The most anticipated Chinese festival of the year has come to an end on this 15th day which is also known as “Chap Goh Mei”. A little tinge of sadness has come over me as always because I will have to wait for another 12 months before I can savor my all-time favorite Yusheng or Prosperity Toss dish again. I remember as a kid when this age-old Chinese dish was only served on the 7th day of the Chinese New Year Festival (another festival within the festival called “Yan Yat” or “The Day of Humans” also meaning the birthday of all humankind; the day where everyone celebrates their [own] birthdays). Then in the late 70s they started to make it available a week before the festival until “Yan Yat”. Now they have even extended serving it at most restaurants until this final day. I can still remember my first time having Yusheng at 8 years-old in a popular Chinese restaurant at Jalan Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur. The venue is now occupied by McD since the early 80s.
Another tradition by the Malaysian Chinese originated from Penang is the practice of tossing mandarin oranges. I have heard of the earliest version of this practice where the young ladies would write their names down onto the oranges and toss them into the river. Potential suitors would be waiting down the river to collect them. I have however not heard of any married couples having met by this method (yet?).
In this day and age, who knows if a stalker or a serial killer would be the one scooping up the oranges? Or a sudden flash flood gushing the guys out into the ocean while deciphering what was written on the oranges?
No, now they will just toss the oranges into the ocean as a symbol of luck or blessing in finding a suitable suitor.
Here is to a good healthy year ahead for all.
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