‘The memories we make with our family is everything.’
– American actress, Candace Cameron Bure.
My friends, how was your Lunar New Year celebration? Have you been creating memories with your families and friends, just like me?
As I have stated in my previous column, this Chinese New Year has been the most enjoyable for me since I lost my parents to old age and all my nephews and nieces left my house for greener pastures.
Instead of a quiet celebration as anticipated, I attended many Liong family gatherings organised by my son Patrick, nephew Kiong and niece Hong. Some of us even went as far as Roxy Tasik Biru Resort in Bau for a boat ride and climbed a hill there to view the Chinese temple there and enjoy the scenery there.
After the excursion, I even spent two nights at Kiong’s house. “Ah Koh (father’s elder sister in Hokkien), please come to my house to watch movies and enjoy the Chinese New Year snacks with us,” he said after bringing me out for a hot pot dinner with his wife and children.
Of course, I could not resist the generous offer and promptly packed my overnight bag. So for the next two days, I proceeded to make many more memories with Kiong, his wife and children.
Yesterday was Chap Goh Meh, the 15th day and last day of the Lunar New Year celebration.
For most Chinese families, the highlight of Chap Goh Meh, which literally means the 15th day, is usually a family dinner.
Because I worked yesterday, I had my Chap Goh Meh dinner with my son, my daughter-in-law and grandson three days earlier – on Wednesday – at a popular eatery in Brighton Square, a commercial centre at Jalan Song in Kuching.
My daughter-in-law quickly organised the dinner after learning that I would be working on Chap Goh Meh and had no time even to go out even for a quick dinner.
Like the reunion dinner on the eve of the Lunar New Year, food and drinks are essential for a memorable Chap Goh Meh dinner. For the dinner on Wednesday evening. I ordered Thai Style Pineapple Fried Rice, my daughter-in-law Chao a Foochow dish, Chai Big Bee Hoon with Halibut Soup while my son ordered Grilled Chicken. We also ordered cold carbonated drinks to go with the food.
Surprised by the big food portions, I was happy to share the delicious food with my son, daughter-in-law and grandson.But my family was not the only one which enjoyed an early Chap Goh Meh dinner. Some of my friends who had to work at night also opted for Chap Goh Meh lunches or early Chap Goh Meh dinners.
Indeed, there are times when modern problems call for modern solutions. When a family dinner cannot take place on a certain day, it is better to shift it to another day so that every family member will be present and have the opportunity to create memories with one another.
Now that the Chinese New Year celebration is officially over, the distribution of new year ‘angpow’ (red envelopes containing cash) has also ended. My friends, how much ‘angpow’ money did you collect?
Value all the ‘angpow’ money you have received. Remember they are tokens of good wishes during auspicious occasions such as the Chinese New Year and weddings. Be happy if you get more, don’t be unhappy if you get less.
Do you know that some elderly folk, who are comfortable financially, will not accept the money you give them in the red packets? They will instead give you back the money and ask you to keep it for a rainy day yourself. But they will keep the red packets for good luck.
My youngest sister, who works in a Chinese restaurant, loves to keep all the ‘angpow’ packets she receives from dignitaries for good luck. Sometimes, she also keeps the ‘angpow’ money in the red packets for years.
This Chinese New Year, I have distributed ‘angpow’ money to many young and old members of my family and received ‘angpow’ money from many of them in return. Personally, I feel during the festival, the amount of cash inside is not important; it is the thought that counts.
In this modern era, Chinese customs and traditions are fast changing. Red packets are traditionally given out by married couples to their elders like grandparents and parents, single adults and children as tokens of good fortune and blessing. Now, it seems anyone can hand out ‘angpow’ money.
My friends, do you know that my three-year-old grandson has decided to embrace the ‘angpow’ tradition early? As we were going out for the ‘Chap Goh Meh’ dinner on Wednesday, he gave me, in the car, an ‘angpow’ envelope with a cute dragon motif. Inside was a 20 sen coin that he requested from his mother.
“Happy Chinese New Year, grandma,” he said as he happily handed me the envelope. Just minutes before that, he also gave me a RM1 chocolate coin that he received earlier on that day from his teacher during his playschool party.
My daughter-in-law, Amelia, said he received two such coins; he ate one and gave the other one to me. I was greatly touched by my grandson’s loving gesture. I think Amelia was also surprised by her son’s act of kindness. I will remember my grandson’s gift for a long time to come.
I wonder where the little boy learnt the art of giving ‘angpow ‘ money. From his mother or from the teachers in his playschool?
Anyway, I think it is good for parents and teachers to introduce children to the legends and traditions surrounding the 15-day Chinese New Year celebration. Chinese kids will learn to appreciate their Chinese culture while all kids will respect the diversity of different cultures in Malaysia.
My friends, I’m glad I have created many memories with members of my Liong family this Chinese New Year. I’m now looking forward to a rocking good year ahead with lots of good fortune, evolution, improvement and abundance. I hope it will be a memorable Year of the Wood Dragon for you, too.
