Originally posted 2009-01-29 02:01:28.
So now it’s Wednesday night, the end of the third day of Chinese New Year.
Some folks have gone back to work, my work email’s inbox is starting to fill up, some kids are back in school tomorrow. Most are still on leave, Chinese-owned shops are still closed.
It went by too quickly.
Specifically, it didn’t feel like it, the way I remembered it.
We were at Grandma’s open house last night- Hot Mummee’s family’s tradition where Grandma caters (more like she cooks herself!) for her side of the family, always on the second day of the New Year. There was a comment made last night, echoed by many.
Every year it feels less and less like Chinese New Year. I wholeheartedly agree.
For me, it was all of these:
- Firecrackers
- Whole roast pigs; Okay it’s expensive; somehow my parents used to get one and share them with relatives and friends)
- Lots of ang pows; yes I know I am married now!
- Pai thee kong; I know this is celebrated on the 8th day, but previous years have already shown the “slowdown”
- More firecrackers; yes us boys played with all sorts, but left the serious one (the long over-6-footers packed with gunpowder!) to dad to light
- Lots of food and junk food
- Noise, mainly from blaring Chinese New Year songs
- More firecrackers
For me, the change started when Malaysia banned firecrackers. It started not feeling like that time of year anymore, because it traditionally was a very noisy part of the year, where the nights would be literally cracked by the sporadic exploding cracker, or the occasional rapid-fire of a 6-footer. Our lawn would be littered with small pieces of red paper, evidence of our own 6-footer.
And then, it started to change. Through the years the atmosphere was getting less and less like it. I don’t think it is just because I am growing (older), that my personal experience and memory are different because I am seeing the world differently at the passing of every year. I think a lot of you would also agree that it is not the same anymore.
For my kids, I foresee that they will likely not view this traditionally very significant Chinese festivity as big a deal as we do. They’d probably know that it is significant, but it is not as big an impact as it did for us when we were kids.
Do you feel the same?
I feel the same. Was a bit sad about it too.
Small towns have firecrackers still though….so maybe the change is only happening in KL!
At any rate, was thinking that Ii want to start some traditions on my own with my kids…(am still thinking). Have to be really realistic ones.
kl quiet cos a vast majority go back to hometown haha. I did hear quite a lot of firecrackers etc, not as much as I remember but got lah.
Have to make new traditions for your kids
I got mine a lion dance head thingy (like you buy in tesco) and a miniature drum like they have. So the kids put on their own “performance”. 
I think you are both right- gotta make our own traditions too!
I was more (also) talking about the ethnic Chinese heritage type of thing, rather than specifically individual family traditions. But yeah: It is up to us to incorporate what is Chinese into a family tradition too.
I know exactly what you mean.
For my family the first few days of CNY was always quiet except for visiting and visitations from certain friends of my parents, so we see them once a year.
But “pai thee kong” was the most celebrated event, with loads of relatives coming, having dinner together, preparing the prayer altar, playing with fire crackers, some adults sitting around around playing cards.
Then another round of feasting after the mid-night prayers done, the burning of a mountainous pile of joss paper, and yes, with a whole roast pig to be chopped up and shared with relatives, while we kids picking on some big bones, looking like some hungry dogs ourselves.
These are but childhood memories now.
When the boys are a little older, I must dig out old photos at my mum’s during CNY and tell them stories.