Reunion Dinner On Chinese New Year's Eve A Nationwide Red-Hot Tradition

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- The Chinese community across the country celebrates the arrival of Chinese New Year tomorrow with the reunion dinner tradition, honouring its deep cultural significance and joy.

A Bernama check of several locations revealed that families gathered to usher in the festival.

The home of Khoo Chai Ee, 67, in Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam, Selangor, was filled with joyous laughter as his children and grandchildren came together for the reunion dinner, eagerly anticipating tomorrow’s Chinese New Year celebrations

His son, Khoo Ne Bing, 41, said the reunion dinner was one of the festive moments he eagerly anticipated, with his mother’s special stir-fried sea cucumber dish being a special treat.

In TERENGGANU, Toh Ping Ping, 43, said the reunion dinner was especially lively this year with the return of her brother, Toh Li Jie, 49, from abroad.

“It’s a meaningful year for us, as we’re able to reunite (after seven years). We not only had the usual Chinese dishes but also keropok lekor, a snack my brother requested since he hadn’t enjoyed it in years,” she said, adding that they decided to have the dinner at a restaurant in Kuala Terengganu.

In PAHANG, Yee Oi Lian, 87, who prepares her own meals, was delighted to celebrate Chinese New Year with a reunion dinner surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Her granddaughter, Foo Pei Sun, 37, said that every year, their family gathered at her father Datuk Foo Chek Pang’s, 61, home in Kuantan, making it the focal point of the celebration because Yee lived there.

“My grandmother is very active and she even has her own mini garden. She was eager to cook for today’s meal because her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are all gathering. This tradition of having a reunion dinner really fosters family spirit, allowing us to reconnect and share stories,” said the entrepreneur.

In PENANG, private sector worker Jordan Kee Yu Wah, 43, said that despite the bittersweet emotions this year following the passing of his father and father-in-law, his family still upheld the reunion dinner tradition.

“We will still gather to celebrate with our umi (mother and mother-in-law) and each person will bring something to share. But there are two dishes that must be served, namely steamed fish and steamboat,” he said, explaining that steamed fish symbolises prosperity for the coming year (nian nian you yu) and steamboat signifies family togetherness (tuan yuan).

In KEDAH, Kong Ting Ming, 38, from Kampung Berjaya, Alor Setar, shared that she helped her mother prepare halal food as one of their family members, who had converted to Islam, would be returning to celebrate Chinese New Year with the family.

“We make sure to prepare halal food because we understand its importance. Despite our different religions, mutual respect is key. That’s why we choose to prepare our own food for the reunion dinner at home, as we’re concerned that dining out might raise doubts,” she said.

In PERLIS, Chong Siong Chuan, 48, from Kangar, said that this year’s reunion dinner was different from last year’s as he decided to hold it at a cafe.

In PERAK, Lim Ai Jie, 36, from Bandar Seri Botani, Ipoh, said that he looked forward to the annual reunion dinner with family members and relatives, as they rarely had the chance to meet due to their busy schedules and work commitments.

“We have relatives from Kuala Lumpur and Johor who’ve returned to celebrate Chinese New Year together. It’s a great time with family, as we don’t often have the chance to do this,” he told Bernama when met at a restaurant tonight.

In NEGERI SEMBILAN, about 600 residents of Kampung Baru Sikamat, Seremban, gathered to celebrate the Chinese New Year with high spirits and a vibrant night of festivities.

The programme, organised by the villagers, was graced by the presence of Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, who officially launched the event with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This was followed by a lively lion and dragon dance performance and the distribution of angpau to the local residents

A ‘gotong-royong’ session was also held this morning, where the residents came together to cook rendang, prepare lemang, and make dodol.

In MELAKA, Kew Li Wen, 32, from Bukit Cina, said her family chose to celebrate Chinese New Year this year with a hotpot, featuring an assortment of seafood and vegetables.

--MORE

REUNION DINNER-ROUNDUP 5 KUALA LUMPUR

She said that gathering with the whole family for a meal was an annual tradition that helped strengthen family bonds, especially with the presence of relatives.

In SABAH, contractor Andrew Lo, 73, said that the reunion dinner was a highly anticipated occasion, as it gave him the opportunity to reunite with family members who lived far away and were typically seen only once or twice a year.

“Every Chinese New Year, my children return early to gather and have a reunion dinner. I want to keep this tradition alive in our family and hope my children will continue it to,” he said.

In SARAWAK, private sector employee Natasha Jee, 31, said that the reunion dinner on Chinese New Year’s Eve represented the continuation of traditions and the preservation of cultural values.

“Older generations see it as a tradition, emphasising respect, gratitude, and the importance of family unity. For younger generations, like my nephews and niece, it’s a way to reconnect with family members and learn family traditions,” she said.

--MORE

REUNION DINNER-ROUNDUP 6 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR

In JOHOR, trader Muhammad Ridhuan Tew Abdullah, 38, said that even though he had embraced Islam, it had not prevented him from celebrating the festival with his family, as he had done prior to his conversion 11 years ago.

He said that every year he made sure to celebrate the festival with his family, as it was a cultural celebration, not religious practices, and that his wife and children were well aware of this.

“For the reunion dinner, they (my family) will order halal food from a caterer and we will eat together.

“The next day, we will make sure to visit our relatives’ houses as part of our tradition,” he said.

-- BERNAMA