The Last Day of Chinese New Year,Chap Goh Meh.

The last day of Chinese New Year, i.e., the 15th day is also known as Chap Goh Meh literally translated as the 15th night in the Fujian/Hokkien and Teochew dialects.My Tiong Hua friends told me that this traditional Chinese festival (on the 15th of the first month of the Chinese New Year) marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.Chap Goh Meh, also dubbed as the Chinese Valentine’s Day, takes place on the  fifteenth night of Chinese New Year, and it is a day where young Chinese singletons gather up at a location in town to celebrate this special day. They celebrate this day in high hopes of finding their true love by writing their name and contact details on the mandarin oranges before throwing them into the pool of water.

 There are many different legends surrounding the festival’s origins, but most people believe it’s an old tradition to carry lanterns around on the street and set-off firecrackers on this day. Legend has it that because the Jade Emperor was angered by the death of his favourite crane when it was sent down from heaven but was killed by some villagers. The Jade Emperor then sent a troop to incinerate the village only to find that the village was already burnt to the ground. The villagers were able to escape death as the Jade Emperor’s daughter took pity on the villagers and warned the villagers beforehand. A wise man from another village also suggested hanging red lanterns around their house and set-off firecrackers on the 14^th, 15^th and 16^th lunar days.

Chap Goh Meh was also believed that it is the only day where young maidens were allowed to stroll on street and pray in temples in hopes to find the suitable match. That way, potential suitors would catch a glimpse of the young maidens who have dressed up to find their love. It is also believed that the maidens who threw oranges into lakes will find her future match when her ‘suitor’ picks up her orange. This story is possibly the reason why the tradition continues to be preserved until today.
Although the origin of the festival is quite superstitious, it is still a celebration that Chinese singletons look forward to each year. Apart from throwing oranges, cultural performances will also take place during the festival as well.