KUCHING: In many homes, Chinese New Year begins in the kitchen long before the reunion meal is served, with chopping boards, pots simmering, and family members moving between preparation and conversation as the day unfolds.
The dining table may be where the celebration gathers but the kitchen is often where it begins.
For generations, reunion meals have been defined by home-cooked dishes prepared through collective effort, carrying flavours shaped by family recipes and memory.
Nowadays, however, changing lifestyles and time pressures are gradually reshaping how families approach festive cooking, as catering services become an increasingly common part of festive preparations.
While convenience plays a role, many families say the meaning behind the reunion meal remains unchanged, regardless of whether food is cooked at home or delivered in prepared trays.
For operations executive, Amellda Sim, 25, from Sibu, the kitchen and dining table hold equal significance during the festive season.
She described cooking as a shared activity where family members bond through planning, tasting and preparing dishes together before gathering to enjoy the meal in a more relaxed setting.
“Home-cooked meals take more time and energy, but the warmth and love infused in every dish mean the world,” she said, adding that catering can still be a practical solution during demanding work periods.
Increasingly, some families are choosing a middle ground by preparing meaningful dishes at home while ordering additional food to reduce stress and fatigue during the celebrations.
The connection between food and family memory is especially evident in households where traditions have evolved over time.
Radio announcer, Asyilah Tan, 32, recalled how Chinese New Year gatherings were once centred around her late grandmother’s home, where relatives visited throughout the festive period and meals were prepared for large groups daily.
After her grandmother’s passing, celebrations became quieter, reflecting how family dynamics naturally shift across generations.
While home-cooked food continues to carry emotional significance, she said catering has allowed families to maintain gatherings without placing the full burden of preparation on one person.
“To prep a meal for many people is a labour of love, but still labour,” she said, noting that convenience often becomes an important consideration as work commitments increase.
For media practitioner, Aileen Yap Wen Yee, 26, changes have come more gradually, with her family continuing to cook but simplifying meals as her parents grow older.
Certain dishes that require more time or effort are occasionally bought instead, allowing the family to preserve familiar flavours while adapting to practical considerations.
She noted that home-cooked meals remain special because they are prepared according to family preferences.
“Only my parents know how to cook it the way all my siblings like,” she said, adding that younger family members today are generally less involved in festive cooking compared to previous generations.
Student Eldrick Sim, 19, said his family continues to prioritise home cooking as it reflects cultural values and shared responsibility, adding that preparing meals at home also helps families manage costs during a period when expenses tend to rise.
“Home-cooked meals represent families’ cultural values through the effort put into preparing the dishes,” he said, while acknowledging that catering offers variety and convenience, allowing families to focus more on interaction and celebration.
Across households, the choice between cooking and catering is rarely absolute.
Many families now adopt a hybrid approach, balancing tradition with practicality by preparing signature dishes at home while supplementing the menu with catered items.
Decisions are often influenced by available time, number of guests and the willingness or ability of family members to participate in preparation.
Despite differing approaches, respondents agreed that both cooking and catering can strengthen family bonds in different ways.
Cooking together encourages teamwork and shared responsibility, while catering allows families to spend more time engaging with one another away from the demands of the kitchen.
As Chinese New Year celebrations continue to evolve alongside modern lifestyles, the reunion meal itself remains unchanged in purpose.
Whether prepared over hours in a busy kitchen or arranged through catering, the gathering around the dining table continues to symbolise unity, continuity and the shared experience of coming home.
