GEORGE TOWN: It has become the norm on the eve of the Chinese New Year when all the members of the families in the Chinese community gather for a grand dinner.
Just like the other families, the descendants of the Chew family at Chew Jetty, Weld Quay here made their 60-year-old house, which was inherited from their late mother, located at the Unesco world heritage site, as a compulsory location for all family members to gather for a grand dinner each year.
The youngest of four siblings, Chan Hua Hin, 49, said it was customary for all family members to gather at his late mother’s home to dine together on new year’s eve each year and once again gathered the next day to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
“This is the tradition, the custom of our ancestors. We must gather family members as a sign of a harmonious and happy family. All will gather together for a grand dinner on the last day to celebrate the Chinese New Year, and after that we will return to our respective homes, before reuniting here the next day.
“For the Hokkien community, the last day of the year is important and the eighth night after the new year is also important, so our family will gather at this heritage house on the last night and the eighth night of new year,” he told Bernama, last night.
Chan said his late mother, Ong Seng Siew, 90, who passed away last year, told her children to retain the structure and concept of the house and not to sell or rent it out.
“Before she passed away she told us not modernise the house. Mother wanted us to retain this pattern and the wooden structure of the house. Mother wanted the same atmosphere and home environment to be maintained every year. After my mother died, my sister will come and clean the house and keep an eye on it.
“The appearance of some houses in Chew Jetty have changed because they have turned to using concrete and have lost their former shapes. Mother did not agree with this, Mother wanted us to retain it, although the cost is quite high to maintain this house but because it was mother’s wish we will fulfill it, “he said.
The man, who worked as a car salesman, said that this year he and his wife and two children and about 30 other family members gathered at the heritage house at 8 pm for the grand dinner.
He said that, although this year was different due to the absence of his mother, the excitement of the Chinese New Year celebration was still felt as the spirit of their late mother was with them.
Asked on a mandatory cuisine at the grand dinner, Chan said there was no mandatory dish but instead they chose ‘steamboat’ because it was easier to serve due to the large number of family members.
Commenting on the hope of the new year, Chan hoped that Malaysia would continue to prosper and the people lived in harmony. - Bernama