The 2nd day of New Year....

Today is the 2nd day of new year and is known as "hoi neen" which translates as "to open the new year". The 1st day of new year is strictly for family and extended relatives only where we visit all our extended family (large family). Unmarried adults and children have very fat piggy banks at this time of the year as they are given "ang pows" (red packets filled with money) by the married ppl as a sign of blessings etc. Yes, we get very broke by this time when we were back in Malaysia, but it is pretty fun!

The second day of new year means we open our homes to all our friends and their families to visit and eat with us- lunch, tea, lots of different type of biscuits, fruit, sweets, drinks of every sort and even dinner. This is also known as open house in Malaysia. It is pretty fun although exhausting to usher the guests in and out all day. Very noisy and very happy environment.

The 3rd day of new year which is tomorrow, the married couples will now leave to go to the wife side of the family. See, if you are married, you spend the New Year's eve till the 2nd day of New year at your husband's side of the family 1st and on the 3rd day, you leave to go to wife's side of the family where you eat and drink more and eat more. Luckily for me, Paul isn't chinese, so I get to spend all my time with my side of the family who spoils us rotten when we go back for the festivities in Malaysia.