Tan will spend the new year with her family for the first time in two years.
CHINESE New Year will be special for many families who will finally be able to gather with loved ones after two years of quiet celebrations.
Businesswoman Annie Chia, 39, said Chinese New Year finally felt right now that the Covid-19 threat has reduced.
“We hardly celebrated Chinese New Year in the last two years and only stayed at home during the festival.
“I am lucky as all of my immediate family members are here in my hometown of Johor Baru.
Chia: Chinese New Year finally feels right this year as the Covid-19 threat has reduced.
“I also have relatives living in Canada and Singapore who could not join us during the pandemic. Now, they are finally here,” she said, adding that her relatives from abroad returned to Malaysia last week for the festival.
Chia said they were able to do their Chinese New Year shopping and decorate the house together.
“I am also looking forward to cooking for the reunion dinner with my loved ones. It will surely be more fun with more cooks at home,” she said.
Chia is also glad that she can visit other family members living in Johor Baru.
“We used to go house to house to visit relatives during the celebration but we could not do so during the pandemic. I am glad we can continue the tradition this year,” she said.
Business system analyst Tan Sheau Hui, 48, will spend the new year with her family after two years.
“I was working in Singapore previously and could not cross the border to celebrate Chinese New Year with my family. It was very depressing.
“Thankfully, my brother also lives in Singapore, so we met for the reunion dinner with some friends.
“However, it is not the same as having dinner at home with the family.
“We relied on video calls to feel our parents’ presence at the dinner. The reunion dinner is a time for families to come together and it was sad that we had to be apart.
“I am extremely grateful that those days are gone,” she said.
Tan is looking forward to baking biscuits, decorating her house and preparing for the reunion dinner.
“In the past two years, all of my siblings were unable to make it home for the lunar new year.
Cheu is returning to his hometown in Sabah for the lunar new year.
“This Chinese New Year is special for my parents. My two other brothers – one based in Australia and another in Kuala Lumpur – are coming home to celebrate with us,” she said.
Marketing manager Christopher Cheu, 30, said he would be returning to his hometown in Sabah to welcome the Year of the Rabbit.
“I was able to make my way home last year but it did not feel the same as we were still dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We had a very simple celebration where we stayed at home and had dinner together.
“This year, there is more excitement in the air.
“All of my relatives are making their way home to celebrate the festival and have our reunion dinner together,” he said.
