Sibu Tales : Chinese Lunar Calendars

 

Every year when November came in the 20th century when my Grandmother was still alive, we children would be so enthusiastic  going around the shops in Sibu to ask for free Chinese Lunar Calendars to bring to Nang Chong, so that my two uncles, Pang Ping and Pang Sing, and my grandmother could decorate their walls with a few of the cheerful Calendars.

The villagers would come and admire the display of Chinese calendars on the wall. And we would be so proud of the house.

some families could only get one because they had very little connection with the shopkeepers in town. I still remember my grandmother would certainly get one from Tiong Ching Hing (a kawan shop and a relative), Chop Choo Seng, and Poh Nguong,while my family would definitely receive a complimentary one from Ching Chiong, a shop belonging to the Sia family. Mum would get one from Chai Hong (our sundry supplier), Wen Hua (Uncle's book shop) and Hua Ing (another uncle's bookshop). Later, when a foster aunt worked for See Hua, we would also get a free calendar or two from her. It was our family pride to be able to give away a few to others who needed one.

Today, we would say to the recipient of these free calendars, " To bless you...." If only there are some rural villagers now we might be able to bless them with calendars we can buy in shops JUST for OLD time's sake.

My grandmother would enjoy tearing a sheet of the calendar each day and she would look forward to the birthdays of her children and grand children. She had a great brain, every birthday was in her memory. She probably did not have to dog ear the calendar sheets to remind her.

It was always good for Grandma and I to tear the black sheet for Saturday....and she would know that we have come to a Sunday. You see Sundays are in red as in the photo. Other days in black. My grandma, you see, was illiterate. So the colour coding was good for her. 

These days we have to buy our Chinese Calendars if we need one. Few businesses have the budget to print many and therefore they have to be very selective when they give out their calendars.