Chap Goh Meh represents the fifteenth and final day of the Lunar New Year period as celebrated by Chinese communities. The term is from the Hokkien dialect and refers to the fifteenth day of the first month, which is the occasion of the first full moon of the New Year.

The occasion is marked by feasting and various festivities, including the consumption of tangyuan. In traditional Chinese culture, it is also celebrated as the Lantern Festival or the Shang Yuan Festival. In Southeast Asia, however, it coincides with the Chinese Valentine’s Day. It is also when young unmarried women gather to toss tangerines into the sea, in a hope that their future spouse will pick it up – a custom that originated in Penang, Malaysia. In the past, this was also the only day that unmarried ladies could be seen with their partners.

Tags : chap goh meh, chinese valentine’s day, throw tangerines

The picture above shows Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam abuzz with lights during the Chinese New Year. Though it is not as clear compare to using an SLR camera on tripod, still it was a sight to behold in this place located on a hill lock. It is near the Air Itam dam and the lights make the whole building structure and outlines very clear against the night sky.

Cherry blossoms are synonymous with Chinese New Year 2007. With Valentine’s Day and the Chinese ‘Qing Ren Jie’ falling within the Chinese New Year period, the luscious green of bamboo and the auspicious red of cherry blossoms symbolise new beginnings and growth for couples.

The cherry blossom (sakura) is also Japan’s unofficial national flower. It has been celebrated for many centuries and takes a very prominent position in Japanese culture. There are many dozens of different cherry tree varieties in Japan, most of which bloom for just a couple of days in spring. The photo taken above are faux cherry blossoms sold amongst the other flowers and the combination makes it a sight to behold.

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Today is Chap Goh Meh, the last day of Chinese New Year which lasted 15 days since 18th February till today. So I better put up the Chinese New Year theme of lanterns before the close of the day which will be heralded with loud bangs of fire crackers. The lanterns shown here are among the 38 lanterns which needed the expertise of 80 craftsmen from China to set them up for display.

This was what greeted us at the Pesta Site with RM15 entrance. The chinese gods known as ‘Chai’, ‘Chiew’ and ‘Siew’ meaning god of fecundity, god of prosperity and god of longevity.

These are the chinese female fairies winging amongst the colorful clouds of lantern.

This is an aqua theme of fishes for the huge lanterns erected. It reminds me of the closed Penang aquarium in Gelugor.

This is near the entrance/exit of the Pesta site of giant lanterns. The perspective makes a nice picture composition.

This is the final shot of my lantern collection showing a building wiht the chinese type of roof and bright colors.

The picture above was taken at a friend’s house and her kitchen was so attractive with plenty of decoration including a large hamper (partially shown here) that I could not resist taking a snap shot of this beauty. Lanterns and new year cards are hung aplenty with the auspiciuos red to herald good fortune and prosperity for the year.

I was in Gurney Plaza food court on Friday and took this photo above of the lantern and new year decorations that caught my eyes.

Also, as it is still the season of celebration and I got 3 new ang pows yesterday from my mother’s side of relatives, I am taking the liberty to put them here for posterity.

As it is still Chinese New Year that lasts for 15 days, I would like to continue and take this opportunity to wish my fellow Chinese readers more prosperity and good luck this piggy year.

May the year of the Piggy fill your piggy banks and fill your year with good success!

Above is a Chinese New Year lantern that most Chinese homes will display and hang on their homes for good luck and prosperity and to drive away negative elements. My neighbour has put up 2 in their house and I took the liberty to find this picture from istockphoto to display it here. lol. This is akin to my blog putting up the red Chinese New Year lantern to usher in the year of the Piggy and to fill my Piggy bank.:D

Above is the photo which will be put up shortly of the red packets or ‘ang pows’ that I got this year. Though they are not many, but it is in keeping the tradition and I get money just for staying single. Well, I would like to get married and give out ang pows really but at the moment, I am happy and contented with the status quo.

Here is a photo of my small collection of ‘Ang Pows’ or red packets that are given out during the auspiciuos Chinese New Year. These are 2007 collection that I got while buying the cinema tickets, packet drinks, from banks and other various places.

Citrus fortunella japonica or ‘Kumkuat’ is suppose to bring good luck during the Chinese New Year. These plants are sold aplenty during this season and the Chinese just love them. The ‘kumkuat’ fruit is golden orange symbolizing prosperity just like the bigger Mandarin oranges. Chinese New Year is a time for social gathering, giving out red packets of money or ‘ang-pows’ by the married ones to the unmarried people for good fortune. This tradition has been brought down for generations. Happy Chinese New Year to all the readers of this blog.