Celebrating?

Don't know about you, but I have never really liked mooncakes. Carrying lit lanterns - yes. Playing with candles - yes. Setting paper and any other flammable materials on fire - yes. And Mid Autumn is one of the rare times kiddos can legitimately be some sorta arsonist. =P

I remember the times, in the '80s and '90s, when almost the entire neighbourhood would turn up at the community centre and take part in some lantern procession plus rowdy telematch-type of games. I remember my dad (and many of my primary sch mates' dads) taking part in those super rough, ratten-like rope tug-of-war, heaving and pulling as if their lives depend on it, and ending up with red long abrasions on their forearms + triumpant winner smiles and goody bags with sweets, balloons, paper hats and more paper lanterns for their precious kiddos. There were no kampungs then, but the pseudo-kampung spirit was definitely thick in the air. I miss those days.

Today's Mid Autumn again (Happy Zhong(1) Qiu(1) to you), but it was quite a pathetic night. As we drove along Holland, West Coast, Kent Ridge, Clementi, Bukit Batok and back, I craned my neck and was only able to spot 2 lonely children carrying lanterns strolling along. No noisy, happy processions. No colourful lighted lanterns (paper or battery operated). In the market, amongst housing blocks, nothing. Zilch. The only 'crowd' I saw (thankfully) was the small group of 10 or so kids, running around at the playground beneath my block. But they too, were gone by now. And it's not even past 10pm. Last time, there would still be lots of noisy giggling, shouting, lighting of sparklers and burning of candles all the way till midnight.. I'd like to think Mt Faber, Chinese Gardens, Hong Lim Square and other playgrounds are more invaded.

Whatever it is, and however old you may be now, hope your night has been a colourful one. Go light a candle and twirl some paper lantern around its wooden stick.