Kuala Lumpur, 31 January 2011 - 回家过年,“hui jia guo nian” or, the routine of going home to celebrate New Year’s festivities, is a tradition that lies deep within the Chinese psyche, as it represents the importance of family ties and filial piety rooted in Chinese culture. As more than a billion Chinese celebrate all over the world, many travelling great distances to return home, I am reminded of the folklore behind the Chinese Lunar New Year. 

In Chinese mythology, there was a destructive beast named Nian who brought great floods and natural calamities during winter. To defeat Nian, families would work together to scare him off by hanging red banners over the thresholds of their houses and making loud noises with fire crackers, cymbals and drums. In spring, after peace was restored, families would gather again to celebrate their triumph over the dangerous beast, again strengthening their family ties. Since then, Nian has been used to represent a great challenge which must be overcome, or “guo nian,” which means to get through a challenging time. 

Despite more than 5,000 years of change and history, this tradition has withstood the test of time, ingraining a sense of family obligation within every Chinese person. 

As many of you head home this weekend, I wish you and your family a happy reunion. May there be harmony in your household, and may you be as prolific and sprightly as the proverbial rabbit, the symbol of this new lunar year. 

I wish you Happy Lunar New Year. 

新 年 快 乐- xin nian kuai le
万 事 如 意- wan shi ru yi

Dr Robert Bong
Vice Chancellor