Ah... CNY¹, a plight of every Chinese where they're to celebrate on a reunion dinner. Usually family members from near and far will come back to their parents for a reunion dinner. In most cases, most family be heading back to my grandparent's home for such occassion. Once there, they'll be seeing most of their family members and started to interact about their lives.

Usually on CNY eve, the family would have some dinner first, and then midnight prayer where there will be some offering such as candles and tea praying for good omen to come. Previously, before the government banned firecrackers, there used to be a lighting of 'ang phow'².

And the next day on CNY, married couples will usually give 'ang pow'³ to the unmarried family members, specifically children and young adults. Under a middle working class family, usually 'ang pow' will differ between RM2 to RM50, depending on location. The value of ang pow is usually proportional to the location. A rural area will have less while large house with high renovation will earn a higher value in a pack.

And CNY will never be complete without gambling. Yes, there is a saying that if you do not gamble, you're not a chinese. Family members will usually engage in a social interaction by gambling. Be it mahjong, a deck of cards or even chinese dominoes, the sight of gambling in a family is not to be missed. Young adults will usually try to get as much money as possible.

At the end of the 2 day CNY, family members will then check their collection from the Ang Pow collection and gambling wins to check for their total revenue for the New Year. Some even will go extremely far by gambling till the 15th (Chap Goh Meh⁴).

₁ CNY = Chinese New Year

₂ Ang Phow = literally translated as red firecracker, a small 3-6 inch that has been tied to branch out from the main fuse. After lighting up the fuse on the bottom, the fuse will carry magnesium fire to each individual firecrackers which result in a lengthy explosive sound to welcome the New Year.

₃ Ang Pow = red packet that usually carries some money for luck.

₄ Chap Goh Meh = 15th day in the Chinese lunar calendar where it signifies single women to throw oranges to the lake/river to signify their luck to get a good husband.