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Chinese New Year
Celebration (8 January - 2 February 2003)
Venue: Mahkota Parade, Melaka
Organiser: Lion Mahkota Parade
Telephone: 06-282 6151
Fax: 06-282 7305
Feast your eyes as streets and buildings in town spruse up with
decoratives and illuminated arches and festive spirit galore. Catch
lion dances, cultural shows and related activities which bring the
Lunar New Year festivities to its height. An experience of a
lifetime to cherish.
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CHINESE NEW YEAR
1 - 2 February 2003
Venue:
Throughout Malaysia
Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb 1 this year, is the most
important celebration for Chinese people all over the world,
regardless of the origin of their ancestors. It is also known as the
Lunar New Year as it is based on the lunar calendar as opposed to
the Gregorian calendar. According to Chinese astrology, 2003 is the
year of the Goat. Chinese people who have forgotten most of their
resolutions made on December 31, still have another chance to start
anew with the celebration of Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year
starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends
on the full moon, 15 days later. The 15th day of Chinese New Year is
the Lantern Festival ( or Chap Goh Mei).
ORIGIN OF CHINESE NEW YEAR
The origin of Chinese New Year is too old to be traced;
nevertheless, various interesting legends have surfaced over the
years to explain the beginning of this celebration. Many agree,
however, that the word “Nian”, which means “year” in Chinese, was
originally the name of a ferocious beast that preys on people on the
eve of new year. To scare “Nian” away, the people pasted red paper
decorations on windows and doors, and set off firecrackers, as
“Nian” is said to be afraid of the colour red, the light of fire and
loud noises. Therefore, at the end of every year, they repeat these
rituals and it is carried on from generation to generation.
Legend also has it that the people asked a lion for help. The lion
wounded the beast, but it returned a year later to harm the people.
This time, the lion couldn’t help as it was guarding the Emperor’s
gate. So, the people use bamboo and cloth to fashion an image of the
lion. Two men crawled inside, pranced and roared, and frightened
“Nian” away. This is also the origin of the Lion Dance. It is one of
the most impressive sights during the Chinese New Year Festival. The
phrase “Guo Nian”, which may means, “survive the Nian”, is used to
mean “Celebrate the (New) Year”. The word “Guo” in Chinese means “to
pass”. Till today, the customs of having red paper decorations and
firecrackers are still observed by the Chinese community.
Nevertheless, most people don’t really know the reason they are used
except that the colour and the sound adds excitement to the
celebration.
CHINESE NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATION IN MALAYSIA
Although the climax of Chinese New Year’s celebration generally only
last for four or five days including the eve, the New Year season
actually started from early twelfth month of the previous year to
the middle of the first month of the New Year. Preparations begin
about a month before Chinese New Year, where the Chinese community
will be busy shopping for decoration materials, food and drinks, new
clothing, groceries and titbits. This is the time when businesses
selling these goods will be busiest. Chinese New Year songs can be
heard in shopping complexes and there will be sale and promotions.
Chinatown at Petaling Street is an ideal place to experience the
excitement of the celebration. A major clean up of the house will be
carried out, hoping to sweep away any traces of bad luck to make way
for the wishful in-coming good luck and fortune. Some even renovate
their houses or give them a new coat of paint.
After that, the house is ready to be decorated with paper scrolls
and couplets inscribed with blessings and auspicious words like
happiness, longevity, and wealth. Few days before the eve of Chinese
New Year, people living far away from their families will begin to
prepare for their journey home. Traffic jams will start to build up
on highways while airports, bus terminals, and train stations are
normally packed. Tickets are usually being snapped up the moment
they go on sale. No matter how tiring the journey may turn out to
be, it is certainly worth it when all the family members have
gathered around the table to enjoy their Chinese New Year’s eve
dinner (or reunion dinner), the most important meal of the year.
After dinner, family members will spend the night playing cards,
mahjoong, watching TV programmes dedicated to the celebration, or
just having a good time talking to each other.
On the first day of Chinese New Year, ritual homage is offered to
one’s ancestors and reverence is paid to the gods. New clothes are
worn and younger family members will greet their elders “Kong Xi
Fatt Chai” (in Mandarin) or “Kong Hei Fatt Choi” (in Cantonese),
meaning, “congratulations and prosperity”. In return, they will
receive “Ang Pow”, a red packet containing cash. It is given by
married couples to children and singles. The seventh day of Chinese
New Year is known as “everybody’s birthday”. On this day, the
Chinese will eat “Yee Sang”, a combination of pickled ginger,
shredded vegetables, lime, raw fish and various sauces. This meal is
believed to bring prosperity and good fortune to those who eat it.
The participants will mix and raise the ingredients with their
chopsticks. They believe the higher they are able to raise them, the
greater the prosperity they will enjoy throughout the year. On the
eighth day, the Hokkien community will have another family reunion.
At midnight, they will pray to “Tian Gung”, the God of Heaven. On
the ninth day, numerous offerings are set out in the forecourt or
central courtyard of temples to celebrate the birthday of the Jade
Emperor. The 15th day is Chap Goh Mei. It marks the end of Chinese
New Year’s celebration.
During Chinese New Year’s day and several days that follow, the
Chinese will hold open houses. This is the time when relatives and
friends, regardless of their races and religions, will visit one
another, exchanging good wishes and gifts like tangerines (called
“Kam” in Cantonese, meaning “Gold”) and other traditional New Year’s
delicacies. As festivities in Malaysia are celebrated by ALL
communities, the open house concept bears testimony to the fact that
tolerance and mutual respect are evidently observed in this
multi-racial country. In fact, this is a very unique practice in
Malaysia that symbolises the unique diversity of culture and
religion here. Like other major celebrations in the country, Chinese
New Year is also celebrated at national level where open house will
be held. Malaysians, as well as tourists around the world, are
welcome to join in the celebration of this auspicious event. There
will be an array of local delicacies for all the guests, cultural
show and other performances.
This year, the Chinese New Year’s open house is jointly organised by
The Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism, and the Selangor State
Government. It will be held at Petaling Jaya Square in Petaling Jaya,
Selangor, on February 8, 2003, at 8:00pm. The open house will be
graced by His Majesty, the King and Her Majesty, the Queen of
Malaysia, along with the Chief Minister of the State of Selangor,
Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and other distinguished guests.
Although the customs and traditions of Chinese New Year vary from
place to place in the world, the spirit of the celebration is
similar: to have peace, good health, happiness and prosperity among
family members and friends.
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Federal Territory
1 February 2003
Venue: Kuala Lumpur, Labuan,
Putrajaya
Organiser: Kuala Lumpur City Hall
Telephone: 03-2691 6710
Fax: 03-2691 9446
Established to creat autonomous federal constituencies, the three
independent federal jurisdictions of Kuala Lumpur, international off
shore financial centre and holiday island of Labuan, and the
nation's newest federal and administrative centre, Putrajaya,
Celebrate this unique day in a kaleidoscope of colour and ceremony
with parades, fireworks displays, cultural shows and exhibitions as
well as the andrenalin filled 'Tower Jump' to commemorate Federal
Territory Day.
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Fishing Competition
1 February 2003
Venue: Putrajaya Lake, Putrajaya
Organiser: Putrajaya Corporation
Telephone: 03-8925 0025
Fax: 03-8925 8744
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KL International Tower Jump
1 February 2003
Venue: Kuala Lumpur
Organiser: Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd
Telephone: 03-2020 5421
Fax: 03-2032 8409
Menara Kuala Lumpur bursts with life on Federal Territory Day. This
not-to-be-missed annual events has sports enthusiasts from all over
the world displaying their skills in amazing activities such as
'light aircraft fly past', fast roping' from the helicopter, aero
modelling - radio controlled aircraft, motor gliding and
base-jumping. The base-jumping display of 50 jumpers over a 6-hour
period has become a hallmark of the event with a three-fall required
to clear the tower-head before jumpers deploy their chutes. Some top
names in the world of B.A.S.E (Building, Antennas, Spans and Earth)
jumping and skydiving take part in this adrenalin filled event!
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Colouring & Drawing Competition &
Community Carnival
2 February 2003
Venue: Multi-Purpose Hall
Organiser: Putrajaya Corporation
Telephone: 03-8925 0025
Fax: 03-8925 8744
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Federal Territory Eve Celebration
2003
3 February 2003
Venue: Dataran Labuan (7.30 pm)
Organiser: Labuan Corporation
Telephone: 087-408741
more info on organiser :- Tourism Malaysia - Labuan Office
Telephone: 087-423445
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Arts Programme
5 February 2003
Venue: Teratak Za'aba, Negeri
Sembilan
Organiser: State Museum Board
Telephone: 06-763 1149
Fax: 06-761 5355
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International Canoe Championship
5 - 8 February 2003
Venue: Putrajaya Lake, Putrajaya
Organiser: Putrajaya Corporation
Telephone: 03-8925 0025
Fax: 03-8925 8744
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Malaysia Open House : Chinese New
Year
8 February 2003
Venue: Petaling Jaya , Selangor
Organiser: Petaling Jaya Municipal Council / Ministry of
Culture, Arts & Tourism
Telephone: 03-2693 7111
Fax: 03-2693 4789
Chinese New Year is celebrated over a 15-day period, beginning on
the first day of the lunar calendar. On the eve of the New Year,
family members gather for a reunion dinner, it is a loud and
boisterous festival, as gongs and cymbols clang and clash in
accompaniment to lion and dragon dances performed in Chinese
neighbourhoods. Chinese families hold 'open houses' for relatives
and friends. It is customary to give ang pow (red packets containing
money) to the young and the unmarried. This is an exciting time to
be in Malaysia as visitors are sure to come upon lion and dragon
dances throughout the country. There is an abundance of mandarin
oranges and stalks of plum blossoms everywhere for good luck. The
Malaysian Open House for this celebration will be held on 8
Febrauary in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
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Penang Chinese New Year Open House
9 February 2003
Venue: Khoo Kongsi Cannon
Square, Penang
Organiser: PenEvents Sdn Bhd
Telephone: 04-645 1934
Fax: 04-645 1953
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"Majlis Berkorban"(Hari Raya Haji
& Berkorban)
15 - 16 February 2003
Venue: Kota Bharu, Kelantan
Organiser: Kelantan State Government
Telephone: 09-748 5534
Fax: 09-748 6652
Muslims mark the end of annual pilgrimage to Mecca with this day of
celebration. The annual pilgrimage is required to be performed by
Muslims at least once in their lifetime, in accordance with Islam's
fifth tenet. There are special early morning prayers and sermons at
mosque throughout the country. Cattle and sheep are sacrificed, and
the meat is distributed to the poor and needy.
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"Merbuk" Singing Competition
15 February 2003
Venue: Wetland Park, Putrajaya
Organiser: Putrajaya Corporation
Telephone: 03-8925 0025
Fax: 03-8925 8744
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Chap Goh Mei Festival
15 February 2003
Venue: Esplanade, Penang
Organiser: PenEvents Sdn Bhd
Telephone: 04-645 1934
Fax: 04-645 1935
Chap Goh Mei is celebrated on the last day of the Chinese New Year.
It is regarded as a night of courtship with lanterns lit up through
the night. Accroding to folklore, young maidens are prohibited to
venture out of their home except on this occasion when they are
allowed to visit the temples. Prospective bride-grooms would gather
at vantage points to admire the rarely-seen damsels and this is why
Chap Goh Mei is also known as a night of romance.
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Johor Chinese New Year Open House
15 February 2003
Venue: Batu Pahat, Johor
Organiser: Johor State Government
Telephone: 07-224 9960
Fax: 07-223 7554
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Kelantan Community Chinese New
Year Open
15 February 2003
Venue: Kota Bharu, Kelantan
Organiser: Kelantan State Government
Telephone: 09-748 5534
Fax: 09-748 6652
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International Kite Festival 2003
17 - 23 February 2003
Venue: Bukit Layang-Layang,
Pasir Gudang, Johor
Organiser: Johor State Government, Johor Corporation, Johor
Tourism Department, PBT Pasir Gudang & Johor Kite Flyer's Society
Telephone: 07-251 3720
Fax: 07-251 5280
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Chingay Parade
20 - 23 February 2003
Venue: Johor Bahru, Johor
Organiser: Johor Bahru Tionghua Association
Telephone: 07-224 7910
Fax: 07-224 1530
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Kedah Chinese New Year Open House
22 February 2003
Venue: Alor Setar, Kedah
Organiser: Kedah State Government
Telephone: 04-730 1957
Fax: 04-733 0908
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Putrajaya Day Market
23 February 2003
Venue: Multi-Purpose Hall,
Presint 8, Putrajaya
Organiser: Putrajaya Corporation
Telephone: 03-8925 0025
Fax: 03-8925 8744
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February
Information
provided by
Malaysia Tourism
Promotion Board.
