PUNSThe Chinese are good at playing puns, borowing of auspicious sounding terms and tones from phrases for its propitious meanings to be applied in their daily doings. This reaches pandemic level during the Chinese New Year. The Chinese culture which is steeped in tradition, has always emphasised on what certain words or phrases denote. These rules of thumb are drawn from inferences and handed down as tradition from one generation to the next.
BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR ARRIVES
"HUI GAU YING SAN"
Spring cleaning starts as early as a month before. But the frenzy really begins a week before the lunar year.
Old items such as furniture, clothes and shoes are thrown away and replaced with new ones to signify a new year and a new beginning, with a phrase that goes with it as follows... "Hui gau ying san." which means to throw out the old and take in the new.
Some families will also take this opportunity to clean the ancestral tablet because its the time of the year when dieties go "on leave". This is also the reason why temples cease carrying out wish-making sessions during that tw0-week duration although people can still visit to pray.
NEW YEAR'S EVE
The whole festive mood officially starts on the eve of the Chinese Lunar Year, which holds much importance as its the day of reunion
The rice container will be filled to the brim, as also with the fridge be stuffed full with vegetables, fish and meat to signify surplus and ensures FUNG YI JUK SIK (enough to cloth, enough to eat)
REUNION DINNER
During the reunion dinner, its important to have all family members present to mark completeness and fullness. This emphasis has its roots in ancient times, when people worked far, far away from home and come back only for two to three days a year. It is on this day that they would gather with the closest of kin to celebrate the mark of a new year after a year of not seeing each other.
But of course in our present times, things have changed and people no longer keep to this tradition with such obedience because family gathers quite frequently these days. Nevertheless, the reunion dinner still holds much significance.
For those who still follows the tradition strictly, it almost a must to have prawns ( HA),fish (YUE) and chicken (GAI) because their pronunciation matches that in auspicious phrases of HEE HA DAI SIU ( Hearty laughter), LIN LIN YAU YUE ( surplus for every year) and GEI YIP GUNG GU (stable foundation in business).
During the consumption of the fish, care must be taken not to break the bone, and also the head and tail must be left intact, to be in line with another phrase that goes like this YAU TAU YAU MEI meaning that there is an end to every thing that is started.
1ST DAY OF CHINESE NEW YEAR
On the morning of the first day, new clothes of happy colours such as red, orange or yellow will be worn. Breakfast would be accompanied with chinese dessert ( Tong Shui) signifying sweetness and MIN SUM ( noodles) will be served, which symbolises longevity. Some will refrain from consuming meat during the first half of the day, Some activities are also considered a no-no on this day, like sweeping the floor, washing and hanging out clothers to dry.
This is the time that children loves.... they'll be receiving " ang pows" which are money tokens given to children put into red packets, and also traditonally from any married person to singles.
This practise has caught on with the Malaysian society that, during this time, you'll find that banks, shopping complexes, stores, big corporations will all be having red packets printed in their company's name and logo, to be handed out to customers. This is also a good time for them to get free advertisement as their red packets will be distributed far and wide as the Chinese community throughtout Malaysia will be handing out "ang pows" for the full 15days of the Chinese New Year!
2nd day marks the beginning of the year. HOI LIN. Wishes like praying for the prosperity of the business, everything will be smooth sailing and the whole family to be in the best of health are commonly wished upon . This is also the day when visitation to homes of relatives and friends would be conducted.
7th day of the New Year
Celebration of YAN YAT (Everybody's birthday). Its on this day where the popular YEE SANG (raw fish salad) delicacy is being served. Ingredients of YeeSang includes pickled ginger, shredded vegetables, lime, raw fish, raw cuttle fish and sauces.
Tossing the ingredients LOU SANG signifies SANG SANG MANG MANG (good health) and also the higher you tossed, its believe that you will be able to climb up higher in the corporate ladder and advance higher in your career and business.9th day of the New Year
Traditionally known as the birthday of the Jade Emperor of Heaven.
Mainly celebrated by the Hokkiens, they offered thanksgiving prayers to the Jade Emperor of Heaven . It was on this day that the Hokkiens managed to escape from being killed.
15th day - CHAP GOH MEI
A Hokkien term which means " 15th night", the Hokkiens celebrates this day with the Chingay- which is a parade where stilt walkers parade the streets to the beat of drums, gongs and cymbals.
This is the day when many singles takes to the lakes and rivers to throw oranges with the hope of finding a suitable partner in life.
Being a multi racial society, Malaysia is indeed a land of many festivals. Decorations at shopping malls will change their decorations to be in line with the festivals. So, this time of the year, red lanterns will be dotting the main streets of Kuala Lumpur, and of course not forgetting Petaling Street which is Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown. Whenever there's sound system, you will surely be hearing rhythms of the Chinese New Year songs blaring out to put everybody, be they Chinese or non-Chinese to hum along to the tunes.......GONG XI FATT CHAI... which means... Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Year !
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