By Jordan Suen
Sounding off in the dark of the night, the fireworks illuminated the night sky with their vibrant colors and earth-shaking sounds. It was that time of year again, a time to celebrate a new year. A Chinese New Year to be more specific. Common festivities of Chinese New Year include lion dancing, family reunion, and red packet gifting. These practices have been passed down from generation to generation, all having their own meaning and purposes.
The lions dance to the beat of the drums so that they may ward away evil spirits, the suits crafted to look like Nians from Chinese mythology in order for them to symbolize the power and wisdom of the creature. Chinese tradition also has the art of gifting red packets filled with money. These represent luck and good wishes so that people may carry these ideals forward to the next year.
Chinese New Year is celebrated in hopes of good luck and prosperity, but also serves as a time to be with family. Friends and family from all over the world will congregate in order to spend the new year with loved ones. This creates a sense of communion within our nation of Malaysia, a country that is rich with culture.
No matter your religion or race, gender or age, everyone is welcome to celebrate and partake in the commemoration. “I drove down to Kuala Lumpur to celebrate, there were decorations and people from all over the country gathered into one area,” said Natalie Khor (12)
As the night becomes quieter with each passing day, the lessons, experiences, and views remain dormant in our minds so that we may remember the feeling of this New Year. 新年快乐 (Xin Nian Kuai Le)--have a happy Chinese New Year.
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