Chinese New Year

25th January 2020

The year of the rat

Wishing everyone a Happy Chinese New Year.

How are you celebrating Chinese New Year this year?

As for my own family, we started the celebration with our New Year’s Eve steamboat. This is where we have an array of raw and marinated ingredients to dip into the simmering stock, sitting around the table, and a hot pot of soup simmering in the middle of the table. The big pot is surrounded by an array of pre-marinated fresh raw ingredients, such as prawns, calamari, meat, vegetables etc.

And on Chinese New Year’s day,  農曆新年的第一天 or 初一 ) which is today, we will give our children (the unmarried ones) a red packet each to wish them good luck,  good health and prosperity for the new year.

Back in Malaysia, it is a custom for the younger generations to visit and pay respect to the elderly relatives. However, we do not practice this ritual in Australia, though we will make the effort to connect with relatives and friends all over the world nowadays via social media and free internet calls.

As for this year, we have relatives visiting from Malaysia, so we are taking this opportunity to celebrate with them to add a bit of a special New Year atmosphere in Australia.

No matter where you are in the world, wishing you and your family a Happy Chinese New Year. May the year of the rat bring you and your family happiness, health and prosperity.

Have a Happy Chinese New Year!

> 5 common Chinese New Year rituals that we still practice

> Why are Traditions and Cultures Important to Families?

>Traditional Chinese New Year Steamboat the Australian way

> Why is it important to share your culture and traditions with the next generation?

> The ritual of giving and receiving red packets during Chinese New Year