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LITTLE RED DOT

戴红头巾的“三水婆”

二十世纪初期，国」竺杻劣，芒生豐憋。位于三江汇流处的三水民间流
传着“已互乏匣巴竺王昊翌七二迟迟呾墅氓＂的包皂。

洪灾频频，大批乡民被迫背井离乡，甚至远渡重洋出外谋生。

其中有部分三水的年轻妇、

于一女，或因丈夫早逝，儿女幼小；

或家婆专制，不堪凌虐；

或抗拒父母包办婚姻等原因来到新加坡打工。

她们来到新加坡后，多数由“水客”（带人下南洋的向导）带到牛车水
（新加坡地名）的盒巴珍珠街暂时安顿，几个人合租一间房，没钱买床，就只能暂时睡在地板上。

为了尽快找到一份工作，解决温饱问题，这些在乡下干的就是耕田、砍柴等粗活，体力好又吃得了苦的妇女便从最辛苦的也是相对容易找的建筑工开始做起，在工地上从事泥水杂工，搓灰沙，挑砖块，搬木料等体力劳动。与其他在当地干活儿的外乡人不同，三水妇女每个人在上工时都戴着一块红色的头巾，她们被习惯性地称为“红头巾”。

久而久之，“红头巾”就成了“`三水婆”的特称。-没有“红头巾“高楼建不成
据新加坡华裔馆展览会顾问，从上个世纪八十年代就开始研究“红头巾＂的竖巠巠所述当时在新加坡打工的除了三水人，还有许多是来自广迩塑攫豐昌、中山、丿壅望、恩平等其他地方。

他们中有从事手工艺的，伞－－，有做生巠朗，有医邑笆的，有种橡胶的 其中建筑业是各种工作中最苦事塾工作之一；新加坡入不愿意从事，甚至去新加坡的许多华工也不愿
意从事当三水妇女挑起这个担子并逐渐得到了新加坡人民的售佳庐，当地许多重要建筑工程也都放心交给“红头巾“去完成，例如：五十年代新加坡最高的“亚洲大厦”和有名的“高等法院”都是山她们完成。

这些头包红巾，身穿蓝色粗布上衣、黑色粗布长裤，脚穿旧轮胎外皮裁的拖鞋的三水妇女，用一根扁担挑着沙石、砖块，在工地上攀高爬低，

从清晨7时忙到傍晚5时。从19世纪20年代起，三水“红头巾＂逐渐在新加 坡舫页了一个量了成为建筑行业中的一芒主覂2竺＿，在当时甚至有＇罩没有＇红头巾＇高楼建不成＂的说法。

其实吃苦耐劳只是生活显示的一个互皿上据《三水妇冬坴》旦塾上
“红头巾“老人们回~忆辛-酸-的-岁-月，会唱起当年唱过的“叹歌”（三水北部
地区的一种方言歌曲，也叫“叹命”):

“十个过洋，九个苦命，若非苦命，也因家贫。

到了南环夭个月，不思茶饭半年长。”

这也许才是那些漂泊异国的孤单女子内心的真实写照。
 

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Mothers day

Among all the festivals celebrated in China, Mother's Day is a time to honor the mother in a family, as well as motherhood, and the influence of mothers in society. This day is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world. In China, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May, which this year falls on May 10.

Chinese literary figures have composed many articles and poems describing a mother's love for her children. The poem "Song of the Parting Son"（《游子吟》唐 孟郊）, written by Tang Dynasty poet Meng Jiao, is among the classic poems about a mother's selfless love. The poem is in five-character lines, with 30 characters in total.

In the first two lines:

cí mǔ shǒu zhōnɡ xiàn 

慈 母 手 中 线，

yóu zǐ shēn shànɡ yī

游 子 身 上 衣 。

From the threads a mother's hand weaves,

A gown for parting son is made.

(Translated by Xu Yuanchong, Chinese Translator)

The poem presents a mother who sews clothes for her son, worried about his pending travel away from home. The poet uses two everyday items, namely the thread and gown to compare the close relationship between mother and son, which vividly presents the idea that they are bound to each other.

In the third and forth lines:

lín xínɡ mì mì fénɡ

临 行 密 密 缝，

yì kǒnɡ chí chí ɡuī

意 恐 迟 迟 归 。

Sewn stitch by stitch before he leaves,

For fear his return be delayed.

(Translated by Xu Yuanchong, Chinese Translator)

These two lines describe the details of the mother sewing clothes for her son before his departure. Sewn stitch by stitch means that she is afraid her son's return will be delayed. There are no modifications in describing her work but selfless love is presented through everyday details.

A mother is waving goodbye to her son. / CGTN Photo

In the last two lines:

shuí yán cùn cǎo xīn

谁 言 寸 草 心，

bào dé sān chūn huī

报 得 三 春 晖。

Such kindness as young grass receives,

From the warm sun can't be repaid.

(Translated by Xu Yuanchong, Chinese Translator)

As the most repeated lines in the poem, these two lines indicate the poet's love for his mother in a straightforward way. It is an ode to his mother by using an analogy that offspring are like grass, while mothers are like the warm sun in spring time. It is hard for the kids to repay or equal their love to their mother's love. This metaphor shows the deepest gratitude and love of the son to his mother.

Tiger lily is considered as the flower for mothers in Chinese culture. / VCG Photo

Chinese culture has always hailed filial piety as an important, yet basic merit for each generation. In modern time, Mother's Day has come widely accepted and celebrated as early as the 1980s. Chinese people prefer to buy carnations or tiger lilies (golden needle flowers) as presents on Mother's Day.

There are various forms and ways to express your love and respect for parents, it is the love that matters not the festival. Nevertheless on this day, we want to say: Happy Mother's Day, to all moms!