The perfect greeting: Ng showing the various Chinese New Year greeting cards she intends to send to some of her friends. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Once a steadfast Chinese New Year tradition, the practice of sending greeting cards is fighting for survival – and for engineer Chin Hup Seng, it is a battle worth waging.
For over a decade, Chin, 52, has religiously sent out 20 to 40 cards every year to his friends until, one day, he stopped.
That changed during the Covid-19 pandemic when the movement control order rekindled old habits. Unable to meet his close friends, he turned to sending cards again.
“I make it a point to pen thoughtful messages in the cards, which they truly love.
“They always call to thank me,” said Chin.He selects the fanciest – and often priciest – cards for the occasion and does not mind if the gesture is not reciprocated.
“My buddies are mostly in their 60s and 70s.
“I’d feel bad if they had to go out just to buy and send me a card. It’s quite a hassle, especially in the Klang Valley, where most of them live,” he explained.
Chin has always enjoyed sending greeting cards.
“I used to receive many cards in return and would use them to decorate my home.
“Nowadays, nobody sends cards anymore.
“But I continue the tradition with a few close friends because we’ve stuck together through thick and thin,” he said.
He admitted he detests festive greetings sent via WhatsApp.
“I usually don’t tap on them as the images just clog up my phone.”
Housewife Ng Sui Chin, 78, is another advocate for keeping the tradition alive.
She recalled how, years ago, as a supermarket salesgirl, she would carefully pick out Chinese New Year cards for her colleagues.
“I would buy and post them to their homes or give them at work. Even after quitting my job, I continued the practice, choosing different designs or ones with the year’s zodiac sign,” said Ng when met at a supplies and decoration shop in George Town.
While she understands that it gets harder to make the effort as one ages, she hopes the tradition does not disappear.
“It’s simple to send greetings through your phone.
“Even I’m guilty of it and have forwarded greetings. But the idea of receiving a card with a thoughtful note or wish is special.
“The joy of receiving a card from another state or even country still excites me. I encourage the younger generation to continue this cherished tradition,” she added.
Salesperson Eileen Lee is also a firm believer in the power of personal connections, which is why she continues sending physical greeting cards to her clients during the festive season.
“I always believe in the personal touch,” she said, stressing that handwritten cards carry a sense of thoughtfulness and warmth that digital messages simply cannot replicate.
By taking the time to send a physical card, Lee said she aims to leave a lasting impression, ensuring her clients not only appreciate her well-wishes but also remember her beyond just a professional transaction.
“To me, it’s not just about business. It’s about creating memorable connections that go beyond the usual customer-provider dynamic,” she said.
At a popular decoration and supplies shop in George Town, a sales representative, identified only as Tan, said that while fewer people buy cards these days, they still stock them.
Tan said they now have just one supplier, with most purchases made by companies for their staff or clients.
“We only have red-coloured cards with various blessings and wishes for good luck and prosperity.
“The ‘Year of the Snake’ designs are definitely popular this year,” he said.
