This is because a long time ago Chap Goh Meh was the only day that young maidens were allowed to dress up and stroll on the street, albeit having to be accompanied by fierce chaperones. Young men would then go out, hoping to catch a sight of the rarely-seen maidens. Young women also went to temples to pray, hoping for the heavens to send them a suitable match. Matchmakers took the opportunity to strike up marriages between eligible individuals.

There is a new twist to the practice these days, with women writing their phone numbers and email addresses on the oranges before tossing them into spots in the hope that the fruits would be picked up by eligible young men who would be their future spouse.

This “double celebration” will only occurs every 19 years, we take this opportunity to celebrate this day by holding a pot luck lunch party in the office. A lot of dishes such as spaghetti, fried bihun, vegetarian fried rice, bread with curry chicken, fruit rojak, bubur cha cha, Vietnamese spring roll and steam ‘年糕’ (kuih bakul) had been served.