Together again

Happy reunion: Jane (right) with Janice (left) and her mother, Lim. For three years, Jane was not able to return home for the festivities because of travel restrictions. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star

The Year of the Rabbit is proving to be a joyous one for Chinese families as the nation transitions into the endemic phase of Covid-19.

With borders open, some are able to return home and visit loved ones while others have made plans to call on members of their extended family during the Chinese New Year.

Many look forward to spending time with the people they care about this festive season after so much time apart.

Reunited three years later

Absence makes the heart grow fonder and Jane Leong, 32, experienced that yearning as she had to miss out on two consecutive Chinese New Year celebrations with her family.

The lead content producer of a wine and spirit company based in Shanghai, China was lost for words when she saw her family in person for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020.

“I wanted to surprise my parents when I flew back from China, so I got my younger sister Janice to hatch a plan.

“Initially, I told my mum that I would only be back for two weeks, but I came home one week earlier,” she told StarMetro at her house in Ampang, Selangor.

Before her flight back to Malaysia, Jane kept thinking about her trip home.

“It was a mix of anxiety and excitement until I landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

“My sister had to sneak out of the house to pick me up from the airport and when I hugged my sister, it felt unreal.

“My mother totally did not expect my early return and a wave of emotions overwhelmed me and I started tearing up as I hugged her.

“The feeling is indescribable and I am overjoyed to be reunited with my family,” said Jane, who had been working abroad for the last six years.

She was unable to return home during the Covid-19 pandemic because of travel restrictions implemented in both Malaysia and China.

Traditionally, Jane and her sister would offer tea to her parents on the first day of Chinese New Year as a mark of respect.

In return, the siblings would receive blessings from them in the form of ang pow and they would give their parents ang pow as well. Then, the family would go to temples to offer prayers and visit relatives.

“It is a custom that I learned from my grandparents and we intend to keep the tradition.

“Reuniting with my extended family is something I missed most during Chinese New Year,” she added.

For Jane, it would not be a Chinese New Year celebration without a yee sang tossing session and chrysanthemum tea.

“Every year, I would ask my mum to cook herbal chicken and egg for me during the festivities but I could not do that while in China.

“So, I would decorate my rented unit in a way that would feel like home instead.

“I would gather some of my Malaysian friends who are also working in Shanghai and toss yee sang with them,” she said, adding that travel restrictions within district were relaxed at the time.

Jane also spoke about recreating familiar flavours while far from home.

“My Malaysian friends would cook festive dishes like braised pork belly with yam and broccoli, bak kut teh (herbal pork rib soup) and pork’s trotter in vinegar and they taste exactly like the ones back home.

“Being alone away from my family during festive seasons was hard, so doing little things like eating new year dishes made me feel closer to my family in spirit,” she said.

Jane’s mother, Cindy Lim, was pleasantly surprised to see her daughter home earlier than planned.

“Despite communicating frequently via video calls with Jane, it is different holding her and I missed her a lot.

“Jane has always been a bubbly and cheerful daughter and the atmosphere would be lively with her.

“I am just contented I can spend more time with her this Chinese New Year,” Lim said.

Spirit of togetherness

For Jolene Lee, 33, her two-year-old niece Abigail Lee is set to become the centre of attention this Year of the Rabbit.

Though last year was the first Chinese New Year celebration for Abigail, her mother, who is also Jolene’s older sister Joanne, had Covid-19 and had to be isolated till the seventh day.

“This year, both of them will be ready, starting day one, for a proper celebration,” said the marketing communications head.

So that Abigail will look her best, Joanne, 36, has bought her six sets of new clothes including several cheongsam for the lucky tot.

“It is so nice to be able to dress up a baby girl,” said the advertising and promotions manager.

Calling Abigail a miracle baby as she was born at only 7 ½ months, Joanne said the toddler would also be meeting many of her relatives for the first time this year.

The 15-day Chinese festival has always been an eventful affair for Jolene and her family.

“This is when everyone will help and pull our resources together to prepare and cook all sorts of dishes.

“This is where the bonding happens,” said her father, Alan Lee, who is in his 70s.

To him, the spirit of togetherness is the most important and coming in at a close second is the food.

Jolene, who prefers intimate family gatherings over large crowds, said her family would be going to Penang to celebrate the festival with her mother’s side of the family.

“They would usually have a steamboat using charcoal fire.

“It is a noisy affair with lots of opinions flying on what is to go first, how long should the noodles be allowed to boil and if the meat is over or underdone.

“There will be two tables – one for the adults and the other for the children and unmarried singles.

“The whole session would last about three hours and I would always sit at the children’s table as it’s more fun,” said Jolene.

Making the yearly visits to Penang especially noteworthy is her uncle, the host, who is now in his early 60s.

“He would have a book with all the timings on when one can leave the house.

“At some point, everyone would only be able to exit from the back door so as not to clash with the deities who would be entering through the front door.

“No one is allowed to do laundry, sweep the floor or throw rubbish on the first day too,” she said.

Although she is in France with head chef husband, Romain Fabre, to visit her parents-in-law this year, she made sure a reunion dinner still took place, albeit not on new year’s eve.

A reunion dinner is about family solidarity for Jolene, so it was held at a Chinese restaurant a week earlier.

Good luck for the year

The Chinese New Year gathering at Dean Lau Abdullah’s late father’s house has always been likened to a “United Nations” party.

Calling his a rainbow family, the boat distributor and founder of a volunteer rescue body said his adopted daughter Nur Dayana Damia Abdullah, nine, is of Malay African descent while his goddaughter, Erissa Puteri Hashim, 20, is a Kelantanese Malay and his elder sister Julie’s husband, Bonnie Bautista, 57, is of Filipino descent.

“Not only is our family made up of different racial backgrounds, they are also of different faiths.

“We have Taoists, Buddhists, Muslims and Christians,” said Dean.

Every year, Dean’s two sisters, his brother and their families will gather at his late father’s house to mark the occasion.

One important practice observed by the family when it comes to the Chinese New Year celebrations is to watch one’s words.

“Starting from the reunion dinner onwards, no one is allowed to talk loudly.

“The first thing we must say to each other is ‘Kung Hei Fat Choy’.

“We are required to be polite and if one has nothing nice to say, just keep quiet,” he said.

These were some of the traditions passed down from his late parents.

Dean recalls how his mother kept a log book of his and his four older siblings’ misdeeds, starting from the eve till the end of the first day.

“As it was considered unlucky to scold or cry on the first day of Chinese New Year, she would refer to this book to punish us on the second day,” he said.

Since his parents’ death, Julie has been keeping up the family tradition of cooking the festive dishes.

The highlight from the family’s kitchen would be a vegetarian dish featuring 50 types of vegetables, which is cooked in a large pot to be eaten on the first day.

“We observe a strict vegetarian diet on this day.

“We would not even touch the love letters as there is egg in them,” said Julie.

Due to religious sensitivities, a different set of cutlery, plate and cookware is also used during this period.

In addition to mahjong and card games, the adults will usually go down memory lane by talking about their childhood.

But the ones who will have the most fun are the children, said Dean.

Nur Dayana unabashedly said she looked forward to the ang pow and new clothes.

“This is also when I get to play with my cousins,” she said, adding that she enjoyed playing with sparklers on selected nights.