I grew up in a small kampung in Melaka called Kandang. My late father was a Blacksmith while my late mom was a housewife. While growing up, the Chinese New Year celebration was one of the happy times. As kids, we were excited to receive ang pows and eat home-baked cookies and delicious food prepared by my beloved mom. Weeks before CNY, the neighbours Malay makcik-makcik would come over to my house to help my mom bake cookies. They would bake Kuih Bahalu which is my favourite, pineapple tart, Kuih Bangkit & peanut cookies. I always remember coming home from school with the smell of delicious cookies filling the whole house. I would help myself to some when my mom was not looking. It was too hard to resist the temptation of those mouth-watering cookies.
Living in a kampung environment, the spirit of togetherness or “Muhibbah” was strong and most of my childhood playmates were my Malay neighbour kids my age. We would dress up in our new clothes sewn by my mom and together we went house to house to collect ang pow and play with firecrackers and fireworks during the night. At night, my parents would perform prayers to welcome the God of Wealth. We had a few taboos that my parents would remind us to follow strictly before CNY. No fighting or cursing bad words among siblings to ensure harmony within the family members, wear new bright coloured clothes, no black outfit or torn clothes to welcome auspicious year & no crying allow as to ensure a happy filled New Year. We were told to be extra careful as not to break any plates, bowls & glasses as breaking things in the house is considered bad luck. No washing of hair or clothes for the first day of CNY as we don't want to wash away our good luck. The same goes with no sweeping of floors for the first three days of CNY so as not to sweep away our good fortune. We were told to stay awake as long as we can as it was believed that it would ensure my parent live a long ripe age. So my siblings and I would stay up till early the next morning as we were so afraid to lose our beloved parents. After midnight, my dad would give us our first ang pow for CNY. We would happily wish him “Gong Xi Fa Cai!”. We were very careful to follow all the above taboos as what we do then would affect our luck & the family in the coming year.
To date, I still follow some of the above taboos! Growing up in a typical Chinese family has made me a superstitious person, to say the least. But one must not allow a few superstitious beliefs to ruin any happy festivities. Chinese New Year is the one special occasion where generations of families can reunite and spend time together. By honouring the household and heavenly deities and ancestors. It’s also a good opportunity to teach our kids and the next generation the importance of our Chinese roots and traditions.
By celebrating CNY, we wish for good fortune for the coming year and continue many religious traditions and beliefs that hold value to us.
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
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