Chinese New Year celebrations are known to have various do’s and don’ts that include quirky taboos and fascinating practices. But over the years, we’ve been seeing new changes to some of the traditional practices of CNY and surprisingly, most of them are actually a good change!
Wondering why? Then read on to find out the different ways that CNY celebrations are getting modernised and why we’re glad to see them change!
1. Some people would choose to not set off firecrackers
The origin of these firecrackers dates back to the early 20th century where Chinese mythology states that it was used to scare off a monster called ‘Nian’ that would destroy villages on CNY eve. Thus, it has become common practice to set off firecrackers on every CNY eve to scare off evil spirits. But these firecrackers can be very loud and they can cause distress to neighbours, kids and also pets.
This is why nowadays, there are people who would choose to not set off these firecrackers in respect of the people around them. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy ourselves with a little firework show (from a safe distance, of course)!
2. We no longer abide by the “no washing hair” rule
Need we say more?
The reason why it’s taboo to wash your hair during CNY is that in Mandarin, ‘hair’ has the same pronunciation and character as the phrase ‘to become wealthy’. So to wash it on the first day of CNY is similar to ‘washing away’ your wealth. But over the years, this has become a superstitious taboo that people no longer take seriously and decide to overlook.
3. We’d choose to celebrate with close family members only
CNY is a time when everyone would look forward to being reunited with family members. But in this post-MCO era, we’re no longer allowed to gather in big groups which is why our celebrations have gotten more tight-knit consisting of close family members only. But on the bright side, this has become a positive thing because it now feels more personal and we can really bond with each other.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that we’ve forgotten about our extended relatives completely. They will always be just one video call away and e-ang paos have definitely come in handy during these times.
4. We’d still go outside even on the third day of CNY
The third day of CNY is traditionally known as ‘Scarlet Dog Day’, referring to the Scarlet Dog who is the God of Anger. Thus, people would not pay visits or even receive guests on this day to avoid meeting him and getting bad luck. Nowadays, this taboo is no longer taken seriously and people would still use this time to visit distant relatives or even hang out with friends to catch up.
5. Apart from giving ang paos to family members, we’d also give back to society
The red packet filled with money is one of the most awaited highlights of CNY and we all love receiving it. But nowadays, ang paos are not just limited to family members. We’d also give ang paos to other people in need such as the kakak cleaner at our office or the security guard of our apartment building.
This is definitely a modern change that we love to see as it warms our heart to see Malaysians of various backgrounds getting together just to help one another, especially during such an auspicious time of the year.
It is also not just limited to giving out ang paos. You can also help out just by sending over food to whoever needs it or playing this online game to support a good cause! Yup, you read that right…
As we welcome the Year of the Tiger, Malaysians can play and complete this online game called ‘Send Happy Tiger Home Safely‘ to get RM100 donated to the Happy Tiger Bank!
Through this game, UEM Sunrise aims to pledge RM22,200 for the Malayan Tiger Conservation efforts to help save our Malayan Tigers as there are less than 200 of them left in the wild. This means you can play and have a good time while also doing a good deed all at once!
Not only that, but with each completed game, you will also stand a chance to win a Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 camera. So make sure to get all of your friends and family to play this game so we can start the year with a good deed!
There’s even an Instagram contest you can join!
If you’re planning to document your happy moments with loved ones this CNY, don’t forget to also enter this ‘Happy Tiger and Me‘ Instagram filter contest where you can use this CNY-themed IG filter to share your special festive moments and win a RM20 Grab voucher! All you have to do is:
- Use the special IG filter and record your best selfie, OOTD or just happy CNY moments and have fun with the adorable virtual Happy Tiger. (Plus point: the filter even has a beautify function so you’ll always look on point!)
- Share it as an IG reel and make sure your profile is public.
- Follow and tag @uem_sunrise and include the hashtags #HappyTigerandMe #FindYourHappy #HappyDuoDuo #UEMSunrise.
- Stay tuned for the winners’ announcement!
And that’s it! This could be another fun activity where you can get the whole family involved and get really creative with it!
And the fun doesn’t stop there!
UEM Sunrise is also bringing more joy to our festive CNY celebrations with the Happy Duo Duo Book, Sign and Win deal.
From 12 January to 22 March 2022, you can win up to RM622,222 worth of rewards, gadgets and appliances when you book and sign the SPA to your new dream home with UEM Sunrise!
You can check out the participating properties situated in these areas:
- Iskandar Puteri
- Greater Kuala Lumpur
- Desaru Coast
- Malaysia Vision Valley
What do you say, guys? New year, new home? ?
You certainly won’t be able to get these kinds of rewards during any other time of the year so make sure you don’t miss this chance to have a Happy Duo Duo New Year ahead!
For more information on these deals and contests, you can head over to the UEM Sunrise website here. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with more exciting news.
