ON the Lunar New Year, lanterns are hung at the front door of most Chinese homes, red ornaments adorn many houses, and food is displayed on the tables.
In the months prior to the special occasion, households will carry out their chores and prepare for the celebration.
The annual chore of spring cleaning, which involves getting rid of unwanted or unused items, is a common tradition. As the last speck of dust is wiped away before the festivities, its celebrants also rush to nearby grocery stores and markets to stock up on supplies.
A variety of sweet drinks, a selection of snacks, and ingredients to make the best curry chicken are just a few of the crucial ingredients of Chinese New Year. People flock to boutiques and shopping malls to buy new outfits to wear during the day, as the act of wearing new clothing can bring good luck.
The day is important to the Chinese, and the preparations for it are crucial. This Chinese New Year, five celebrants share with New Sarawak Tribune the steps they take to ensure a successful celebration.
Alice Lee, 33
Before the day comes, I would clean the house as thoroughly as possible because the God of Fortune appreciates a clean house. I’d also prepare a pair of oranges and sticky cake (nian gao) to offer to Zhao Sen (God of Kitchen), so that when he eats them, he’ll “report” only the good and sweet things that happened in the previous year to the above.
Patricia Lo, 36
Despite not hosting an open house this year, my family and I still spring clean to welcome the New Year. This year, my family and I will celebrate Chinese New Year in my hometown — Sibu. I’m looking forward to it because it’s been a long time since we’ve celebrated together, especially with my sisters from Penang. This occasion allows us to celebrate the day as a family, which is especially important given that my father is over 70 years old. I’m grateful for this opportunity.
Kholyn R Jonathan, 42
When we live abroad, Chinese New Year is when we get together with other Malaysian families for a potluck. We prepare for the celebration by renting a hall and planning what to cook for that day. We usually prepare Malaysian dishes such as chicken curry, mi goreng mamak, murukku, kek lapis Sarawak, Buddha’s delights, and many others. At this gathering, the children are usually given red packets (ang pao), and we exchange CNY goodies among families.
Esther Lim, 29
I live in Kuala Lumpur, but I travel to different cities every week. This year, I hopped around like a rabbit, juggling work, social, and CNY preparations all at the same time. There were so many tasks to complete that I had to list them all in my calendar. My family made cookies and cakes. We also went shopping for new clothes and kitchenware. Other important considerations include replacing every faulty item in the home to ensure that it functions properly throughout the year. Despite my hectic schedule, it feels great. My family and I are excited and positive about the coming year.
Michelle Lee, 35
As a home baker, I was rushing through CNY cookie and cake orders. My house is disorganised, and everything is strewn about. But I usually clean right before Chinese New Year. Because I don’t host open houses, I usually just display food that I enjoy eating. Although my baked goods and attractive packaging help everyone have a wonderful Chinese New Year, I don’t emphasise those myself. For me, as long as everyone is happy on this particular day, I am content.
