Today is the first day of the lunar Chinese New Year. For all the Chinese around the world, regardless they are in China, Singapore or in the States, this festival means a lot to us.
If you are working with a Chinese colleague, I encourage you to wish him or her Gong Xi Fa Cai which loosely translates as “Congrats and may fortune bestow upon you”. You may be also surprised (or frustrated if you are covering for the colleague) that he is taking almost his entire paid leave to celebrate this festival. You see, it is traditionally run from the evening preceding the first day, to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first calendar month. In China, it is a public holiday for 7 days straight. In fact, a lot of the companies will close for 15 days. Watch out if you are dealing with businesses in China – they might go MIA (missing in action) on you.
This holiday is equivalent to what Christmas is to westerners. A long waited holiday where families get together under one roof to celebrate the beginning of spring hence Chinese New Year is also known as Spring Festival.
The Chinese in China queuing up to take the railway trains back to their hometown. Most of the Chinese relocate themselves from poorer districts to major cities to find much better-paying jobs to send money back home to their families.
For many who take our spouses and family for granted, I have heard way too many stories that partners are working separately in two different cities and their only child back in hometown, taken care by their grandparents who usually farmers. This means Chinese New Year is the only time the wife gets to see the husband, the parent gets to hold their child. I can’t imagine only seeing my daughter and my husband once a year!!
This also opens up the black market for train and air tickets into exorbitant prices that government tried very hard to control but to no avail, because the demand outweighs the supply. When I was working in Shanghai (one of the major cities in China), it is heartbreaking to see my colleagues break down when they are unable to secure a ticket back home during this period. Sometimes, they are even willing to rent a car and drive for 3 days just to get home in time to wish their elderly parents good health. Kudos to their perseverance and their determination.
So please be kind and tolerance to the Chinese colleagues when they take time away this Chinese New Year so that they can go back home and enjoy a family reunion with their loved ones.
To my fellow Chinese folks, 新年快乐 恭喜发财 红包拿来!
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MiddleMe 
Happy New Year to you, Kally. May this year bring more happiness and success to you and your whole family 🙂
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Thank you so much for your lovely wishes and blessings, Hammad.
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Happy new year of dog 🙂
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Thank you so much!! And welcome to MiddleMe!
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Thanks so much for sharing this! All of this information about the Chinese New Year is brand new to me! So interesting!
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Thank you, Kelsey! We have some pretty strange traditions for Chinese New Year too. Haha.
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Wish you a Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year. Gong Xi! Gong Xi!
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Thank you, Rose! It must be a quiet town in KL right now with everyone going back to their hometown.
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Yes, smooth traffic everywhere except the malls.
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Enjoy the smooth traffic. It should be back to normal by tomorrow.
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Gong Xi Fa Cai
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Thanks for your reply. Please have a good day.
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Thank you! Gong xi fa cai!
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Gong Xi Fa Cai to Kally and Family #xinniankuaile #wanshiruyi #hongbaonalai
Gong Xi! Gong Xi! 🧧🧧🧧 🐶
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Thank you very much!! Love the hashtag #hongbaonalai
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But not his day…
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Happy New Dog Year!
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Thank you, Paola!
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We have a Bengali New Year too which falls on 15th April every year. In my city, Kolkata, Chinese New Year is celebrated with pomp and show in the localities where a number of Chinese people live. Maybe, I’ll cover the festivity next year for my blog.
Wish you a year full of prosperity, Kally. Happy new year… 🙂
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Thank you, Maniparna. I look forward in reading your New Year in your city. Must be fantastic!
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🙂 …
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春節おめでとうございます：D
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Thank you so much!
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Happy belated New Year to you, dearest! 🙂
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Thank you, dear!!
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Happy New Year Chinese to you, Kiss
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Thank you so much! And welcome to MiddleMe!
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Gong xi fa cai, dear Kally. Are you celebrating too, or do you keep working being a freelancer?
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I’m celebrating! It’s the little diva’s first time celebrating her Chinese New Year so I want to set aside all work to make it a good one for her. So far, she’s enjoying it!
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Gong Xi Fa Cai kally!
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I don’t know why your comment was in my Spam folder but I managed to fish it out. Thank you so much for your best wishes!
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It’s alright kally.You are welcome.Remain blessed!
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Godspeed, Julie!
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Hi Kally, I have nominated you for a three days quote challenge.Here is the link : paradisedulink.wordpress.com/2018/05/04/quote-challenge-day-3/
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Thank you so much! You’re so amazing!
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You are welcome kally!
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Reblogged this on Alessandria today.
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May your New Year be prosperous and peaceful. Gong Xi Fa Cai, Kally! Love the meaning behind the words.
Thank you for sharing 🙂 Blessings!
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Thank you so much!! Blessings back!
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https://interestingwerld.wordpress.com/2018/02/23/real-neat-blog-award/?preview=true
Hey I nonimate you to have a real neat blog award.
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Thank you so much, Charlie! You’re awesome!
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Same too you Kally 😊😊😊
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No fireworks…I hope!
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Nope no fireworks in Singapore. It’s banned item.
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Gong xi fa cai, Kally. 🙂
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Thank you so much!!! Appreciate it.
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The festival is over so I’ll wish you happiness and prosperity for the year ahead. I enjoyed this. 🍎🍎
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Thank you so much for your best wishes!!
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I could not resist commenting. Perfectly written! https://steepster.com/Jimgriffin
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Thanks a lot.
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