Chinese New Year 2012 - Day 1

My 1st day of CNY will always begin with a simple tea ceremony at home. My sister & I will serve our parents a cup of tea each, while wishing them the best in all that they do (in flowery Cantonese phrases!). Our parents will then present to us an ang pow each along with some well-wishes for success in our career & life. It's only after our little tea ceremony that we'll leave the house & head out to the "family house" for breakfast.

A vegetarian meal for breakfast is the norm for the Wong family on every 1st day of the Chinese New Year. Before/After the meal, everyone will be busy serving tea & speaking well-wishes to each other to wish them the best of health, wealth, & success for the new year. Not to forget, ang pows (red packets) will also be given out by aunties/uncles who are married to those who are still single! :)

It has also been a tradition that the family will then head over to my grandaunt's house right after breakfast for her famous home-made prawn crackers & cookies (and of course to "bai nin"). The whole house will be filled with people catching up with each other, sharing stories & laughing, & exchanging mandarin oranges/cookies as well. Ah, such is the tradition & culture. I'm proud to be a Chinese & a Malaysian - 'Tis the season to be jolly (as well)!

The only disappointment for the 1st-half of today is lunch at Hoi Thong in Taman S.E.A. I reckon the standard of food at this restaurant has dropped quite tremendously. Interestingly enough, there's still a crowd! Perhaps this is the only non-vegetarian restaurant that's opened on the 1st day of CNY *sigh*

Thankfully the company at the meal table was good. We managed to share some laughs over the not-so-appealing taste of the dishes ordered...I doubt I'll bother coming back here again until I have gathered my courage to give this place another chance.

Dinner will be back at the family house, after which we'll adjourn for snacks & tea at my cousins' place ;)


In the eating-season!