Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is one of the most important festivals and celebration for the Chinese population. It falls on the first 15 days of Chinese Lunar Calendar.
According to our common solar calendar, it falls on 16 February, Friday, 2018, and usually have 2 national holidays.
Meaning and History of Chinese New Year
Chinese serves the purpose to honor deities.
There are, however, several version of how Chinese New Year arises. The most popular one being the celebration of winning the battle against a monster, called “Nian”.
The traditional Chinese ancestor believes that “Nian” is afraid of red color and firecrackers. The Chinese have to wear red, put everything in red color, and make some noise to frighten “Nian”.
The practice has since spread today.
Chinese New Year Preparation
Few days before Chinese New Year, most of the Chinese families will clean their house and throw away old stuff. Some even started to decorate their houses with new colors and some cool gadgets, such as Tang Long, to welcome the new year.
Also, people started to shop for new clothes and foods.
Right on the Chinese New Year’s Eve, it’s a “reunion day”, which each family member tries to get home and have a great time nice meal together.
Chinese New Year Celebration
The festival is celebrated for 15 consecutive days. Each day does have their own title and meaning, but in Malaysia, some are not commonly celebrated.
Here, let’s handpick the one celebrated in Malaysia Chinese community.
Day 1
The first day of Chinese New Year! All family members will wear new clothes.
Married couples will give a red envelope with money inside (it’s called “Ang Pao” in Mandarin) to the young or junior members of the families, as a form of blessing.
The Chinese will go to temples and pray, hoping to get an abundance year throughout the year. Also, it’s a big believer that using broom during the first day (some even hold it throughout the 15 days) will “swept away the good fortune”.
Some families like to invite or purchase Lion Dance service, to make the festival even merrier. Below is a sample video of Lion Dance.
At night, you will see and hear fireworks almost everywhere. Note that in Malaysia, the government ban firecrackers and fireworks. It’s, therefore, you will less likely to hear the sound as it used to previously.
Day 2
It’s called the “beginning of the year” (开年).
New clothes and fireworks continue everywhere, and people starting to visit relatives, close friends, and anyone closed to them but are not celebrating the festival together.
One common practice during visiting is to exchange the Mandarin Orange each other. It’s believed to “share the good luck together”.
Day 7
It’s the common birthday for everyone, which means everyone grows one year older in this day. In Chinese, it’s called “Renri” (人日).
In Malaysia, the Chinese celebrate with a dish of food called “YeeSang”.
Day 9
Around 12 am-midnight of Day 9, the Chinese will pray and thanks for the Jade Emperor of Heaven. This day is the birthday of the Jade Emperor.
Day 15
It’s Lantern Festival. It marks the end of the Chinese New Year festival, at the same time, it is the Chinese equivalent of Valentine’s Day.
In Chinese, it’s called YuanXiao Festival. Some common food will be the Tang Yuan.
As it’s also the valentine day, it’s a tradition for people who are still single and available, to write the love letter with their contact information and put into the Mandarin Orange. The orange is then thrown into the river with a hope the other single person will collect and meet them. Today, the practice is just a symbolism of getting a new life partner.
Chinese New Year Greetings
新年快乐 Xin Nian Kuai Le – Happy Chinese New Year
恭喜发财Gong Xi Fa Cai – May you have a great prosperous year
万事如意 Wan Shi Ru Yi – May all your wishes come true
一本万利 Yi Ben Wan Yi– May all your small investment bring great profits
金玉满堂 Jin Yu Man Tang– May your wealth is abundant until could even fill the hall
大展宏图 Da Zhan Hong Tu– May you be able to realize your dream and ambitions
迎春接福 Ying Chun Jie Fu – Greet the New Year and encounter happiness
事事顺利 Shi Shi Shun Li – May all the work you did produce positive result without obstacles
七星高照 Qi Xing Gao Zhao – May all the lucky gods are always with, and taking care of, you
寿比南山 Shou Bi Nan Shan– May you live longer
招财进宝 Zhao Cai Jin Bao– May money and all precious things come to you
Chinese New Year Best Practice & Taboos
Wear Red
The Chinese believe red is the lucky color. Do not wear black and white as it’s the common color people usually wear when attending the funeral event.
Cleaning
The Chinese like to clean before Chinese New Year in order to welcome the year with a clean and fresh environment. It’s good to start a New Year fresh.
However, the Chinese stop cleaning, or even hide all the cleaning tools during the festival. It’s believed the good luck and prosperity will be swept away if cleaning takes place during the celebration.
Chinese New Year Foods
Nian Gao
It’s one of the most popular food during Chinese New Year, due to its pronunciation which has a meaning of “climbing to the top of the year” (年糕)
Melon Seed
It’s called “Guazi” (瓜子) in Mandarin. It symbolizes having many children as soon as possible.
YeeSheng
It’s believed that taking Yee Sheng brings in good luck.
Mandarin Orange
In Mandarin, the pronunciation of “Ju” (橘) is a homophone to the word of “luck”, which is “Ji” (吉)
Fish
In Mandarin, fish is pronounced as “Yu” (鱼) is a homophone to the word of “surplus”, which is “Yu” (余)
Chicken
The people can’t afford a chicken until every big festival like Chinese New Year or when their children got married. It’s, therefore, a symbolism of “not poor”
TangYuan
The taste is sweet and it symbolizes the whole year will be sweet and happy.
Where to Celebrate Chinese New Year in Malaysia
Penang
There are a lot of events in Penang during the festival and is very happening! You must visit Kek Lok Si Temple. There are Lantern lights everywhere and usually turned on during the night. A lot of
Kuala Lumpur
The China Town is a common place to visit.
Conclusion
The Chinese have built its community for more than thousands year. It’s, therefore, the community has a lot of customs, believes, and practices to follow.
If you are a Chinese, feel free to let us know if there’s anything we have left out or anything you would like to add on.
If you are a foreigner, visiting Malaysia during Chinese New Year is exciting as you will see a lot of things and cultures here.
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