Happy Chap Goh Meh or Chinese Valentine’s Day 2019
Happy Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year 2019 to all travelers around the world! Tomorrow is the 15th and last day of new year celebration in lunar calendar, so Happy Chap Goh Meh for those who celebrate.
For this year, Lunar New Year 2109 falls on 5th of February of Gregorian calendar. Chinese people celebrates new year for as long as 15 days. Since last Tuesday, our families and friends gathered together for reunion dinners, teas, or lunches. This is a very good Chinese culture where we foster our relationship between relatives and friends especially between older and younger generations.
Celebrate the 15th Day of Lunar New Year
As usual, we gather for prayers and fire crackers in either temples or our households. Off course, no lunar new year celebration would complete without the delicious foods!
After 12AM tonight, we will celebrate the 15th Day of Lunar New Year, the Nian Shi Wu (十五晚 in Chinese) or Yuan Xiao (元宵节 in Chinese). In Malaysia, we call it Chap Goh Meh (in Hokkian dialect). It is also known as Chinese Velentine’s Day among Chinese people around the world.
When the night falls, with the full moon shining on the 15th day, young ladies and guys who are still singles will go in groups to popular sea or river promenades. As a traditional match-making event, they throw mandarin oranges into the water with their names and contacts written on it, wishing for the Mr. Right or Ms. Right to pick it up!
Another usual activity during the night would be attending lantern festivals organized in many places. Red paper lanterns are hung and lined up with riddles written on each one of them. People will join the game to solve the riddles and win great prizes!
For avid travelers off course, this is a great opportunity for us to share our exciting travel stories since last new year and get inspired for this year travel resolution! HAPPY CHAP GOH MEH! – Travel Feeder
About The Author
Cecil Lee
The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.
