7 Things To Pray For During Chinese New Year

As Chinese New Year approaches, it is a time for Chinese people worldwide to come together and celebrate. Fond memories flood my mind from childhood, there were so many things I loved about Chinese New Year when I was a kid:

-         No more school during the holidays. And I get to meet and play with cousins.

-         I get to eat as much junk food and goodies as I want during CNY days.

-         Scrumptious CNY Eve Dinner, where the family sits down and gathers for a reunion dinner. Usually, adults and children sit separately, which means children get to socialize freely without any supervision (temporarily).

-         I get to stay up late. (There is a tradition of staying up late on Chinese New Year's Eve ("shou sui") to welcome the first day of the new year. Children love to take advantage of this tradition.)

-         "All you can play" fire sparklers and firecrackers. (Some were banned by the government due to safety concerns).

-         The eagerly anticipated "Ang Pow" or money packets. (My mom would help keep most of the money and I would get RM30 for the whole CNY, and that was a lot of money for me then).

As an adult, I was not as excited as I used to be when I was a kid. But still, the way that the shop was decorated in vibrant red, and the food fair filled with CNY cookies and goodies reminded me of home. Let's take a moment to share some prayer points for a meaningful and joyous CNY celebration.

1.     Pray for Wisdom and Strength for the Preparation:

There will be a lot of preparation for the CNY celebration, from spring cleaning to preparing the CNY dinner, from prepping snacks and cookies for the guests to preparing the guest room for hosting guests, and also making handmade CNY decorations (I remembered my aunt would spend hours making CNY Fish décor using Ang Pows and Cotton Balls). Pray for wisdom and strength for the preparation.

2.     Prayers to Beat the Traffic:

For those returning to their hometown, pray for careful planning to beat the traffic. (I have seen cases where a usual 2.5-hour trip turns into 6 or 7 hours.) Pray for careful planning, so one can time the departure perfectly.

3.     Prayers to Get Affordable Air Tickets:

If the "Balik Kampung" (Back To Hometown) trip involves air travel, pray for affordable flight tickets, especially if one is bringing the whole family with them.

4.     Prayers for a Perfect CNY Budget That Suits You:

When it comes to CNY, it involves money. Some traditional Chinese companies will give bonuses during this time so that employees can have a good CNY celebration. Adults will give ang pow (money packets) to the children and to their parents and grandparents.

If one's house will be open for guests during CNY, again, they will have to prep for snacks, food, and more “ang pows”. (When we were kids, we would go from house to house to "bai nian" (send New Year greetings) and adults would give us ang pow.) Prayers for a budget that works, allowing one to afford celebrating CNY with ease.

5.     Prayer for Health:

In Malaysia, the weather is hot during CNY. One can easily get sick if they consume less water. Prayers for good health and protection from COVID during the CNY period.

6.     Prayers for Wisdom to Answer Classic CNY Questions

People were always joking that during CNY, young people would always get asked personal questions such as: "When are you getting married?" "When are you going to have kids?" "Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?" "How much money do you make?" While in modern days, most elderly people will be smart enough to stay away from the above questions, it would still be good if we pray for wisdom to have better interactions and wisdom to socialize with others, to know what questions to ask, and what to say and answer.

7.     Prayers for Peace and Harmony During CNY Celebrations:

Pray for peace and harmony during the CNY celebrations, recognizing that time passes quickly and fostering positive connections with loved ones.

Alright, I've got to go and prepare for some CNY shopping. I hope that wherever you are, you can have a fantastic CNY celebration. Happy Chinese New Year 2024 in advance!