Chinese New Year is around the corner but often, the ones bustling about to comply with Chinese New Year traditions and customs are the older generations in our families.
There are views that the Chinese New Year traditions and customs are fading over time, especially amongst young parents today.
We surveyed our circle of friends, who are young parents, to find out how true it is!
How relevant are Chinese New Year traditions among parents today?
Repaying creditors before Chinese New Year
Word has it that one will continue to be in debt if you do not repay your creditors before Chinese New Year. Everyone we asked seem to still prefer to observe this Chinese New Year custom with the exception of large amounts of money owing for big ticket items such as car and home loans.
“I repay all my creditors before Chinese New Year, so that I won’t have to owe anyone any more money in the New Year!” – Ching, Mother of 3
Spring Cleaning
None of our friends seems to be aware that the 20th day of the 12th month of the lunar calendar is traditionally the day for sweeping floors.
Some of them are adamant that their homes are to be spick and span for Chinese New Year, especially if they would be expecting visitors. Others feel that they are able to accept a general spring-cleaning whereby their home is cleaned to their best efforts and most of the clutter is removed or hidden away.
“My home must be sparkling clean for Chinese New Year because it will be visited by big groups of family and friends.” – Huiching, Mother of 2
Read also: Chinese New Year: The Do’s and Don’ts That You Need to Know
Staying up on Chinese New Year’s Eve
This tradition of staying up late on the eve of Chinese New Year is known as Shou Shui (loosely translated as “observing age”) in Chinese.
A large number of our friends, particularly those with young children, indicated that they do not observe this Chinese New Year tradition because their children’s sleep is a priority, especially with a full day of visiting coming up the next day.
“I don’t practice Shou Shui from young, because my mum says if we don’t sleep early, it would be very difficult to wake us up for visiting the next day.” – Sheena Lim, Mother of 3
Reunion Dinner
The tradition of bonding with family over a meal is still very important, even for young parents today. All of our friends mentioned that this is probably a tradition that will never go out of fashion or fade due to how meaningful it is for them.
“Reunion dinners are a must! It is rare for the whole family to get to eat at the same time today and we love that cosy feeling.” – Ching, Mother of 3
Steamboat
Reunion meals are normally sumptuous but opting for steamboat remains as one of the top choices for our friends. This is not so much due to the fact that it is a custom and more so that many of us enjoy the taste and the interaction that comes along with it.
“We have steamboat experts in the family who can cook anything to perfection by estimation. It is delicious and fun.” – Ronald, Father of 1
Tossing Yu Sheng
The Chinese New Year custom of tossing Yu Sheng in Singapore seems to be deeply ingrained in our friends, mainly because it is so fun.
“Lao Yu Sheng is so fun!” – Jerry, Father of 2
New clothing for the New Year
The Chinese New Year custom of buying brand new attire is still going strong. Many of our friends purchase one new set of clothing for each day of the Chinese New Year holiday in Singapore, so that they can “start afresh” for each day during the Chinese New Year holidays.
“I buy at least one set of new attire for the first day of Chinese New Year so that we can start afresh in the new year.” – Ximen, Father of 1
Red packets or Ang Pows
Every one of us remembers what it was like to receive red packets before we got married. Greetings and blessings for our elders during the exchange could well be the only direct interaction we have with these relatives for an entire year.
Besides that, “funds” from the red packets were also our “resource” for some light gambling during Chinese New Year. None of the younger generations are willing to give it up!
“Chinese New Year will never be complete without red packets!” – Stephanie Teo, Mother of 2
“Red packets are our blessings to the young, unmarried and elderly in our family, this tradition is a must!” – Kaiyi, Mother of 2
Chinese New Year Visiting
Everyone in our circle agrees that Chinese New Year visiting allows them to see families and friends, some of whom, frankly, they only see once a year. Very few of our friends keep to the tradition of visiting according to the standing of each elder in the family.
It is common practice for them to choose to gather at the home of the oldest member in the family for Chinese New Year, so that each family in the extended family can greet and say words of blessings to others in the family without so much travelling.
“We tend to gather at the home of the oldest member in the family and have a massive gathering to save each other the travelling. Less travelling time, more family time!” – Estella Goh, Mother of 1
Banking in money at auspicious times according to zodiac
You might have also received text messages of a tabulation that compiles all the auspicious times to bank in some cash on a specific day and at specific times during Chinese New Year, according to your zodiac. This Chinese New Year custom is still very much alive judging from the long queues at the automated teller machines!
“Sometimes I make an internet bank transfer to observe this custom in significance. That seems to be good enough!” – Yongshun, Father of 2
Starting Work at auspicious hours
Other than having an auspicious hour to bank in some cash, there is also an auspicious hour and day on which you should start the very first day of work in the New Year.
Responses were divided on this Chinese New Year custom, with many stating the inconvenience and/or opportunity cost of having to apply leave to stay away from work until the auspicious day.
Those who do observe this custom seem to take it seriously and many of them send an email as a symbolic action to satisfy the act of starting work at the right time.
“It’s a simple custom to comply to, all I do is send an email from home, to signify myself as working at the auspicious hour.” – Melvin, father of 2
Read also: Tried and Tested Tips for Bringing Your Baby Out During Chinese New Year
While some traditions, such as shou shui, appear to have been forsaken for practical reasons, we find that young parents are still mindful about the importance of keeping Chinese New Year traditions and customs alive for the next generation, and hopefully for generations to come.
Our children in Singapore are, fortunately, still blessed with a vibrant Chinese New Year culture which will teach them about their roots as well as the importance of family bonds, which the Chinese are so particular about.
