Happy New Year! May your year in 2020 be filled with joy and laughter.
In less than a month, it will be Chinese New Year when we wish each other a prosperous lunar new year.
But why prosperous? Why do we want our family, friends, colleagues, acquaintance and strangers to do well financially? Is this unique to the Chinese when other races wish each other happiness, peace or good health?
What’s wrong with loving money?
When I first came to Singapore, I was surprised to see Chinese parents using the Chinese word “fortune” in their son’s name.
This is not common for the Chinese in China and Hong Kong. For example, Hong Kong parents name their sons with the Chinese words of virtues, intelligence, talent, knowledge, good-looking, etc. Alternatively, they borrow names from heroes in Chinese history, or phrases from ancient Chinese fiction and poems.
It doesn’t mean money is not their priority. But it is better not let others know, especially not in their son’s name....