5 Fun Activities to Celebrate Lunar New Year with Kids
The weekend of this week will see hundreds of thousands of people throughout Asia and across the world Asian diaspora mark the beginning of Lunar New Year celebrations. It marks the end of the Zodiac Year of the Tiger as well as the start of the Year of the Rabbit or Cat for the Vietnamese. The opening days of this holiday usually bring an ebb in the commercial activity since families come together. The majority of Chinese workers from abroad feel that this will be the last time they can travel home to China. The custom has its roots in the past and emphasizes importance of family ties.
Lunar New Year, as Chinese Malaysians, is a chance to protect and carry on the traditional Chinese customs for future generations. Daniel Lee Lih Wei is a father of two, hails from Klang. He lives in a nearby suburb of Kuala Lumpur’s Sunway University, where he manages research. “I want to introduce my children to our diverse tradition and culture so that they can utilize these experiences in their lifetime travels,” he adds. “It is about providing an opportunity to expose them and instilling memories that I am privileged to have.
Lee Lih Wei as a father is conscious of how important it is to help instill culture tradition in his 4 year-old and one-year-old children. So, he’s arranged several celebrations during the build-up to the New Year that will allow children to take part in various activities such as playing with firecrackers, enjoying cookies and witnessing traditional lion dances in elaborate colourful costumes. These shows, which are performed across the nation, symbolise good fortune and luck. Lee Lih Wei plans to be off from work for a week and wear coordinating red outfits for his family for the two-day reunion. He is also expecting significant gifts from his grandparents in order to bless his kids.
Last year, Wen Xu experienced disruption when she was planning to travel to her hometown in a small Anhui county because of Covidrestriction; however this time, the -year-old has been successful in making it via Hong Kong, where she recently moved to work as a reporter. Recent developments in China have made this possible. In December, China’s government ended its non-covid policy. Xu, therefore, is one of the millions that were able to see their families on the day of the Lunar New Year. Lee Lih Wei says that the new technology means they’ll eat lunch with their wives and eating dinner with their families.
Xu is thrilled to see her family reunited after New Year’s Eve celebrations with her uncle, aunt and her cousin. The three of them will travel from a distant town. Xu will host a reunion dinner containing classic family meals like steaming pork cooked with rice flour and bone broth in order to be the first to welcome guests. Xu can catch up with her cousin after the return of her Canadian cousin during this time of relaxing eating, catching up and sharing meals. Xu also plans to record her mother making ejiao, an ancient Chinese meal. Xu together with her cousin as well as the other childhood friends of theirs would be looking forward to such special reunions with great enthusiasm.
My cousin and I annually enjoy a meal with each other and climb up the stairs to take a look at the amount we obtained in the form of customary red envelopes from our older family members. It is said that, even when we’re grown up and have children, she still receives red envelopes. It’s a bit sad in this particular year, as her grandfather is suffering from COVID and does not have the ability to attend dinner with them because he has to stay in his 3rd-floor bedroom and is fitted with an oxygen unit. Xu has been successful in her professional career during the Year of the Tiger, however she was unable to settle down in relationship issues. She hopes for the next year is to meet an individual who is special to her.
Conclusion
The upcoming reunion dinner will be a memorable occasion for Xu as well as her family. They will not only have the opportunity to meet Xu’s long-distance cousin and enjoy traditional family dishes as well, they’ll also participate in an important event that provides them with the chance to experience the ancient lifestyles that their grandparents used for centuries. Xu’s family will cherish this holiday season as it reminds them of their common history, culture and bond of love.