FAMILY MEMBERS ARRIVE AND ENTER HOUSE; MRS NGIN HANDS OUT GIFTS; CHILDREN LET OFF FIRECRACKERS




Initials CP/VS/BOB/ES



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Background: THE FAMILY OF MRS NGIN MUI KEOW MAY NOT BE ONE OF THE BEST-KNOWN IN THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE LARGEST. A FAMILY REUNION WAS HELD AT MRS NGIN'S HOUSE ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 6) TO CELEBRATE THE CHINESE NEW YEAR. SEVENTY-ONE MEMBERS OF HER IMMEDIATE FAMILY ATTENDED THE REUNION.

IN ALL, MRS NGIN BORE 24 CHILDREN, BUT EIGHT DIED AT BIRTH OR SOON AFTER. THE SURVIVING SEVENTEEN COMPRISE 11 SONS AND SIX DAUGHTERS -- FIVE OF WHOM ARE STILL NOT MARRIED.

AS IS THE CHINESE CUSTOM, ALL THE CHILDREN AND 41 GRANDCHILDREN HAD TO FORMALLY GREET MRS NGIN. HER ELDEST SON, GOH JOO KOK, IS NOW 48: THE YOUNGEST, HER DAUGHTER SUAN, IS 18. EVEN BY CHINESE STANDARDS, THE FAMILY IS VERY LARGE. OTHERS MAY BE BIGGER, BUT IN THOSE CASES THE HUSBAND USUALLY HAS SEVERAL WIVES. ONE MAN LIVING NEARBY HAS 13 WIVES.

ANOTHER TRADITION OF THE CHINESE NEW YEAR IS THE HANDING OUT TO THE GRANDCHILDREN OF AN "ANG POW" -- A LITTLE RED PACKET CONTAINING A GIFT, USUALLY MONEY. THE GIFT SYMBOLISES HAPPINESS.

MRS NGIN IS NOW 67. HER HUSBAND DIED IN 1956. HER FAMILY MAY BE LARGE, BUT, SAYS MRS NGIN, IT IS ONE OF THE HAPPIEST IN SINGAPORE.