This weekend , hundreds of thousands of people throughout Asia and around the globe Asian diaspora celebrate the beginning of the Lunar New Year celebrations. This is the time to mark the closing of the Zodiac Year of the Tiger, and the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit or Cat for Vietnamese citizens. Families gather together for the holidays in the days leading up to the festival are typically marked by a slowdown in activities in the workplace. For numerous migrant workers from China this is typically the sole period during which they have the opportunity to go back to their home towns. This is a custom that is deeply embedded in tradition and emphasizes the family orientation.
Lunar New Year, as Chinese Malaysians, is a chance to safeguard and perpetuate the traditional Chinese customs for future generations. Daniel Lee Lih Wei, a father of two kids, hails from Klang. He lives in a suburb near Kuala Lumpur’s Sunway University, where he oversees research. “I hope to expose my children to our extensive cultural and historical heritage, so they can utilize these experiences to help them on their voyage,” he adds. “It involves providing them with exposure and instilling the experiences that I am privileged to have.
As a mother, Lee Lih Wei is mindful about the importance of instilling the culture of his children age 4 and 1. He’s organized a number of events to commemorate celebrations of the New Year. They will be able to indulge in cookies, have fun with fireworks and see traditional lion dances in brightly-coloured, elaborate costumes. These shows, which are performed all over the world, represent luck and prosperity. To make the most of this occasion, Lee Lih Wei will even have a week of off work and dress his family members in red costumes for the reunion with their family over two days. In addition, as per the custom, Lee Lih Wei is hoping for large gifts from the elders in order to show his gratitude to his children.
The previous year, Wen Xu experienced disruption when she was planning to travel for her home town of a tiny Anhui county due to Covidlimitations; however this time, the -year-old has been able to make the journey from Hong Kong, where she is currently working as a reporter. It is due to recent developments in China as the country’s government discontinued its zero-Covid policy back in December. Xu will be one of the millions that got the opportunity to spend time with their families on this day, the Lunar New Year. Lee Lih Wei remarks that modernisation means dining with his wife’s parents and dinner together with his own.
Xu is excited to get together from New Year’s Eve celebrations with her aunt, uncle and cousin. They’ll all be traveling to a faraway town. Xu will host the family dinner, which will include traditional dishes like steamed pork, rice flour, and bone broth. Xu is able to meet her cousin following the arrival of the Canadian family member during this time of relaxing as well as food, and getting caught up. Also, Xu plans to film her mom making a traditional Chinese health food called ejiao. Xu, her cousin and the other childhood friends of theirs would be looking forward to the special gatherings with huge anticipation.
My cousin and I annually partake in a meal together and then climb the steps to take a look at the amount we acquired in customary red envelopes from our elderly family members. She states that even when we’re grown up the cousin we have received red envelopes. It’s a bit sad in this particular year, as her grandfather suffers from COVID- and cannot join them for dinner as he is in his third-floor room equipped with an oxygen device. In Xu’s Year of the Tiger was productive professionally but in regards to relationship relationships. The goal she has for the coming period is to find someone special.
Conclusion
The upcoming reunion dinner marks a joyous event for Xu and her entire family. Not only will they get the chance to reconnect with her distant cousin and dine on traditional family dishes, but they will also participate in an important event that provides them with the occasion to learn about the old-fashioned health practices that their ancestors have relied on for centuries. The Xu family is sure to cherish this season of giving as they are reminded of their common culture, heritage, and love.
