Alwyn Tan
Chinese New Year is back! The traditional festival where
overjoyed children get to play with an abundance of firecrackers, along with a
stream of red packets flowing into their pockets.
“Chinese New Year is simply just
a festival of joy. People often visit me at my place and I visit them too. It’s
fun, especially getting to receive some awesome angpows,” said Andy Ewe (12).
A traditional dinner is normally
held during Chinese New Year Eve, also known as the reunion dinner. During such
dinners, males bring their immediate families and have dinner with their
extended families. The old Chinese way emphasizes family bonding, just as
Confucius often taught people about respecting their elders and filial piety. Another
tradition that most Chinese families abide to is staying up late during Chinese
New Year Eve, which symbolizes a long and prosperous life.
Traditionally, people often visit
each other during Chinese New Year; younger people often go to visit elders to
pay respect and celebrate the holiday together. However, in our modern world,
traditional views are slowly merging into the modern culture. Many families now
choose to go overseas for vacations to celebrate their New Year with their
families, instead of celebrating it with large families.
Another thing that most families
and friends love doing is playing mahjong, cards, or other board games. Cards
and mahjong are the most popular games played during Chinese New Year. Most
times, adults gamble a little with their relatives or close friends as they
joke with one another the whole night. Children, on the other hand, play their
own little games along with firecrackers as the adults stay inside and play
cards.
Chinese New Year is an important
tradition for the Chinese people. During such a season, relatives from all over
the world come back just to celebrate it with their extended families,
including their parents.
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