It just occurred to me that Chinese New Year is just a week away now. It’s amazing how time flies. This year’s Chinese New Year is going to be a quiet one for us though because Shorty is pregnant and doctor advised her not to travel, even to our own hometown.
Reflecting on all the past Chinese New Years, there are things that I’m not particularly fond of… like CNY songs in the malls but there are many many more things that I am.
So I decided to make a list.
1) Nga Ku
Once a year we are graced by the presence of this in our homes. I remember when I first discovered nga ku. Someone gave it to me and said it was addictive. When I popped the first one in my mouth I chewed for a bit and remember thinking to myself “Meh… it’s okay… not particularly tasty or anything”.
But it was after I swallowed it that the after taste began to kick in. An after taste that let out a signal to your brain that you MUST have more. After that…. you’re hooked and it doesn’t matter how bad of a sore throat you have after. You go for it anyway.
The worst part is that once you’re hooked and addicted to it…. you find out that they only have this once a year. Once a year.. and only during Chinese New Year.
2) Family Reunions
Growing up I gotta admit that I didn’t enjoy Chinese New Year family reunions. They were really long and draggy and sometimes with relatives I wasn’t really close to to begin with.
It’s only when I spent Chinese New Year away from home that I began to appreciate it. When I was studying in London, Chinese New Year was something I had to miss each year (like most UK students I believe) because it was in the middle of term.
Among friends we still celebrated. We had Chinese New Year lunches in Chinatown among ourselves but the one thing we all agreed was that it’s not the same without family. Even if it’s the aunty that you see only once a year that keeps asking you when you’re getting married.
To add to that, as the years passed, some of my uncles and aunty passed away. So the family reunions started getting smaller and smaller. I now appreciate all my family reunion dinners because I never know who will be missing from the table the next year.
3) Friends Reunions
As we grow up we often lose contact with our old friends from school or college. Chinese New Year is the one time where organized meet ups happen with all these old friends. I treasure catching up with old friends, learning about how their lives are now… how many kids they have.. and reminiscing the old times. Reliving old memories.
4) Yee Sang and Steamboat DinnersThi
I used to ask my mom why it’s a tradition to have steamboat dinner among the family every Chinese New Year. She said it’s because steamboat requires you to constantly scoop for soup or “loh” as she calls it. The more you “loh” signifies longer life and prosperity.
Similar to Yee Sang. I used to not like to eat yee sang but I would always join in the fun and loh it. I now learn to eat at least a little for luck.
5) Ang Pow
Why we love ang pows don’t need any explanation. As a kid it’s like a way we get money to spend for the rest of the year on our playing cards or whatever.
What I didn’t expect was how much I actually enjoy giving ang pow too as a married couple. I enjoy giving it to kids and I enjoy giving it to my parents or my old baby sitter or people that have played a very big part in my life. My mom always tells me that it’s a privilege to be able to give…. so we should take it as a pleasure. I agree with her whole-heartedly.
6) Fireworks
I grew up playing a lot of fireworks as a kid. I remember shooting up the “moon travelers’ at night like rockets and seeing them pop. I loved the sparklers and every type of firework I could find.
Today the use of fireworks is restricted so we don’t get to see as much anymore but it’s still nice to occasionally hear fireworks go off during a Chinese New Year night,
7) Open Houses
I love attending Open Houses of good friends. It’s a good time to catch up and enjoy good company. The nice CNY biscuits add to the mix too.
I’ve never really hosted an Open House because I felt my apartment is too small to house many people. But I learn now it’s not a matter of size. It’s a matter of just inviting people over to reunite and catch up. This year I’m gonna try to do at least some of that.
8) Wearing New Clothes
This is something my family never really followed too diligently. The only thing I would do is make it a point to wear one red shirt on the first day of Chinese New Year. After that I wear anything.
Then I married Shorty and she instilled her family tradition on to me. How it’s important to wear new clothes on everything down to your boxers and socks. So she makes it a point now to stock up some new clothes now and tells me that I can only wear this during Chinese New Year.
Still it’s fun wearing new clothes during Chinese New Year. The smell of them and the slightly uncomfortable feeling on your skin that reminds you you’re wearing something new.
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These are the things that I think are awesome about Chinese New Year. Did I miss anything out?
Happy Chinese New Year Everyone!
Timothy Tiah – Co-Founder of Colony, Kuala Lumpur Co-Working Space