We love New Year. It’s one of those celebrations we are always looking forward to whether you’re 5 years old or 90. In Indonesia where the biggest Elabram Systems Team is located, we celebrated it last February 8, 2017. Earlier than anyone else so that the team were still in the office before they celebrated it with their love ones. The event was attended also by our Deputy Group Managing Director, Sunny Yaw. So what’s unique about Chinese New Year aside from the celebration? It’s the time of renewal. We love New Year’s resolution. But let me guide you first about the Chinese New Year.

According to the dictionary, “Chinese New Year, also known as the “Spring Festival” in modern Mainland China, is an important Chinese festival celebrated at the turn of the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. Celebrations traditionally run from the evening preceding the first day, to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first calendar month. The first day of the New Year falls on the new moon between 21 January and 20 February. In 2017, the first day of the Chinese New Year was on Saturday, 28 January, initiating the year of the Rooster. The New Year festival is centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and customs. Traditionally, the festival was a time to honor deites as well as ancestors. Chinese New Year is celebrated in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Mauritius and Australia, and the Philippines. Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had influence on the lunar new year celebrations of its geographic neighbors.”

What’s nice in New Year? We always likes to change something. A New Year Resolution. A New Year‘s resolution is a promise a person makes for the new year. Regardless of what resolution you commit to, the goal is to improve life in the coming year. Resolutions can come in many forms. Some people make a promise to change a bad habit, such as quitting smoking or eating less junk food or even going to the office earlier than everyone. It’s all about change. It’s a renewal of our vows not for other people but to oneself, nice huh? People are adaptable and if it’s always about to change for something good, why not?

Elabram Systems Group in Indonesia celebrated the Chinese New Year with a bang! A nice colorful lion dance  and sharing of food with everyone.

According to our Elabram HR in Indonesia;

” Pak Sunny, Ms Annie, Pak Benjamin Phang, and all managers gathered together & tossed the ingredients upwards with their chopsticks while shouting their wishes for the year. That’s what we called, a prosperity toss or Yee Sang. According to the Chinese legend, the goddess Nu Wa spent six days creating animals out of mud, while on the seventh she created humanity. Ren Ri, the Day of Humankind, is correspondingly celebrated on the   seventh day of Chinese New Year. To celebrate this day, the Chinese   enjoy a special dish comprising seven symbolic delicacies which we   know as Yee Sang. When Yee Sang is eaten, the ritual is to toss the mixed ingredients high   in the air with a shout of “Loh Hey” which literally means to ‘move   upwards’. It is symbolic of the wish for our fortunes to rise and expand   during the forthcoming year.

A tradition of camaraderie and love. For what’s happening around the globe now, only love is what we need. A resolution we need to have right now. To love one another. Sending good vibes and love for everyone.

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