Why Malaysian kids are excited to welcome the Year of the Horse

Joanna Tan, 12

Chinese New Year is almost here and children everywhere are excitedly preparing to welcome the Year of the Horse!

Joshua Tan, 12

This year, Chinese New Year falls on Feb 17. The horse symbolises energy, strength and confidence. Many kids want to be bold and hardworking – just like a strong horse galloping towards the finish line.

Children, how are you preparing to welcome Chinese New Year? We hope you have been good boys and girls, helping Mummy and Daddy clean and decorate the house.

Have you put up red lanterns, hung festive banners and added horse-themed decorations around your home?

The reunion dinner is something everyone looks forward to. Families gather around a big table filled with delicious dishes. There are dumplings, fish, noodles and sweet treats to enjoy together.

Of course, children are also excited about receiving ang pow, or red packets. But beyond the treats and gifts, many say they are happiest spending time with family, playing games and watching the colourful lion dance.

As we usher the Year of the Horse, let’s wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year filled with courage, joy and bright hopes.

Here are letters from Starchild readers on the topic, Year of the Horse.

Roxanne Ng Yee Shuen, 12

Roxanne Ng Yee Shuen, 12, is excited to welcome the upcoming Year of the Horse. “My family is preparing for the big celebration. We want to have a very happy family time together. During the festival, I will wear beautiful red clothes for good luck. I would also like to eat many cookies and Mandarin oranges. I hope to get many red packets from my elders because it makes me happy.

“I have drawn a picture of fireworks, a red lucky T-shirt and a red packet imprinted with the word “Horse” to wish you good luck. I hope you like my drawing. Happy Chinese New Year!”

“Chinese New Year is around the corner. I am so thrilled to welcome the Year of the Horse. If everything goes as planned, on Chinese New Year’s eve, my mother and grandmother will prepare a reunion dinner like a plate of steamed fish, fried chicken and a big hot pot.

“The next day, I will wear new clothes and new shoes. Then, I will wish my grandparents and parents a happy Chinese New Year and receive red packets from them. There will be money in the red packets!

“At night, we will gather together to play sparklers, and watch colourful fireworks. I am really looking forward to the celebration,” writes Cheah Yin Xuan, 12.

Cheah Yin Xuan, 12

“This Chinese New Year, I plan to bring my paternal grandmother for an outing to visit relatives together and join my maternal grandparents for a sumptuous dinner. I really look forward to wearing festive clothes and chit chatting with my cousin over yummy treats like kuih bangkit and kuih bakul,” says Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 11.

Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 11

Younger brother Asher Wang Qi Chuen, eight, plans to complete his homework early so that he can spend time with his family to enjoy festive cookies and canned drinks. “However, this year I will remind myself to eat carefully so as not to swallow my loose tooth by accident.”

Asher Wang Qi Chuen, 8

Joanna Tan, 12, writes, “Chinese New Year is 15 days of fun! My parents will take us to visit our relatives and we get lots of ang pow. Friends come to see us too. On New Year’s Eve, we have a big dinner at my grandmother’s house. My mum and some of my aunts cook many yummy dishes like Teochew–style fish, mushroom dishes and chicken with bean sprouts – my favourites! After dinner, we play games, chat and light fireworks. I love spending time with my family and cousins, whom I only meet once a year. It’s the best! I wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year! Gong Xi Fa Cai! May you stay healthy always.”

Joshua Tan, 12 writes: “During Chinese New Year, I will invite my friends and classmates to my house. I have bought a few card games to play with them. My house has been decorated with festive decorations made from ang pow packets and my sisters also wrote well-wishes in calligraphy. I also helped my grandmother bake cookies such as kuih bangkit, pineapple tart and peanut butter cookies. They are all yummy and delicious. I wish everyone a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year and Gong Xi Fa Cai!”

ITEM: Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what is out there? Space is full of amazing planets, sparkling stars, giant rockets and mysterious black holes. Astronauts travel beyond Earth, satellites orbit our planet and rovers explore Mars. There is so much to discover!

We want you to share three fun facts about space. Your facts can be about planets, astronauts, rockets, galaxies, the Moon or anything beyond Earth. Try to choose facts that are interesting, surprising or even a little bit funny!

You may also tell us why you find space exciting. Do you dream of becoming an astronaut one day? If you could visit any planet, where would you go?

Email your contributions to [e-mail] by Feb 27. Please put “STARCHILD: Space exploration” in the subject line of your email.

Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.