Chap Goh Mei – Chinese New Year

For the Hokkien Chinese people, Chap Goh Mei is considered a very important day. It is the Fifteenth Day of the Chinese New Year. It is the last day of celebration for the Chinese New Year season and a good celebration determines a good year ahead.

For those who are non-Christians, Chap Goh Mei is full of prayers and offerings to the gods and idols of the family. To some, they consider this day as even more important than the actual First Day of the Chinese New Year celebration. Fireworks and fire crackers will be lighted to usher in a new year with a big bang.

For those who are not yet married and intend to get married in the year, Chap Goh Mei is celebrated with great hope for a nice suitor. Many singles will flock to temples to request for their tall dark and handsome man or maybe, a slim, pretty and industrious woman. An interesting tradition would be to cast their mandarin oranges into the sea or river from a high position in the hope of obtaining a better spouse.

In Penang, Chap Goh Mei is celebrated with lanterns, lion dances and Chingay acrobatics (also know as flag-balancing procession).

If you are a Christian, you may be in a dilemma to engage in Chap Goh Mei celebrations since all the above practices borders on the religious and superstitious practices.

You cannot go to the temple to pray to the idols or gods, and if you intend to get married, you do not engage in superstitious activities such as throwing of oranges or inquiring in the temples. It is only God who will determine who your future would be.

One of my advice to friends who are single and intend to get married would be to have more friends of the opposite sex and get your church pastor or leader’s prayerful assistance on recommending a marriage partner. Pray and ask of God, then be open to what God can do in your life.

To the uninitiated, match-making is still a viable option.

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