Chap Goh Mei

On the fifteenth day of Chinese New Year, technically the final day of the festival, is a day knows as Chap Goh Mei. In the Hokkien dialect, Chap Goh Mei simply means "the 15h night of Chinese New Year". Aside from being tagged as the last day, Chap Goh Mei is also known as the Chinese Valentine's Day. On a celebratory point of view, this night sees the gathering of family members as they sit down to a meal together. Offerings and prayers are also held on a grand scale on this particular night.

One of the fun activities that take place on this auspicious night includes the throwing of oranges into the sea by these young maidens. It is without a doubt, the most popular and colorful moment in the history of Chap Goh Mei. It is believed tht by throwing tangerines into the sea, these young girls would find themselves a good husband. For many, the act of throwing tangerines into the sea also signifies that women are availabe for marriage. It is also said that if someone else who sees the floating tangerine in the water and picked it up, that generally menas that the single who threw it would be able to find a good spouse.

Hakka Lui Cha

Hakka origin practises the tradition of having Hakka Lui Cha on the 7th day of Chinese New Year, preferably served with 7 types of vegetables. The name of this dish is not really "thunder tea" (as interpreted literally) but insteda, it means "ground tea". The way of making the base for the soup is to grind the ingredients using a branch off the guave tree into powder. however, the modern life, to make it easy way. (using a blender)

Herbs for the soup:-

1. thai basil

2. mint leaf

3. coriander

4. laksa leaf

5. perilla

6. sawtooth herb

Vegetable:-

1. long bean

2. leek

3. garlic chives

4. bok choy

5. sweet hook

6. dried beancurd

7. peanut

It normally serve with rice, it only take a little rice, mix well with the vegetable and the soup. The taste of the soup is an acquired taste and most first-timers tend to take the soup separately.

History of Yee Sang

According to Chinese legend, the goddess Nu Wa spent six days creating animals out of mud, while on the seventh she created humanity.

Ren Ri, the day of Humankind, is correspondingly celebrated on the seventh day of Chinese New Year. To celebrate this day, the Chinese enjoy a special dish comprising seven symbolic delicacies which we know as Yee Sang.

When Yee Sang is eaten, the ritual is to toss the mixed ingredients high in the air with a shout of Loy Hey" which literally means to 'move upwards'. It is symbolic of the wish for our fortunes to rise and expand during the forthcoming year.

Yee Sang, A Symbol of Prosperity

In celebration of the Chinese lunar calendar's most important festival, Chinese New Year, numerous dishes from different origins are savoured. Yee Sang is one such traditional dish. It is symbolic of good luck, prosperity, health and all things auspicious.

Yee Sang comprises thin slices of pickled vegetables and other ingredients which are mixed together thoroughly when the dish is eaten. The dish is enhanced by its special sauce which imparts a distinctive flavour.

The popular custom is for all round the dining table to toss the ingredients high in the air with joyful exclamations of "Loh Hey" (toss high). The significance of the tossing is to wish for aboundant luck and happiness for all. The enjoyment of Yee Sang during Chinese New Year is an age-old custom steeped in ancient tradition and culture.