The Lunar New Year brings families together. According to the Chinese calendar, it's the first day of the new year. Not only do the Chinese celebrate this day, but it's a public holiday in a lot of the countries located in Asia, so everyone who's not Chinese also gets to enjoy the celebrations.
Fire crackers are set off at the stroke of midnight to scare the evil spirits away. I remember growing up in Malaysia in the 80s, waiting with my brothers and cousins for the stroke of midnight. Popping sounds would echo through the night and almost everyone wouldn't be asleep. Later on in the years, the kind of firecrackers got interesting with coloured bursts and interesting sounds. I remember most vividly my younger brother getting injured by them through no fault of his, most of the time. They are now banned in Malaysia and Singapore.
Other than public holidays and firecrackers, it is an aged old Chinese tradition for families and friends to gather during this time to make merry and stuff their tummy with an array of cookies, meats and the traditional 'Yu Sang'. Literally translated, 'Yu Sang' means 'Fish Raw'. It's a dish where various vegetables are julienne and neatly placed on a circular dish, slices of raw fish is apparent, sauces and spices are added and everyone shouts out auspicious wishes while tossing it. Of course you have to eat some when all the tossing is done. Every part of the dish signifies some fortune or something.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, daughters who have married and moved out will return to their parent's place to pay their respects as their husband so happens to live far, far away, don't have the opportunity to visit that often. A lot of the traditions are brought down from great great grandparents and we still follow them, or at least try to maintain them.
Ever since I've moved to Singapore, I don't go back to visit my parents for the Lunar New Year. We're not all that sticky on Chinese traditions, I guess. Besides, it's not economical for us to fly back during the peak season *grin*
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