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It’s not wrong to skip CNY for some reasons
From family feuds to personal tragedies or preferences, there are varied reasons why some Chinese people don’t celebrate Chinese New Year. Don’t accuse all of them of forgetting their cultural roots.
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Some people have become used to quieter Chinese New Year celebrations after years of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
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If celebrating Chinese New Year involves days of visiting relatives, feasting, and auspicious practices, then, no, I haven’t celebrated it “properly” for many years. At the most, my few family members in Singapore mark the occasion with one takeaway meal with a moody fight as a side dish.
I don’t think I am alone in my quiet experience of the festival in a community that noisily celebrates it. From family feuds to personal tragedies or preferences, there are varied reasons why some people skip Chinese New Year. Don’t be too quick to accuse all of them of trashing traditions or forgetting their cultural roots.
