Chinese New Year was a quick affair this year. There were effectively only 3 days of break which flashed by in an instant, compared to a year where the first 2 days fall on a Thursday and Friday which makes 4 full days in a row. Undoubtedly, I’m still thankful for a day off and another in lieu. For most, the extra days don’t make much of a difference given that the majority are done by the second or third day.

It’s common though to still see people visiting the weekend immediately after CNY, probably for the lack of time or mismatch of schedules on the first couple of days. Then again, as the typical family size gets smaller, friends and colleagues move up the agenda during the subsequent weekends. To some, these folks seem closer than distant relatives whom they only see once a year.

Nonetheless, CNY is traditionally a time for get together, irrespective of them being friends or family. Regardless of whether you meet up once a year or ever so often, we as humans seem predisposed to make time for events only when they are scheduled. Hence even as time progresses and CNY evolves, the central theme of the festival – reunion – will live on.