Dear Babas and Nyonyas
How Do Babas and Nyonyas Prepare and Celebrate Chinese New Year?
Many of our members and friends have asked us about the traditions for the Taon Baru. Understandably, it is the most natural question at this time of the year.
We are fortunate and happy to recall just the right story for this, written by Baba Andy Gwee for the January 2020 issue of The Peranakan magazine. Click here to read.
The Gwee family continues to meticulously follow these age-old Peranakan Chinese New Year traditions.
Many Baba and Nyonya families would once have conscientiously followed these rituals. In their various forms they are unique to each home. In the haste and stress of our lives, many of these are now disregarded. Most families would have ceased to practise these elaborate observances since the 1970s and 1980s.
Some families would have a short-hand version of these customs including taboos. Some others would keep it down to the most basic elements of Chinese New Year, just to pantang.
Sadly, an increasing number see Chinese New Year as a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a holiday away from their relatives and friends! (Not this year, though!)
This last escape from the most basic and important of Chinese New Year traditions steals from the essence of our community’s annual spring celebration – a happy reunion of family members, those close and far and those long lost or estranged, to remind us that love and respect bind and unite a family and make it strong.
May all go well with you and your loved ones this new year!
Blessings
The General Committee
The Peranakan Association Singapore
Keeping the Culture Alive