Chap Goh Meh

Chap Goh Meh translated literally means fifteen day of the month in Hokkien. It marks the final day of the lunar calendar and coincides with the chinese valentine's day.

The Chinese Lunar New Year is the longest chronological record in history, dating from 2600BC, when the Emperor Huang Ti introduced the first cycle of the zodiac. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, the start of the Chinese Lunar Calendar can fall anywhere between late January and the middle of February. A complete cycle takes 60 years and is made up of five cycles of 12 years each. Because of this, Chinese New Year changes each year, as it falls on the first day of the lunar calendar.

On the first day of CNY - everyone is decked in new clothes, new shoes, jewellery and they pay homage to their ancestors and prayer is offered to the Gods.

7th day of CNY - Also known as everybody's birthday. Chinese businessmen will eat Yee Sang. A combination of pickled veg and raw fish. Eating this ensures prosperity. And the higher you toss, the more you will prosper. ( Can get a little messy, but its good fun )

9th day of CNY - Especially significant for the Hokkiens, as it was the day they were spared from being massacred. At the stroke of midnight, The businessmen give thanks to the Jade Emperor and there'll be fireworks and skyrockets.

15th day of CNY - Is the last day of CNY and it is marked with the chingay. During the era of the babas and nyonyas in Penang young ladies would throw tangerines into the sea. It was thought that the wishes durin this period would be more willingly granted.

So I'm off to throw some tangerines this evening.