Thirty and single, she knows exactly what questions her relatives will be asking – mostly behind her back.

“Everyone will ask my mother, ‘Why is your daughter still single? Why is she putting on weight? No wonder she can’t find a partner!’”

She laughs dolefully. “And obviously it gets worse every year. It drives me crazy, but I have to go.”

Naturally, her relatives never tire of speculating about the real reason she hasn’t yet managed to snare a husband. Maybe she’s not really trying?

“When I was young, my mum always kept my hair short,” she told FMT. “I still keep that style because I like it. Now my aunties ask everyone if I am a lesbian. Excuse me? I didn’t think they knew about that sort of thing!”

Children and seniors, on the other hand, love reunion dinners.

The kids are excited by the chance to play with their cousins and collect ang pows, and who doesn’t like firecrackers?

Meanwhile, respected elders, cherished for their longevity, get to see their grandchildren, there’s plenty of food, and they no longer have to do the washing up. What’s not to like?

Neither of these age groups has to suffer pointed and meddlesome questions from reunited relatives.

It’s those between the two ends of the age spectrum – the 20, 30 and 40-somethings – whose lives are still in flux, who could live quite happily without some aspects of family reunions.

Chinese New Year sees the largest annual mass human migration in the world – that’s a lot of inquisitive aunties on the move.

Every year, families gather for the annual reunion dinner on the evening before Chinese New Year.

Winston Tan, 20, used to wait excitedly for reunion dinner each year. He loved the loud firecrackers, the lion dances, and the sumptuous meals.

But as time passed, he told FMT, he began to feel less enthusiastic.

“Traditions are good, of course, but inviting the whole extended clan for reunion dinner has turned into a financial burden on poorer families.

“And it’s not even really necessary anymore as we can all stay in touch through social media and keep up with family news and gossip.”

Reunion dinners in Tan’s house are lavish, gala events. His mother starts preparing food early in the morning and doesn’t stop until the feast is ready in the evening.

“She doesn’t complain but I really don’t like to see her slaving away like that the whole day.”

Neither is he keen on older relations comparing the achievements of the younger ones and asking nosy questions about their future plans. “It makes me uncomfortable.”

Nickolas Chan, 36, of Kuala Lumpur agrees. He feels reunion dinner is the hardest time as relatives brag about everything from the cars they drive to how much money their children make.

“They boast about their foreign holidays, and how many music or art classes their kids are attending. The implication is clear – you’re failing at life.

“And the amount of ang pow money seems to increase every year. It’s like a competition.”

He said he now spends about RM10,000 for reunion dinner, ang pows and shopping for the family.

“Sometimes half of my savings go to New Year celebrations. Traditional family get-togethers can be wonderful but not when they are so costly.”

Hugo Yap, 20, says dinner at his grandparents’ house with about 20 uncles, aunties and cousins is always a happy event. It has to be.

His grandparents instilled in their family the idea that family reunion dinners have to be joyful occasions or the coming year will be unlucky. He says no one dares to be in a bad mood as that might anger the God of Prosperity, and the grandparents, of course.

Federation of Taoist Malaysia president Tan Hoe Chieow says reunions are generally happy but sometimes problems surface after the head of the family dies and arguments flare up among his offspring.

“This can be fraught but the family will rally round. Reunion dinners essentially celebrate the enduring unity of the family.

“Reunion is the time to let bygones be bygones. It makes the family stronger,” he said.

So most people enjoy the tradition, even if super-inquisitive aunties and uncles make the occasion hard going.

Reunion dinners are really a time for children to get excited, and for the old to sit back and enjoy their family as they are, at last, beyond reproach.

A time for everyone to forgive and forget family squabbles and let harmony reign. Until the next reunion.