The What-is & What-nots

Here's a first for the new year. I know it's wayy due. We're already in mid January, and I hear Chinese New Year songs almost everywhere! *Shudders*  And they stress me out.
I never really liked the idea of Chinese New Year since young, and I'll explain why.
You see other occasions like Christmas and New Year, or the Malays' Hari Raya - they're all about love, peace, family, unity, forgiveness, giving and sharing. Very meaningful.
Then there's the Chinese New Year - People wishing each other "Gong Xi Fa Cai"(Wishing you Wealth) and you hear songs singing about receiving 'ang pows' (the red packets containing money) and welcoming "Cai Shen" (the Money god). It all revolves around...need I say more? - Money, Wealth, Prosperity... Of course you'd say there are also unity and family as most chinese families get together for the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, and they visit each other, and kids are usually the happiest as they receive red packets from the elders as well wishes. The getting together part for dinner is great, only if it's not out of obligation - this seems like the case for most these days. Besides, you can and ought to have family get-together anytime throughout, not only during such occasion.
And who the heck created the idea of ang pow-giving?! It's like implanted in people's mindsets that "Hah! You're married. You should give ang pows!" Traditionally, it was meant for the kids, just an idea of wishing they'd grow up healthy and good. Then along the way, I don't understand how it becomes that even strangers are expecting you to give them ang pows! Then there's of course, gambling. They use 'visiting friends' as an excuse. Seems to me it's more like meeting up to gamble - the more, the merrier! -_-"
Anyways, I shall not rant. I never intended to write a whole post on Chinese New Year in the first place. On the bright side, at least there will be holidays and I get to be home for the eve (for the first time in the last 6 years!) with my family. So, yay.
Uhm...It's swayed away from what I was supposed to write. Now, I'm stuck. LOL.
Got to head out. So, I'll write another post later.