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Living in prosperous times: The spread of 'huat ah!' and its variants

A festive greetings guide by the SCCC promises to teach "Things To Say For Maximum Huats". PHOTO: SINGAPORE CHINESE CULTURAL CENTRE
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SINGAPORE - When it's Chinese New Year, you will see "huat" here, "huat" there, "huat" everywhere - from a lucky-draw poster in a Bishan coffee shop to the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) in Shenton Way.

"Huat" is how the Chinese word, "fa" (meaning prosper), is pronounced in the Hokkien dialect. Going by its popularity, it is living in prosperous times.

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