I swapped with Nicole before through Facebook Postcrossing. She sent me my first postcards from Tunisia.

New Year Greetings from Malaysia

(Message inside the card - right side. I think what she wrote is the translation for the text) 

A red packet for money luck 

Happy Chinese New Year

14 Mar, 2014 | From Wei-yi of Malaysia

POSTCROSSING FRIEND (FACEBOOK)

2014 Chinese New Year Day is on January, 31 2014. Chinese New Year Day is the first day of the first lunar month of Chinese Lunar Calendar. 2014 is the Year of the Wooden Horse.

Wei-yi sent me her new year greetings and wishes through this folded card. She also enclosed a red packet her parents got from the bank. It is for good luck :)

Christmas postcard from Czech Rep.

Snowy Czech Village

8 Feb 2014 | From Pavlina of Czech Republic

SURPRISE POSTCARD

Pavlina and I swapped postcards some months ago through Postcrossing. She sent me this surprise postcard to extend her "snowy" Christmas and New Year greetings to me. Thanks a lot, Pavlina! I really appreciate it :) 

Lottery Postcard from Nico (Germany)

Santa loves Postcrossing

17 Jan 2014 | From Nico of Germany

LOTTERY POSTCARD FROM FACEBOOK

I received this Christmas Lottery postcard from one of Nico's lottery. For this lottery, the question was "What made you happy this 2013, and what do you wish for this coming 2014?"

I actually can't remember the actual answer I gave. But my answer mainly focused on the new things I've done and tried for the year 2013 like traveling overseas, getting a tattoo, making new friends (most from Postcrossing), starting a new collection, getting a new job, etc. And my wish for year 2014 is to continue exploring and discovering new things, travel as much as I can, and just to remain happy. Yeah, something like that :)

I guess Nico liked my answer as he chose me as one of the four winners. Thanks, Nico!

Romanian Christmas

Christmas in Romania

10 Jan, 2014 | From Eduard of Romania

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Christmas Day (Crăciun) is an annual public holiday in Romania on December 25, along with the second day of Christmas (December 26). It is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus.

Many Romanians start celebrating Christmas weeks before December 25. Fun Christmas activities include decorating Christmas trees, caroling songs from home to home, and giving presents to one another on Christmas Eve (Ajunul Crăciunului). The Christmas dinners often include different types of pork dishes, Ciorba de perisoare (vegetable soup with bran and pork meatballs), Sarmale (cabbage leaves stuffed with pork), and Cozonac (fruit bread). Gogosi (Romanian doughnuts) and cheesecakes are also eaten. People traditionally wish each other a Merry Christmas, or “Crặciun Fericit”.

Source: Time and Date

Christmas Greetings from Romania

 

Crặciun Fericit!

10 Jan, 2014 | From Eduard of Romania

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

In Romanian, Merry Christmas is 'Crặciun Fericit'. The topmost picture is a handmade Christmas card Edi crafted for me from paper cutouts and colored pens. Inside he wrote Christmas Poem by Ronald Doe.

Christmas and mid-winter celebrations last from 20th December to 7th January in Romania. The 20th is when people celebrate St. Ignatius's Day. It is traditional that if the family keep pigs, one is killed on this day. The meat from the pig is used in the Christmas meals.

The Christmas celebrations really begin on Christmas Eve, 24th, when it's time to decorate the Christmas Tree. This is done in the evening of Christmas Eve. In Romanian, Christmas Eve is called 'Ajunul Craciunului'.

Sources: Why Christmas