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There are many things about Chinese New Year that I’m not particularly fond of.

There’s an overwhelming emphasis on abundance, wealth and fortune. Music that plays in malls, markets and public places sing about how “the God of Fortune is coming”. Everyone wishes one another ‘gong xi fa cai’ – which means ‘may you have a windfall’ in mandarin. People cheer “huat ah!”, which is Hokkien dialect for ‘fa’ – which means ‘prosper’ in mandarin.

Mandarin oranges become ubiquitous during this festive season, which signifies good fortune as its name in mandarin means ‘gold’ – another reference to wealth. A well-known superstition also states that one should not sweep the floor or throw out any trash during Chinese New Year, as it’s associated with ‘sweeping your wealth away’.

It’s all about wealth this, wealth that.

Money, money, money.

It all seems pretty superficial to me.

But I guess 2020 has been an unprecedented year, with layoffs and reduction in incomes due to the poor economy. So this 2021, the typical Chinese New Year wishes have their place. Everyone wishes for a steady income after all, we all need money to survive. That’s unfortunately how the world works. :(

My wish for everyone this year is stability, health and happiness. I don’t need wealth or abundance, ‘just enough’ works for me. It’s human beings’ desire for abundance that is driving environmental destruction after all. Also, keep being kind to one another.

My Chinese New Year has been really quiet this year. No large groups, no noisy loheis. It’s just the way my introverted self likes it. (Although part of me feels that it’s weird.)