The Chinese community expects the “Year of the Tiger” to bring good fortune this year.

As the tiger rises very early at dawn to catch its prey, so too will the business people wake up early to get to work.

Every 12 years, according to the Chinese Lunar calendar, the Year of the Tiger will return.

The Year of the Tiger falls on February 14 this year.

Many Chinese visitors from neighbouring countries too are coming to Brunei to buy their festive goodies, getting prepared for the Tiger which will “kick out” the Year of the Ox.

According to Chinese fortune-tellers, this year will flourish and the economy will be up hopefully well, everyone has to work hard for the money.

The Chinese predict that it is a good year for couples to get married or have children. Those born in the morning of the Tiger year will be more lucky and have better fortune than others born at other times.

For the Chinese, decorating their homes or offices with Tiger figurines is expected to bring in good fortune and health as well as happiness.

Every year, many supermarkets, superstores and even small shops sell brightly-lit Chinese figurines, lanterns and goodies, dried vegetables and dried foodstuffs. Some are imported, while others are made in Brunei. The colour red symbolises good luck, according to Chinese beliefs.

The dried foodstuffs and vegetables imported include the “fu-chook”, black fungus, seaweed, red-dates and black-mushrooms which sometimes come in a creamy colour, and “tung-hoon” or glass vermicelli”. This makes the sumptuous dish “chap chye” for the Chinese New Year Eve dinner. It is said to bring good luck if ones eat it.

Leeks cooked on Chinese New Year Eve and the first day of the celebration are also said to bring good luck and long life.

Goodies like the dried mixed fruits come in round or other shape boxes and are designed with colourful red lettering and flowers.

There are also love-letters or “kuih-sapit”, “kuih-bualu”, or “kuih sapit” and “kuih bangkit”, while dried colourful “agar-agar” come in strips and figurines too. These goodies will be offered to visitors during the festivities.

Sweeping the floor on the first day of Chinese New Year is discouraged. It is believed that if one sweeps away any dirt or dust, it means sweeping away the home’s or owner’s luck.

Chinese families usually only sweep the floor before or after the third day of Chinese New Year.

Lucky leafy green plants of various species are also on sale as they are said to bring in good fortune and luck. The bamboo leaf plants, the spiral stem bamboo leafy plants, the ‘Quan Yim” plant or Goddess of Mercy plant are sought after during the celebration.

Crates or boxes of Mandarin oranges, sweet honey oranges or “ponkans” are for sale throughout in the country. Oranges are said to be “gold” during the ancient times, according to Chinese beliefs.

On Chinese New Year Eve, the Chinese celebrate “Sa Chap Meh”, a traditional meal attended by family members. Children will get ready to set off fireworks which are said to chase away bad things or spirits, while the smoke is believed bring in good luck into their homes.

At midnight after their “Sa Chap Meh” meal, some go to the Chinese temples at Sg Kianggeh and Kuala Belait, to burn paper money, light joss sticks and make offerings to their deities.

On the first day of Chinese New Year, children or unmarried people receive red packets containing money from their elders. These red packets are said to bring in good luck for both the giver and recipient.

“Yee sang” dinner will be celebrated among families as a “reunion” dinner every year.

There will also be lion dances, accompanied by loud sounds of cymbals and gongs, which are said to chase away bad spirits.

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