Making Lor Hon Jai is an annual CNY tradition for this Malaysian family

Some families will begin the Lunar New Year with vegetarian meals, a purification ritual rooted in Buddhism.

On the first day of Chinese New Year, many Chinese families choose to abstain from meat, often opting to tuck into vegetarian meals instead. Eschewing meat in favour of vegetables dates back to an old Buddhist practice, upheld by Buddhist monks, which promotes the idea that nothing living should be sacrificed on the first day of the new year.

Consequently, vegetable consumption on the first day of CNY is seen as a form of self-purification, and a cleansing of both the body and the soul, as well as a way of enhancing longevity.