Chinese New Year

It's New Year Eve and the highlight of the day is the Reunion Dinner where members of the family sit down together for the special meal. This is the symbol of peace and harmony. It is a demonstration of love and respect that binds the family together.

During our period overseas from 1983-1997, we could not observe this special day with our own family, but we made it a point to invite some friends to join us for this special dinner. In 1998 the first year home in Singapore, we had our reunion dinner at our small flat at Hillview Park.

What a joy to have our son and family come to our home to participate in the reunion dinner. This went on for a few years until Stephen and Dolly came up with the wise suggestion that we have the reunion dinner at their place. It was a great and thoughtful idea for as we get older we are finding it hard to cope with all the preparation. Age has restricted our mobility somewhat and we take more time to do things. They have a bigger house and a maid to help with the preparation and cooking. So for the last few years, the family reunion dinner is held at their home. We are very happy with this arrangement.

Gladys and family go to Kum Pui's parents' home for their reunion dinner as Chinese tradition dictates. But the two families make it a point to visit us on the first day of Chinese New Year.

In our younger days, Balestier Corps always had a Chinese New Year Watchnight Service on the eve of Chinese New Year. They would invite other corps folk to join them. Usually the service was a short one, as the families had to fit in with their own reunion dinner. Many of the 'ang moh' or westerners, officers and servicemen would join in the Watchnight Service.

According to the Chinese way of counting the hours of the day, 11 p.m marks the beginning of a new cycle, so the traditional Chinese would start ushering the New Year when the clock strikes eleven.

New Year' Day is a time to reaffirm family and friendship ties - the younger ones visiting the elders. Many still observe the ancient custom of showing respect to one's elders by offering them two mandarin oranges with both hands. The host makes it a point to reciprocate the compliments.

In turn unmarried children receive 'ang pows' - red packets containing money, all in new notes. Red is an important colour to the Chinese because it symbolises life, happiness and blessing. It is considered rude to open the red packets in front of the givers.

We always have an open house during Chinese New Year and relatives and friends call on us to pay their respects. We do not issue invitations to anyone as it is common knowledge that all are welcome. Asians maintain open house during special festivals like Chinese New Year or Hari Raya Puasa.

We often hear the greeting "Kong Hee Fatt Choy" in Cantonese or "Gong Xi Fa Cai" in Mandarin. It means wishing a person - prosperity for the New Year, usually meaning material wealth which does not normally bring joy, happiness or peace. So we don't use that greeting. Instead we use one of the following.

"Xin Nian Kwai Le" meaning "Wishing you joy for the New Year."
"Xin Nian Ping An" meaning "wishing you peace for the New Year" or Shalom
"Xin Nian Men En" meaning "may the grace of God be with you for the New Year"

Let our thoughts dwell on the joy, peace and grace of God for the New Year. this is my New Year prayer for you. "The Lord will keep you from all harm - He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever." Psalm 121: 7-8