For mummies who celebrate Chinese New Year, how has your new year been thus far?
Must have been quite a lot of hustle and bustle getting ready for it. Hope you had some help and roped in your little ones too.
Chinese New Year has been a time to follow the customs and traditions handed down by our ancestors.
We may or may not know why we have to do certain things and avoid a whole lot more during Chinese New Year.
If we follow them without knowing, it’s time we find out why, because our children are very likely to question them!
In any case, I think many of us have dropped or changed the way things are being done in our own family for many reasons.
Over time and generations, we have tailored many customs to fit our modern day lifestyle.
With what’s going on now around the world with borders closed and travels restricted, we have adapted even more towards a modern day celebration of the Chinese New Year.
It’s quite amazing how technology has played a big part in how we adapt.
Electronic Crackers
To create the festive atmosphere and the merriment of it all, the sound of firecrackers blasting through the house is a must-have for some families.
These days, there’s an option to light up electronic crackers instead of burning firecrackers for the same effect.
It may not be as loud a blast, but there are many good reasons why this may be favoured today.
Firstly, you don’t need to clean up any mess after lighting up. It’s also much safer compared to the real thing.
You don’t contribute to air pollution, and you only need to buy it once and reuse it for years to come.
Saves quite a bit of money especially with rising prices of firecrackers every couple of years.
E-Ang Pow
Life has gone cashless for us, so it isn’t surprisingly that ang pows are also going cashless.
This is a useful alternative with people not being able to come together during Chinese New Year. Especially during this pandemic season.
Banks are offering ways to give ang pows electronically.
Not only can we collect ang pow online via apps that can transfer money like WeChat all around the world, it’s also possible to collect ? (Fu) online via AliPay.
Fu represents blessings, good fortune or happiness and is most welcomed during such auspicious times as the Chinese New Year.
Games are created on the app that lets people participate in several ways to collect as many Fu cards as possible.
Modern Chinese Calligraphy And Name Stamps
Chinese calligraphy is part of the tradition where people pen down auspicious words or phrases as decor for the new year.
This too has since been modified along the years to combine modern strokes to turn it into contemporary art.
Some of these can now even be customised online and downloaded. Even Chinese character name seals or stamps can easily be designed and downloaded for free.
All we need would be a printer and coloured paper to print out Chinese New Year greetings.
Virtual Chinese New Year Events
Since we are restricted to travel and some of us may not want to join the crowd even when it’s permissible, we still can join in the various virtual Chinese New Year events happening.
For many families who aren’t able to get together, it’s already the norm to meet virtually via Zoom calls or WhatsApp group calls.
For every barrier that we face, technology seems to bridge it for us in any way possible.
We adapt very easily, even the older generation has gotten on board.
Sure, nothing beats having the real thing, but in times when faced with challenges, we are thankful for all the modern day inventions that more than make up for our difficulties.
Modern Day Chinese New Year For The New Generation
It remains to be seen what our children will think of these new and modern ways of welcoming and celebrating the new year.
Technology is second nature to them, so they may not feel the same way we do.
It feels like all fun and games to them whilst we lose a little bit more of the olden day traditions as we adapt to changing times.
There will always remain pros and cons, but many families still feel that we should preserve as many customs as we can.
Especially those that are meaningful and create beautiful family bonds and memories.
In any case, there are still many happenings around Singapore worth visiting.
Just ensure to be safe while we bring our family out there, familiarise yourself with what’s allowed and what’s not permitted.
Stay safe and enjoy the remaining Chinese New Year days! Here at Mamahood, we wish you Gong Xi, Gong Xi! Gong Xi Fa Cai!