"Yan Yat" - Seventh Day of Chinese New Year

The 7th day of the Chinese New Year is also called "Everybody's Birthday". In essence, everybody is a year older according to the Lunar Calendar. In my family, there is a tradition on this day. Everybody must buy a pair of trousers today. It could be a pair of dress pants, jeans or even underwear. As long as something that falls under the category of trousers.  Because trousers in Chinese are called "Foo" which is pronounced the same as the word of "wealth". One thing you must not do is to not to buy or give any trousers to people out of your family. Otherwise, you are giving your wealth away.
In 1996 (the first year that my whole family moved back to Hong Kong from Canada), I did the same as usual. I bought a pair of nice jeans in a department store on this day. And there was a lucky draw in the store that day. All I needed to do was to sign up and they would tell you what you win later. A month later, I got a mail from this department store. I was the lucky winner. And you know what my prize was. That pair of $50-nice jeans I bought was free. The credit card company would credit my account later. And it did. How nice was that, huh? I still have this pair of pants although I no longer wear it. But it still reminds me how lucky I was that year.  Plus, who does want to throw away his/her luck?
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