A Celebration of Mid Autumn Festival

This year, my family celebrated the Mid Autumn Festival (Moon Cake Festival) at East Coast Park.

We went there on the actual day, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 at around 9pm. Well, so late as we only prepare to go after knocking off from office.

We built a tent, light candle lanterns and sit down to drink chinese tea as we ate moon cakes. Together was my brother-in-law and his family. It has been a long time we did not have family gathering like this. It was fun as the kids enjoyed running around at the park and carry lanterns. They also like playing sparkers in the dark.

There were not many other people around. Only two or three groups of teenages having barbeque and playing sparkers too. There were also another one or two with lanterns on their hands.

However, we noted some kids throwing the sparkers into the sea as it was lighted. This really was dangerous. I hope no one will step on the sharp metal stick when they swim in the sea the next day. Hmm.......

At 10.30pm, we cleaned up the place and disposed off the sparker sticks and left. We all have enjoyed the night. Hope this will bring fond memories of this special day to my kids as they grow up. I could still remember the fun I had when I was young running around the back lane of shop houses with the candle lanterns, playing treasure hunt and ensuring that the candle did not go off unexpectedly.

Mid Autumn Festival Party

This year Mid Autumn Festival also know as Moon Cake Festival is a bit different. Notice a number of activities has been arranged in community center to celebrate this day.


Below picture is at the Hong Lim Park Speaker Corner (near China Town) where by the community center organised a night event for Residence and Singaporeans. Some are given lanterns and tickets to particpate in moon cake making, lantern making. There are also games for the children.

For the older folks, they all sit infront of the stage and entertained by the performance like traditional songs and music, Lion Dance, Dragon Dance and Kong Fu demostration.

At China Town, there was also lights up along the road and fire work display for about 5 minutes on the openning day.

Mid Autumn Festival is a traditional day where we celebrate eating Moon Cake, Yam drinking Chinese Tea, carry Lanterns at night and appreciate the full Moon.

Kids enjoy playing with Candles for lighting up the lanterns and playing Spakers. However, most parents worried about the safety of the kids and risk of catching fire, so the candle lanterns are replaced with electric bulk lanterns. For more about this festival http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival

Happy New Year and Welcome 2007.

Happy New Year and a big welcome to 2007 at Marina Bay Singapore.

The big New Year Party in Singapore! Party! Party! Party! I believes hundreds of thousands turn out for last year 2006 count down and welcome of 2007. This was just one of the many location that were having a count down in Singapore.

I have just returned home from the count down of Singapore 2006 at Marina Bay. There was a huge cloud of young as well as family with children too. At 10pm, there was a small firework display, another one at 11pm and another at 11.30pm. They were nothing compared to the spectacular firework display at 12 mid night where we all say bye bye to 2006 and welcome in the New Year of 2007.

All were very happy, you could hear the screams and cheers that the youngster scream at the top of their voices when the time drew near to midnight. Even my 2 year old kid was very excited and kept looking out to see what was happening. When the firework started, you could hear more screaming and it just go on and on till the firework end at about 10 minutes later.

I used to attend count down year after year with my family and this year is really a great year. Everybody seem to be very eager to welcome 2007 and we hope that 2007 will be a year of good health, prosperity and wealth. Everybody seem to be in a good mood and is very positive towards 2007.

The Handphone lines and SMS (messaging) all come to a standstill as everybody was trying to send out their greetings. I received messages sent to me one hour late and cannot get through phone lines. So everybody were busy sending out messages to welcome this lovely new year. You can hear laughter everywhere. The SMS messages got back to normal only at about 2am but some phones or providers were still having delay messages even after 2am receiving messages sent an hour earlier.

Happy New Year to all of you. 2007 will be a great year for Singapore economy and we hope everyone success in 2007. Cheers!!!

More Christmas Photos at Parkway Parade

Merry Christmas photos taken outside Parkway Parade Shopping Mall in Singapore. Yes it is snowing in Singapore! This is made of foam. How could Singapore Snow right, as we are in South East Asia. So, to simulate the feel of what it is like during christmas where the cold countries snow, some shopping mall has "Snowing" for kids to enjoy themselves.

Once again, Merry Christmas.

Christmas in Singapore

More Christmas Photos taken at Parkway Parade Shopping Mall. Merry Christmas.

How is Christmas in Singapore

Photo taken at Takashimaya Shopping Center, viewing the opposite building, there was a stage at the center with performance. Also some performance outside Takashimaya Shopping Center as well.




Lights along Orchard Rd, the building on the left photo is center Point, so simple this year!

After writing so much about Christmas, I think I should write something about how I feel about this Christmas season in my home, Singapore, to give this blog some personal touch.


Well, I will share with you some shots taken below. The décor this year is not too fantastic. I usually go down to Tanglin Mall with my children every year this time to catch the décor and "snowing", but this year as I by passed the mall, the décor outside the building is pathetic. A simple Christmas tree with nothing much on the building facade. So I decided to give it a miss.


I moved on to Orchard Road, yes I found something I like, the streets décor, the lightings along Orchard Road is pretty. I like the Jewel hanging down from the streets lights and the birds too. Other than the streets lights, there is nothing much to mentioned as all buildings to not have much decor. Some have lights over them and buildings has the decor theme as Christmas Tree. Even the most popular shopping mall which has traditionally popular for winning the Christmas Decor award has nothing on the front facet of its buildings.

For whatever the reason they are toning down the Christmas décor, I really feel that this Christmas has something missing. I do not feel the season festive mood as much as before. It give me a feeling that things are not doing well so everyone is saving although this should not be the reason as we having been receiving news about how good is Singapore economy.

I really hope that we can do more to not only to decorate up the streets but the buildings during every festive seasons. This will definitely attract more tourist and bring in more shoppers and definitely the sales $$$ will come in.

Other than the décor that is not so great, Orchard Road is still a very popular shopping area and you can see the crowd everywhere especially while crossing the road. The other plus point is that there are performance at the Nee Ann City as well as at the Paragon. So this attracts some attention.

Other than Orchard Road, I also stop by at Parkway Parade. I like the décor there and this time, they even have "snowing" time for the kids to have some fun. A plus to Parkway Parade.

Well, this is just my personal view on Christmas in Singapore.

Christmas Party Theme

Christmas parties are thrown for a wide variety of guests, and each should be considered in order to be a success. Christmas parties can be for family, friends, office co-workers, or one big combined party. Here are some ideas for different guests in mind:

You can have different activity Ideas for different group of guests.

Christmas Craft Party
Get your friends and their children together for this Christmas. Organise a game or a craft for the children so that they get to know each other better. A craft theme Christmas party is a good idea as the kids are busy away while the parents can have some time to have a chat and catch up with friends. The kids can also bring home their delighted craft work.

Christmas caroling
Prepare some song sheets for your guest and get everyone to participate in the Christmas caroling. Get ready the music or song by playing the CD to compliment unless you have a few very good voice to initial and back the team. Get each guest a candle to be lighted to add the feel of Christmas.

Caravan Christmas
Have a Caravan and bring your family around the neigbourhood via the Caravan and enjoy the festive lights and decoration as you move along. Sing some song along the way and have a picnic.

Wine Party
Have a wine party this Christmas. Introduce wine appreciation to your guest this coming season. This will definitely get your guest together and talk about the nice wine they have around the office for weeks.

Cocktail Party
Another popular thing to do nowadays is to host cocktail parties. These are a great way for people to get together and talk while having a nice formal atmosphere. The following will explain how to host a cocktail party that will be talked about around the office for weeks.

The most important thing for any cocktail party is the drinks. These should range from alcoholic drinks to non-alcoholic and mixers drinks. Consider stocking up good white and red wines and some champagne. You may have gin, scotch whiskey, vodka, bourbon and some rum as well as draft beer. Add some foreign beer as this is unique and appreciated by your guest to drink something new. Remember to have some juices, coke ginger ale and soda or sparkling water for those who do not drink.

Have all the correct glasses for the different drinks. Being able to present each drink in the right setting and glass is very important for a successful cocktail party.

Get some fresh fruits to compliment your drinks. Most people enjoy having a lemon or lime wedge with their drinks.

Christmas Cruise Party
Most cruises organised Christmas party. Go on a cruise and relax for a few days and celebrate Christmas with your family on a Christmas Cruise Party. Check out at your nearby tour agent for more information.

Christmas Party Jigsaw race
A cheap and fun children's party game. Ideal for children of all ages. Its a race against one anther to collect your Christmas jigsaw pieces and to complete your jigsaw. Have this as your theme for this christmas party.

Christmas – How To Create A Fun & Cherished Christmas!

by: Bernadette Dimitrov


A great way to ensure your Christmas will be remembered with warm and cherished memories is to incorporate some rituals. Adding rituals to the festivities will create fun and magic moments that will not only live in your families memories forever but will be excitedly looked forward to each year. Rituals will bring your family closer together creating joy and happiness for all!

Here is a fun ritual you could incorporate into this coming Christmas. Add some Christmas bells to the dinner table and ring them just before the festive meal is ready, calling all to attend the dinner table. Long before Christmas in the old days, bells were once rung with the assumption that the noise would chase away evil spirits. Santa Claus has jingling bells that he uses accompanying his sleigh ride around the world each year. His bells are symbols; they are jingled to remind us of the birth of new beginnings and the death of ignorance (once referred to as the devil).

Ringing bells before the meal is eaten is a wonderful reminder to push away judgments, speak no ills, and come together with a sense of joy, positivity and acceptance for one another. Make the festive meal a time where you all come together and share a positively good time. A time where only supportive words are spoken, encouragement and acknowledgement of each other is heard. Ringing the bells will remind all to keep positive, bright and joyous!

So have some fun, get yourself some jingling Christmas bells and chase away any menacing spirits or thoughts before the festive meal. You can be creative with your jingling and get your children to enjoy a brisk stroll through the house or around the dinner table as they jingle the bells joyously to ensure no menacing mischief makers will be heard on the day! The children will love this fun activity and all will enjoy the friendly reminder of the bells if anyone starts to slip up on their good attitude throughout the day!

Another ritual you could incorporate is the ‘Mistletoe Game’. This is a very old Christmas game where it was once common place to have suspended Mistletoe hung in the main room. For this game everyone would assemble in a circle around the Mistletoe. The first player (a male) has to slide a slipper and aim so it will land under the Mistletoe. If he fails another takes their turn. If he succeeds, even more fun begins as there is a scramble in the direction of the lady towards which the slipper points. She must seize the slipper and get away before being caught!

Rituals offer the opportunity for family and friends to interact in a joyous and fun manner. So why not add a few rituals to your festive day to add some fun and create great memories of a truly joyous and happy day.

Copyright 2006 Bernadette Dimitrov


About The Author

Bernadette Dimitrov

Visit http://www.HoHoHoChristmas.com & sign up for our FREE Newsletter full of fun, tips, tools & resources & you’ll get our bonus f*r*e*e 10 day e-course - how to enrich your Christmas experience by The HoHoHo Expert, Bernadette Dimitrov, author of the world's best Christmas ebooks and audio books. Creating fun and cherished memories for families!