Today is Lunar New Year Eve. Goodby to “Year of the Wood Snake”. Tomorrow is 1st Day of Chinese New Year. We welcome in “Year of the Fire Horse”. (Year 4724) This is the biggest celebration in the Chinese calendar:
Traditionally tonight is the time for “Reunion Dinner”, when the whole family congregate for a grand meal, all in new cloths, with the young receiving “Red packet” (Hong Pao) containing money, usually in auspicious number of $.
In modern days that means that family members from far and wide, travel to their ancestral village. In China this is known as the “crazy week” which is the busiest travel days of the year.
In Singapore it mostly means the family meet at the home of the family Patriarch, or Matriarch, whichever is the case.
PS: In more and more cases “Reunion Dinner” is held at a restaurant.
In earlier days many Chinese owned companies in Singapore shut down for up to 14 days, while Malays and Indians kept essential shops and services operating.
Today it is mostly limited to the two days of public holidays.