Saturday, 7 January 2012

CHINESE NEW YEAR 'PROSPERITY' PUMPKIN


Every year a few weeks before the start of the Chinese New Year, one will see the emergence of the orange coloured pumpkins being sold at the markets and supermarkets.  The commercial name for them is very auspicious, they are known as Choy San Kor (God of Wealth Fruit) or Choy Kor (Prosperity Fruit).  The orange coloured pumpkin is placed on altars as offerings to the Deities.  After the festival, the fruits will dry out and be thrown away.  I do not believe that they will help to usher in wealth luck but have to admit that they look rather cheery, with a red sticker and tied with a red ribbon, sitting on the altar together with the mandarin oranges.  In my opinion, the people to prosper from the fruits are the people who plant and sell them.  
Mind you, I bought one for the my home altar for the sake of decor.  Nowadays, it is something that is synonymous with the Chinese New Year and having it helps give off that festive feel.  I bought the small one which was selling at RM3.80.  There were three sizes.  The large ones were priced at RM8 and the medium sized ones were going for RM5.00.

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