KUCHING: The Chinese community will be celebrating the last day of Chinese New Year — Chap Goh Mei — this Sunday (Feb 5).
According to their folklore, the festival is similar to the western Valentine’s Day celebration.
However, the Chinese will not be giving chocolates, teddy bears or flowers during the festival.
Instead, they will be throwing oranges with their names and telephone numbers written on them into rivers – all in the hope of finding their significant other, all in good fun of course.
This makes me wonder though, once the water eventually rubs off their names and telephone numbers, then what?
Nonetheless, not every Chinese would be following this tradition as they will be celebrating it with their families with a sumptuous dinner.
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Jenny Yeo, 27, said she would not be following tradition.
“I am just going to be at home with my family and having our family dinner.
“Yes, I will be off on that day and I am just going to stay home,” she added.
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Ah Ming, 26, said he was not aware of any tradition during the festival as he had always been having family dinners ever Chap Goh Mei.
“No, we never follow that tradition. We just have our family dinners only.”
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Kelvin Lai, 23, said he knew that during the festival, some celebrants would go the extra mile to throw their selected oranges with their names and telephone numbers on them.
“But, I have never done this. It’s only for those who believe in the traditional custom,” he said, adding that he would be spending the day with his family instead.
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As for Claire Ng, 38, she said: “No lah…I am just going to celebrate it with my family.”
“We no longer follow this tradition,” chipped in the mother of three children.
