Today is the eve of the Chinese New Year. This sees the end of the Year of the Rooster, and the beginning of the Year of the Dog. For me, the Chinese New Year is a somewhat low-key celebration, that is mostly about family gatherings. My family will be having dinner together this evening – the traditional å›¢åœ†é¥ tuan yuan fan, which translates to ‘reunion dinner’. The idea is that all members of the family come together on this evening, even those who normally live far away (hence CherryRipe’s visit).
It’s been years since I’ve celebrated Chinese New Year in a Chinese cultural environment, and I can hardly even remember what it feels like. It’s not even a public holiday here, and apart from the post office selling a few Chinese New Year themed stamps, the odd greeting card for sale at newsagents, and many of the Chinese-owned shops closing for a few days, it’s just like any ordinary day, really. It’s what you choose to make of it, I guess. 
I have my own little rituals to mark the occasion. For one, I always make sure I put up someæ˜¥è” chun lian, ‘spring couplets‘ up to decorate the entrance to our house. I like choosing a different ‘good luck’ message for the year: this year’s is 出入平安 chu ru ping an, ‘Come and go safely’.
Categories: celebration, family, Chinese, culture
2 Comments
It was fantastic being in Singapore last week because New Year decorations were everywhere.
Sydney makes a bit of an effort, with hawker stalls and markets being set up throughout Chinatown and Belmore Park this weekend, but it was nothing at all compared to being in Singapore of course.
An auspicious and prosperous new year to you!
Thank you Fiona! 🙂
Your pictures of Singapore were great!!