Chinese New Year Blues

Chinese New Year in the past used to be one of merriment, joy and getting together of families. but this year I do not see the merrymaking nor even the Annual Family Reunions that were evident in the past.

At least judging from my neighbourhood, I see an absence of families getting together, including in feasting and blasting of fire crackers. I wonder if this is a result of the downturn of the economy, the disenchantment with the way the country is heading or the fall in the value of the ringgit.

On the eve of Chinese New Year in past years, I would observe a number of foreign cars with Singapore Number Plates and the return of the neighbourhood children with their brood of children making their entry into the peaceful enclave of senior citizens. To be honest the year has witnessed the passing away of a number of senior citizens but the homes have one spouse living alone yearning for their loved ones who have left our shores and settled elsewhere but, who, in the past used to return home for the New Year.

The other recent development is the gathering of families at Hotels and Restaurants for the annual Reunion Dinners. A closer look at the "Kuda Calendar" for the 9th of February that is common in most Chinese households show family members sitting at a roundtable partaking their meals. However a walk around my neighbourhood, indicates the younger generation have abandoned the seniors for reasons best known to themselves. Even married couples with no children are in their homes with no indication they are invited to a reunion to the home of siblings or parents. I am no authority on Chinese customs but I would think the childless couple would visit the homes of siblings for the Annual Reunion.

content (c) Ganapathy Ramasamy, mynameisgana@blogspot.com

image (c) Lat and Ambank Group

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