Have you noticed…
Every year, as Chinese New Year approaches, the world feels different. The streets buzz with excitement, families scramble to buy festive snacks, and homes are turned upside down in the name of spring cleaning. The air smells like reunion dinner, and for a brief moment, everything feels warm, joyful, and full of promise.
As a kid, this was the highlight of my year—finally reuniting with family, eating all my favorite food, and of course, collecting red envelopes. The countdown to the big day felt like an eternity, but once the new year arrived, it was pure happiness… for about two days.
Then, just like that, the magic disappears. Everyone drifts back to their own routines, and the festive mood fades as quickly as it came. The streets quiet down, the decorations start to feel like mere background noise, and suddenly, it's just another regular day.
That’s when it hit me: The best part of Chinese New Year isn’t the celebration itself—it’s the anticipation of it.
The Happiness of “Almost There”
Think about it. The real excitement isn’t in the moment—it’s in the build-up.
- The last five minutes before school ends always feel longer and more thrilling than actually walking out of the classroom.
- Counting down the days to a long-awaited trip is often more exciting than actually sitting on the plane.
- Seeing your year-end bonus hit your account feels more satisfying than actually spending it.
It’s the same with Chinese New Year. The real joy comes before the reunion dinner, before the lion dances, before the fireworks. It’s in the feeling of looking forward to something big.
And the weird thing? Once it arrives, that anticipation disappears.
Why Are We Like This?
Psychologists say that anticipation triggers more happiness than the actual event itself. It’s because hope, excitement, and curiosity create a sense of energy. We’re motivated by what’s about to happen—because it still holds endless possibilities.
Once something happens, it’s no longer a mystery. The excitement fizzles out because there’s nothing left to look forward to.
Maybe that’s why Chinese New Year always feels more magical before it actually arrives. The process of waiting—planning outfits, decorating the house, preparing gifts—that’s where the true joy lives.
So, maybe instead of feeling sad when the celebrations end, we should learn to appreciate the beauty of anticipation. Instead of rushing toward the “big day,” we can savor the build-up—the small joys of waiting, of preparing, of dreaming. Because sometimes, the happiness of almost there is even sweeter than the happiness of being there.
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Felicia Yoan is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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