Chinese New Year's Eve

It is the eve of Chinese New Year. For most ethnic Chinese, it is the culmination of the preparation of the past few days (and weeks even!). There has been lots of spring cleaning, buying of new clothing items for the Chinese New Year, buying of Chinese New Year goodies for family and friends (and for home), preparing the Ang Baos (红包) and preparation of the reunion dinner.

In the evening, we had our reunion dinner at home. My parents believe that we should always have reunion dinner at home and not at a restaurant. They feel it is more meaningful this way so they didn't mind the trouble of buying the ingredients and the cooking of the dishes. This year, we didn't have steamboat, instead my mother prepared and cooked dishes such as fish, chicken, prawns, double-boiled shark fin's soup with abalone, and various vegetables.

After the reunion dinner, I was buying preparing and packing the Ang Baos (a traditional practice) for my parents, my girls and for children when we go visiting during the Chinese New Year period. I gave the Ang Baos (红包) or also known as 压岁钱 (Ya Sui Qian) to my parents and my girls for good luck in the new year. We watched some of the special programmes celebrating Chinese New Year. There is a Chinese traditional practice called 守岁(Shou Sui) (usually practice by Chinese in China and Taiwan). It occurs when members of the family gather around throughout the night after the reunion dinner and reminisce about the year that has passed while welcoming the year that has arrived It is believed that children who Shou Sui will increase the longevity of the parents. I have no problem staying up past 2am lol. :)

Tomorrow is the First day of Chinese New Year. We will be going visiting. It is going to be a long day. :)