Happy Lunar New Year!

The Chinese Lunar New Year holds a special place in Chinese culture. It is more than a date on the calendar. It is a season shaped by memory, tradition, and togetherness.

Growing up in Singapore, the arrival of Lunar New Year could be felt long before it officially began. The steady rhythm of drums from lion dance troupes travelled through the neighbourhoods, moving from place to place to stir excitement and lift spirits.

Late at night, the familiar shuffle of mahjong tiles echoed through the apartment blocks, accompanied by bursts of laughter. Children ran eagerly between homes, dressed in bright colours, while families made their rounds for visitations, carrying warmth from one household to another.

Over time, however, those sounds slowly softened. The nights grew quieter. More people travelled out of the country, schedules changed, and gatherings became fewer. What was once lively and communal gradually thinned with the passing years.

This year welcomes the Year of the Horse - a symbol of movement, resilience, and forward momentum. For me, it feels especially fitting. This Lunar New Year will be different. I have relocated, and the familiar rhythms of home are now an ocean away.

Yet in this season of change, I realise that I am not starting from nothing. I now have a family of my own - one formed through love, commitment, and shared life. Because beyond the drums, the mahjong tiles, and the festive noise, the true heart of Lunar New Year has always been family. 

It is about presence rather than performance, connection rather than tradition alone.

Even as life moves us forward into unfamiliar places, family remains where presence, belonging, and love meet.

Happy Lunar New Year!