Erich's Wuerstelstand, Chinatown, Singapore

Jan 12, 2009

The "Year of the Earth Ox" begins January 26, 2009 (or the year 4707 in the Chinese calendar)

STURDY, EARTHY, NO-NONSENSE - THAT's THE OX.
Affectionate and easy-going, the Ox can show a fierce temper when agitated. He is neat, tidy, quiet and studious, with a great love of his home. He is a revered animal who also symbolizes diligence, reliability, sincerity, strength and sound judgment. Music can be a great love. Family life and a loving partner are high on the Ox's priorities, a wonderful loyal friend.
But, don't expect these lumbering souls to have a sparkling sense of humor or be style conscious...it's not part of their precious package!

ALL YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE OX
-Position in the Zodiac: 2ndRuling
-Hours: 1:00 - 3:00 am
-Season/Month: Winter, January
-Similar to Western Astrological Signs: "Capricorn" with some features of "Taurus"
-Gemstone: Onyx
-Colors: Yellow and blue
-Polarity: Yin
-Element: Water
-Positive Traits: Calm, dependable, honest, caring, honorable, intelligent, industrious, modest, patient, practical, responsible
-Negative Traits: Petty, inflexible, possessive, dogmatic, gullible, stubborn, critical, intolerant, and materialistic
-Associated With Following Countries: Countries Switzerland, India, Cuba, Yemen, Finland, Ukraine
-Very Compatible with Following Animals: Rat, Snake, and Rooster
-Incompatible with Following Animals: Tiger, Horse, Goat, Rabbit, Monkey

FORECAST FOR 2009
The Ox will see an overall improvement in his situation during his birth year, particularly enjoying interaction with others, either with friends and family.
A key phrase to bear in mind this year is 'hold fast'. There may be some setbacks or delays, but if the Ox remains calm and persists, all will be well. There will be an opportunity to study and learn (in common with other signs this year) which should appeal to the Ox not to mention the pride that comes with what is achieved. Between May and July there are significant developments on the work front, in particular important talks with a boss or superior, while September to November will see interesting and delightful romantic encounters!

OX-CELEBRITIES:

J.S.Bach, Pr.Diana, R. Gere, Napoleon, M. Streep, Whoopi G.

Robert Altman, Hans Christian Andersen, Warren Beatty, Jim Carrey, Charlie Chaplin, George Clooney, Bill Cosby, Tony Curtis, Diana ó Princess of Wales, Marlene Dietrich, Walt Disney, Patrick Duffy, Jane Fonda, Gerald Ford, Michael J. Fox, Peter Gabriel, Dustin Hoffman, Anthony Hopkins, Billy Joel, Don Johnson, Mark Knopfler.
Burt Lancaster, Jack Lemmon, Eddie Murphy, Paul Newman, Jack Nickolson, Billy Ocean, Gwyneth Paltrow, Oscar Peterson, Colin Powell, Robert Redford, Lionel Richie, Rubens, Meg Ryan, Bruce Springsteen, Lady Thatcher, Vincent van Gogh.

Preparations for the “OX YEAR” are on their way

The Chinese method of identifying every year with animals has greatly influenced most people, even those living in western influenced countries. So much is its influence that people’s personality and character are often regarded in relation to their Chinese horoscope more than that of its western counterparts.

The 12 animals representing the Chinese calendar years (repeated every 12 years) are: Pig (1911), Rat (1912), Ox (1913), Tiger (1914), Rabbit (1915), Dragon (1916), Snake 1917, Horse (1918), Goat (1919), Monkey (1920), Rooster (1921), and Dog (1922 ).
In the Chinese year, 2008 was represented by the Rat, while 2009 will be the year of the Ox, which will start on the 26th of January, the first new moon of the year. This will mark the beginning of the 15-day festivities, which will continue until February 9, 2009.

Preparations are already undergoing to make the celebration of the entry of the year of the Ox a magnificent one.

Traditional pineapple tarts and other CNY cookies are baked. People are buying New Year cloths and new shoes.

In old China people started well in advance of the New Year's Day. The 20th of the Twelfth Moon was set aside for the annual housecleaning, or the "sweeping of the grounds". Every corner of the house must be swept and cleaned in preparation for the New Year.

Spring Couplets, written in black ink on large vertical scrolls of red paper,

were put on the walls or on the sides of the gate-ways. These couplets, short poems written in Classical Chinese, were expressions of good wishes for the family in the coming year. In addition, symbolic flowers and fruits were used to decorate the house, and colorful New Year pictures (NIAN HUA) were placed on the walls.
GodAfter the house was cleaned it was time to bid farewell to the Kitchen God, or Zaowang. In traditional China, the Kitchen God was regarded as the guardian of the family hearth. He was identified as the inventor of fire, which was necessary for cooking and was also the censor of household morals.

According to legend, the Kitchen God leaves the house on the 23rd of the last month to report to heaven on the behavior of the family during the last year. A negative report by the Kitchen God means a family will suffer from bad luck during the year to come.

In order to ensure a favorable report from the Kitchen God, the custom evolved of feeding him Sticky Cake (Nian Gao). Some said this was either a bribe, or simply a means of ensuring the Kitchen God's mouth was too full of cake to pass on an unfavorable report. Sticky Cake is steamed (as are most Chinese cakes) and made with glutinous rice flour and dried fruit. Traditionally, Sticky Cake is made with peen tong a traditional Chinese brown candy that is available at Asian markets (the glutinous rice flour can also be found at Asian markets).At this time, the family did everything possible to obtain a favorable report from the Kitchen God. On the evening of the 23rd, the family would give the Kitchen God a ritualistic farewell dinner with sweet foods and honey. Some said this was a bribe, others said it sealed his mouth from saying bad things.

Jan 4, 2009

Chinese New Year Celebrations Started With A Blast

With a deafening noise when 128 strands of firecrackers were fired off and a crowd pleasing, 3 minute, firework the celebrations for Chinese New Year officially started Saturday night.

Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, Dr. Lily Neo, MP for Jalan Besar GRC and many other guests were delighted by the different, exciting performances.

Thousands of Singaporeans and tourists followed the 2 hour long spectacle on Eu Teng Son Street. The lanes in Chinatown were more than crowded and the human traffic came to a near breakdown once in a while.

However the mood seemed to be good despite the current economic situation and the uncertain outlook. People are putting their "hope (and happiness)", which is also the celebration theme, in the upcoming lunar new year, the year of the Ox.

A lot of hope is what people need because the last three Ox years (1973, 1985 and 1997) were dreadful for stock markets. The bulls kind of stayed away from the stock markets whenever their year appeared once every 12 years.

With economies around the world still suffering from the horrible 2008, the coming Year of the Ox seems to be under the same depressing constellation for the stock markets as the last three Ox years.

The 588 street stalls are also hoping for a good enough mood of the visitors to buy and not only "window shop". One category of business did already quite well on the opening night: The food stalls! Eating, Singaporeans favorite pastime didn't show a slow down at all since there were long queues at almost every food stall in Chinatown.

A traditional Chinese New Year cake.

Erich's Wuerstelstand was no exemption. It looked like everyone wanted to buy sausages and bread from the "crazy" ang moh who changes his looks according to the season and after Santa is now a "Chinaman".

Erich always smiling despite the stressful weeks ahead.

"Chilly, Mustard, Ketchup?"

" Ta pao or eat here?"

Eu Tong Sen Street

If you want to learn more about the ox year, keep it here and check out the next posts.

Jan 2, 2009

Erich's New Year Well Wishes

May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your cardiologist, your gastro-enterologist, your urologist, your proctologist, your podiatrist, your psychiatrist, your plumber and the I.R.S.
May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs and your stocks not fall; and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise.

May you come to Erich's more often - than you did last year- to enjoy his delicious sausages, meat loaf, his bread and pretzels that will make you relax and forget for a while all the crabby things about your stressful daily live and listen to Erich's wisdom ("Erich erklaert die Welt", not Confucius but Erich says......)!

Dec 31, 2008

HAPPY 2009

Best wishes for 2009

Happiness deep down within
Serenity with each sunrise
Success in each facet of your life
Family beside you

Close and caring friends

Dec 29, 2008

Time is flying

We are just done with Christmas celebrations and since last week busy workers are have been setting up lights and decorations for Chinese New Year festivities.
The offcial "Light up" will already be on Jan. 3rd and the closing act wil be on February 15. The actual Chinese New Year is January 26 + 27.

So we say good buy to Xmas and winter 2008 and

welcome 2009 and with the first new moon the year of the OX

Dec 21, 2008

The First Manger Scene (Krippenszene)

(Lk 2:11-12) "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. (12) This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Saint Francis of Assisi who first popularized the Christmas manger, the first nativity scene, as a way to make the Christmas season a time of peace and goodwill.

Wanting to see how Christ was born with his own eyes, in 1224, Saint Francis came up with the idea of creating a “living” recreation of the birth of Jesus, as a way to bring the Christmas spirit to the local villagers. It is believed that local shepherds, guarding their flocks outside the small Italian town of Greccio, inspired him. Saint Francis had real people dressed in biblical robes, and real animals positioned outside a cave on the outskirts of Greccio. In the manager was a life sized wax figure of the infant Jesus.

Saint Francis urged the people to rejoice in the season of Christ’s birth and put hatred from their hearts. Over time the presepio, as it was called in Italy, grew in popularity. Other towns began featuring them and soon people had individual nativity scenes in their own homes. Wealthy families hired famous sculptors to make their nativity scenes. One of the most famous nativity scenes in Italy is displayed at in the Basilica of Saint Cosmos & Damian in Rome. Originally built in Naples during the 17th Century, it measures an impressive 45 by 20 feet and features hundreds of wooden figurines.

Nativity Scenes around the World
Not surprisingly, the use of a Christmas nativity scene quickly spread throughout Western Europe. In France it was referred to as a Christmas Crèche, while in German speaking areas it was called a Kribbe. Despite the growing popularity of Christmas trees throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries, the nativity scene remained the central focus of Christmas celebrations in Catholic areas. As Catholicism grew world wide, so did the use of the Nativity scene. In Spanish speaking areas it is called a nacimiento and is a prominent part of Christmas traditions in Mexico and other parts of Latin America.
The First Christmas Carols
Along with his living nativity scene, Saint Francis sought the help of music to teach his congregation about the birth of Jesus Christ. According to Tristam Coffin in his book, The Book of Christmas Folklore, Saint Francis is credited with singing the very first Christmas carols, by adding religious lyrics to everyday tunes. The result was the Italian lauda, which was incredibly popular for the next two hundred years.

Dec 17, 2008

Various Christmas Customs

Centuries ago Christians brought plants and flowers into the celebration of Christmas, for did not Christ come to uphold the dignity of all God's creation? The natural world, as well as humans, angels and animals, should have a part in welcoming him.
Evergreens, from ancient times symbols of life and eternity, have always had a prominent place in Christian celebrations. Holly, with its green leaves, its prickly points and red berries, suggested that the Child born in the manger would wear a crown of thorns and shed drops of blood. Mistletoe, long associated in the pre-Christian world with healing, became a symbol of the healing power of Christ.

The poinsettia, from Central America, with its bright, star-like flowers, is a natural reminder of the Star of Bethlehem. Other plants that bloom during this season are images also of the Root of David that flowered with new life.
Many nations have contributed a rich mosaic of Christmas customs. Among the Latin peoples, the Christmas novena, nine days of prayer before Christmas, is a popular tradition. The Christmas meal after midnight Mass, in which all the family participates, is traditional among the French. Among the Slavic peoples on Christmas eve, the father of the family breaks the feast day wafers of bread and gives them to the members of his household, while wishing all the peace of Christmas.

From Ireland came the custom of placing lighted candles in the window during Christmastime. It originated in penal times when the Catholic religion was suppressed in Ireland and priests were forced into hiding. Irish families put a burning candle in their window and left their doors unlatched, hoping that a priest might come to their door and celebrate the Christmas Mass with them.
On the feast of the Epiphany, January 6th, the people of South America celebrate the coming of the Three Kings with colorful processions and give gifts on that day.
by Victor Hoagland, C.P.

Dec 13, 2008

The Christmas Tree

The fir tree has a long association with Christianity, it began in Germany almost 1,000 years ago when St Boniface, who converted the German people to Christianity, was said to have come across a group of pagans worshipping an oak tree. In anger, St Boniface is said to have cut down the oak tree and to his amazement a young fir tree sprung up from the roots of the oak tree. St Boniface took this as a sign of the Christian faith. But it was not until the 16th century that fir trees were brought indoors at Christmas time.

CHRISTMAS TREE TRADITION HAS ANCIENT ORIGINS
King Tut never saw a Christmas tree, but he would have understood the tradition which traces back long before the first Christmas, says David Robson, Extension Educator, Horticulture with the Springfield Extension Center.
The Egyptians were part of a long line of cultures that treasured and worshipped evergreens. When the winter solstice arrived, they brought green date palm leaves into their homes to symbolize life's triumph over death.
The Romans celebrated the winter solstice with a fest called Saturnalia in honor of Saturnus, the god of agriculture. They decorated their houses with greens and lights and exchanged gifts. They gave coins for prosperity, pastries for happiness, and lamps to light one's journey through life.
Centuries ago in Great Britain, woods priests called Druids used evergreens during mysterious winter solstice rituals. The Druids used holly and mistletoe as symbols of eternal life, and place evergreen branches over doors to keep away evil spirits.
Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope in the forthcoming spring.
Our modern Christmas tree evolved from these early traditions.

FROM GERMAN SPEAKING COUNTRIES

In German speaking countries most of the Christmas customs, songs, pine trees and hand blow glass ornaments originated.
It is interesting how these traditions traveled around the world. Most probably England was the 1st country outside central Europe. Queen Victoria often visited relatives in Germany in the town of Coburg and while there she fell in love with a young Prince Albert. After they got married they returned to England to raise their family.
The tree that Price Albert provided his family was admired by all in England. It was decorated in the finest of hand blown glass ornaments. Since everyone liked the Queen they copied her Christmas customs including the Christmas tree and ornaments.

A F.W. Woolworth brought the glass ornament tradition to the United States in 1890. From 1870's to 1930's, Germans made the finest molds for making ornaments with nearly 5,000 different molds at the time. At the turn of the century there were over one hundred small cottage glass blowing workshops in Europe. Today only two respected German factory teams are

capable of producing ornaments to the precise specifications of the Christopher Radko collection.
During the hay day of turn of the century ornament making, almost all ornaments were made in Lauscha, a small town nested in the Thuringian mountains. After the war, however, glass ornament production declined. Many of the craftsmen left for West Germany. Quantity rather than quality, was the Communist management philosophy. Some old molds fell into disrepair and many others were left to collect dust or were lost.In the 1960's it was fashionable to have an Aluminum tree and all the same shape and color ornaments. Many threw away the old ornaments from Germany. It was in the 1980's that Christopher Radko brought back the old art of making the glass ornaments for all to enjoy."
From the book "Christopher Radko, The First Decade"

Dec 5, 2008

Rainy season

The monsoon hits us as usual this time of the year. At least once a day a heavy downpour prevents people from coming to Chinatown.

Erich is busy making a shelter for his customers to enjoy his sausages despite the uncomfortable weather. The only good thing about it: temperatures are quite moderate: only about 28 deg! This is what we call customer service!