Chap Goh Meh - 1st March

Yesterday marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations for the year 2010. I'm sure after yesterday (meaning today), Chinese around the world would have made resolutions to continue working hard and hopefully  this year would bring them lots of wealth and better health. This year, for me, bring lots of hopes and wishes (which I won't reveal here) and of course, I hope all or maybe some of them would be fulfilled. In terms of angpows (red packets), this year everyone has been very nice and the amount was almost double of last years, even from the latest recession, which is good to know that Malaysia was not that bad....

Anyways, what marks the end of CNY is the Lantern Festival (not associated with Mid-Autumn Festival) where lanterns and lights are all lit up and temples are usually full with decorations. I remember watching in a Stephen Chow movie on ancient Chinese times where there will be sort of a night festival in the nearest city square where there will be games and such. The husbands would "compete" among themselves to earn lanterns for their wives. Accordingly, husbands who get the biggest and most beautiful lantern for their wives would generally mean that he loves his wife very much. Not too sure how much of that is true.

Which reminds me of a another customs today in the modern world. Not sure whether is it practiced anywhere else, but here in Malaysia, on Chap Goh Meh day, the single-ladies would go to a place where there's water which is where she will throw mandarin oranges with their contact and names written on it in hopes that some nice guy would pick it up. It is hoped then that would turn into a happy ending story.

Come to think of it, I sure won't mind any of these 'oranges'
come floating to me in form of comments for this article. I think it's about time.

Well, anyways, Happy belated CHAP GOH MEH and wishes for a great year ahead!