Saturday, February 08, 2020

Corona Virus Singapore: (元宵节) A Happy & Safe Chap Goh Mei Orange Alert. Of Symbols & Things


Image result for 袁小杰 15 night lantern festival
Yuan Xiao Jie (元宵节) 15th Night of Chinese New Year

Of Symbols and Things:

Reading the symbols:
If one looks symbolically at the 
-orange, 
-lantern, 
-the 2 zeros in 2020 and the 
-corona virus magnified, 
they are all round objects and represent
-wholeness,
-totality,
-perfection.

Are there really? In our imperfect world?

No!
Reading the things:
It's Chap Goh Mei* with the lanterns.
Enjoy the time.

But it's Orange Alert.
And the virus is present.
So keep safe and keep our hygiene.

But there's the #8
Because Chap Goh Mei falls on the 8th this year.
And 8 is prosperity, wealth or generally good luck in Chinese.

Isn't that:
-A balance?
-Hope?
-A Cure?
-Wellness?

I leave you guessing as to my meaning.

A Happy Chap Goh Mei. Keep Safe. It's Orange Alert.
'Get Out Of My Life': Lady Lily. (Video: Blue Silver Star YouTube) 
Yes Mr Virus. Get Out, Get Out!!!

*Chap (10), Goh (5), May (night) = End of Chinese New Year as the 15th night (literal translation from the Fuchien dialect) where lanterns are lit when both adults and children enjoy the evening. 

Disclaimer:
Being both a Chinese and an English Literature student, it's personal explanation of symbols and things. Believing is another aspect altogether. I'm just hoping this enemy virus will be destroyed soonest.
Cheers.

21 comments:

STEPHEN HAN said...

Wishing you a virus free 15 Mei.

JIMMY APPUDURAI CHUA said...

Happy end of Chinese New year Andy bless you

FREDA HANUM said...

So nice of your greeting and alert posting, am wishing you a happy and virus free Chap Goh Mei with your loved ones at home Andy 😊🙏

CHAKAP-CHAKAP said...

Symbolic Objects:
Everyday objects are often used to symbolize something else:

-A chain can symbolize the coming together of two things.
-A ladder can represent the relationship between heaven and earth or ascension.
-A mirror can denote the sun but, when it is broken, it can represent an unhappy union or a
separation.

Again, symbols can be subjective. And some people take it in fun.
Whatever, like unknown forces beyond us, they may not be just symbols and things.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

From good friend SK TAN: "Best quote so far, 'When the country went orange, the people went bananas.'" :-)

ANONYMOUS said...

DOSCON ALERT LEVEL
HOKKIEN TRANSLATION:

GREEN - BO TAI JI - NOT A PROBLEM
YELLOW - MAI KIA - DON'T BE AFRAID
ORANGE - KAN CHEONG LEOW - GETTING NERVOUS ALREADY
RED - XIAO LEOW - MADNESS

ALFRED WONG said...

BATMAN AND ROBIN CARTOON:

ROBIN: LET'S GO TO CHINA TO SAVE THEM FROM CORONA VIRUS!!!

BATMAN: YOU CRAZY? I'M THE MAIN DISH IN CHINA.

J.Y. (TOA PAYOH) said...

The condom shelves were all empty at the Supermarkets.
They were using them to 'mask' their fingers for pressing lift buttons.

R. CHNG said...

Too many are over reacting despite assurances again and again by the government.
It seems that the advice are faling on deaf ears.
The KIASI, KIASU,syndrome are displayed all over the island.
Latest: it looks like supermarkets are practically giving away their goods, with the long long queues.

Pharmacies are mostly running out of stock with their masks...

JAMES TAN (TAMPINES) said...

Unnecessary panic buying may lead suppliers taking advantage to increase prices.

HIROSHI DEGUCHI (JAPAN) said...

元宵節快楽!!
LANTERN FESTIVAL PLEASURE!!

WINSTON KOH (SINGS CLIFF RICHARD) said...

Happy Chap Goh Meh.
Enjoy!
Stay healthy and happy always!
God Bless With Metta.
Cheers!!!

TWITTER READER: said...

Samadhan Khandagle from Kolhapur, India likes this post.

facebook chats said...

Thanks to:
Freda Hanum
Stephen Han
Hiroshi Deguchi
Jimmy Appudurai-chua
Rose Khoo
Belinda Poh
Koh Sui Pang
Randy Lee Keng
Kokkoonjim Boey
Tan Andrew
for thumbs up on this post.

RANDY LEE (THE STYLERS) said...

HAPPY CHAP GOH MEH

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks to all friends who sent greetings via WhatsApp and those who replied to this post directly via email and Facebook.

yungreg88 (YouTube) said...

There are two wonderful Japanese covers of this song.
One is by Yuu Hayami & the other is by Ayumi Hamasaki, which was made sometime in the early 90's.

Cheers!

MALAR MALA (FACEBOOK: INDIA) said...

😰
TEARDROP

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thank you Malar Mala for your teardrop.
Let's hope for the best and that this Monster Virus will get out of our lives soonest!

ERICBRONSON WONG (HONGKONG) said...

Yes U R Right Andy,,
With God's Help n Kind Blessings,,,
Things Will Be Alright,,
We Believe That We Will Overcome This Virus Monster soon,,!!

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Hi ERICBRONSON,
Thanks for posters, your greetings and good wishes.
We hope that this Monster Virus will get out of our lives soonest!