CNY Reunion Dinner: Tradition Over Lavish Feasts

KUALA LUMPUR — As the Chinese community prepares to celebrate the Year of the Snake, the annual reunion dinner remains one of the most anticipated events of the Lunar New Year. This cherished tradition brings families together, often reuniting members from distant places for a meal that symbolizes unity and strengthens family bonds.

For many, the reunion dinner is more about togetherness than the grandeur of the meal. While some families opt for lavish feasts, others believe the true essence lies in simply spending quality time with loved ones. Zeen Chang, managing partner of Bai Chuan Management, explains that in her family, the eldest son hosts and manages the dinner, which is a key tradition, whether at home or in a restaurant.

Executive chef Peter Lee from Sunway Resort Hotel underscores the significance of the reunion dinner, offering symbolic dishes like yee sang, fish, and abalone to represent wealth, abundance, and prosperity.

For entrepreneur Jenny Yeo, the reunion dinner is about more than just food—it's about bonding during meal preparation. She fondly recalls helping her mother prepare the Hakka Lei Cha, where family conversations made the process meaningful.

Others, like Teoh Yee Shen, feel the reunion dinner doesn't have to be a grand affair. It can take place at a simple eatery or even on any day during the 15-day celebration, as long as the family is together.

While some families continue to prioritize extravagant meals, the essence of the reunion dinner remains rooted in family unity, no matter the cost or setting.