July 1955 School Magazine

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

July, 1955

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

July, 1955

A CHINESE NEW YEAR. In Australia, the celebration for a new year lasts only for cne day, but in China, the celebrations for such an occasion last from three days for as much as seven days. On New Year's Eve, there is a gathering of merchants in one centre of the town , where they sell a ll kinds of things, the goods being displayed in little groups. Few decorations are used, because the gathering closes at midnight. Hundreds of people with their children go there. The selling of flowers and firecrackers is most popula r. One can hear the noise cf fire crackers early on New Year's morning. As a rule, the children go to congratulate their parents , and say things such as " I hope you will be happy, hea lthy and rich." In return, they get two "lee see," a little red envelope containing some money; these are given only by married people to their juniors. Simila r envelopes are a lso given to servants by their masters and mistresses. After breakfast (a meal which contains no meat), the whole family, dressed in brightly coloured clothes, start their routine of visiting. Usually, young people go to their elder's home. They bring with them a servant or two, carrying big baskets containing home-made cakes a nd sweets, of which they pre- sent a portion to every family they visit. As they reach their destination , they sha ke hands with or bow to their fri ends, and after giving out the "lee see," they sit and talk while the children join together to play fire crackers . Their guests are presented with water me lon seeds, which are dyed in red; only the inner portions are edible. Sweetened coconuts, melons and lily seeds are other savouries for New Year's Day. The lunch is made up of different kinds of home-made cakes and Chinese tea. The New Year's supper consists of many courses, of which some are roast duck, roast pig, chicken, sweet and sour fish. and fried rice. Noodles is always the last course. Naturally, the supper will not be perfect without some sort of wine. The rest of that day will be spent in worshipping the· Chinese god by old-fashioned people , while the others will go to a picture or have some other sort of entertainment. The noises of crackers die down gradually as the days. advance. But they revive on the seventh day, which is called 13

Whilst round them shone a new and brilliant light. They who had sought no glory of their own Con tented that they served a glorious land These noble spirits who had yet deemed not The lowly task too mean, the great beyond Their power, these, in that hour of triumph, soared To immortality on glorious wings . The glory of the world and God's "Well Done!" Shall bless their labours who would follow them, And they shall find again as England found "The path of duty was the way to glory." Middle and Lower School Lyric Prize 1954. THE CHANGING PULSE. The world w as drab a nd shadowed c;Tey for me, And all at once there came a miracle To lift me into pulsing, lifting life, And laughing in the fervour of my youth I open flung the doors that bound my heart To feel the sunshine flooding, gushing in; And laughed again, to know its warm content . For now I clasp thee close, 0 dream of mine, Lest, elfin-like , you fleet to nothingness Or linger a s the scent of morning dew Or falling roses, in the Autumn dusk. Yet somehow faded is that first delight Inspired rapture. tinged w ith bitter-sweet, Ins tead there is a softness, glowing, warm, A lapping tide that soothes my consciousness. And a ll that I have done a nd seen and known, Are memories I could not, would not y ield; Their beauty lives undying, like a flame, That lights the darkness I have left behind ! I caught my breath in sheer-fe lt happiness, Incredulous that I could share such joy.

-Helen Enchelmaier.

-Anne Wright.

-MARGARET SCOTT, Ifi D.

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