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The Chinese New Year marks the
beginning of a new lunar year; thus it
falls on a different date each
year. It can be as early as
December or as late as March, though
it usually falls in January or
February.
In old times, the New Year was about
the only holiday the lower classed
had. To this day, stores are
shut for several days and businesses
come to a standstill while boss and
worker hold family reunions, enjoy
huge feasts, gamble a little "for
luck" (unless they lose!) and
visit relatives and friends.
At the stroke of midnight, some parts
of the large towns burst into a
cacophony of fireworks. Fire
crackers are supposed to drive out evil
spirits. They also entertain small
boys, not excluding fathers.
On New Year's Day, when visitors come
to each time a particularly respected
guest makes his way up the garden
path. By the second or third day
supplies are mercifully exhausted. |
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Acrobatic
troupes bearing a pair of majestic
lion heads are invited into private
houses and shop houses to bless the
premises. |
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Goh Mei (January / February) |
Literally
the fifteenth Day after the Chinese
New Year, Chap Goh Mei fulfill the
function of Twelfth Night after
Christmas - it is the official end of
the festivities, on a full moon night.
Modern-day Chap Goh Mei is a family
dinner. Many people hang out red
lanterns, or the fireworks bought for
the New Year. A special dinner
is cooked.
At temples, a troupe of medium may
give display of
"fire-walking." Under
the protection of a deity, the
participants run or walk, barefoot, up
and down a ten-foot long pit of
burning charcoal. One may lie
down full length, unscorched, and the
othrs walk over him. |
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| Thaiponggal
(January) |
Thaiponggal
is a harvest festival celebrated
by Tamil Hindus in
Malaysia; it is fixed according
to the Hindu calendar.
Farmer rise while it is still
dark, and cook some of the newly
harvested grain to present it to
the sun at dawn. This is
the ponggal.
Some urban families have adapted
this ritual to their living
conditions. The family
rises, bathes and gets dressed
before dawn, without using any
light. When all are ready
in their best clothes, they
assemble around a display of
fruit and flowers. Lamps
are lit. The first sight
in the morning must be a vision
of natural beauty. Dawn
rises, and a vegetarian
breakfast is enjoyed by all.
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Traditionally,
to express thanks to the gods
for a good harvest, Tamil Hindus
make offerings of rice on
Thaiponggal. |
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| Thaipusam
(January / February) |
This
festival is celebrated in the
streets, with all the noise and
excitement of a carnival.
The day is consecrated to the
Hindu deity Lord Murugan, with
the fulfillment of vows made to
him during the year.
Devotees march in a long,
colorful procession.
Libations of milk and honey are
made to the god and colorful
displays of flowers and fruit
are carried.
Those redeeming vows carry kavadi,
fancifully decorated structures
which are supported by the
devotee's body; literally so - a
kavadi may be pinned up
by skewers inserted into the
bearer's back and arms or
attached to his flesh by penance
he may have skewers stuck
through his cheeks or tongue.
The amazing part of a kavadi
procession is not how seemingly
easily the entranced penitents
carry their burdens, but the
fact that half an hour after the
event they have neither wounds
nor swellings on their bodies! |
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| Hari
Raya Puasa |
This
marks the end of the fasting
month of Ramadan. Houses
are cleaned and given a new coat
of paint, new curtains made, new
clothes sewn, and huge
quantities of special foods are
prepared.
In the morning of Hari Raya, the
men and boys go to mosque for
prayers after which families
visit the graves of departed
loved ones. The rest of
the day is spent visiting the
homes of friends and relatives
where huge quantities of food is
pressed on all. |
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Hari
Raya Puasa provides an
opportunity for relatives and
friends to meet and catch up
with each other over delightful
cookies and cakes. |
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| Hari
Raya Haji |
This
festival commemorates Abrahim's
animal sacrifice to God on place
of his son , Ismail. The
men attend the Sembahyang Hari
Raya Haji service at the mosque,
after which animal sacrifices
are performed by those who wish
to do so.
For Moslems performing the haj,
or pilgrimage, in Mecca, prayers
offered on this day mark the end
of the pilgrimage.
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Hari
Raya Haji is also known as Hari
Raya Korban. Moslems offer
animal sacrifices, usually
sheep, the fresh of which is
distributed to the poor. |
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| Ma'al
Hijrah |
The
anniversary of the Prophet
Mohammed's flight from Mecca to
Medina, Ma'al Hijrah is the
effective beginning of Islam as
a separate religion. It
counts as the New Year in Moslem
countries.
According to this reckoning,
1989 was the year 1409H until
the date of Ma'al Hijrah.
The year 1410H started on August
3, which is also the first day
of month of Muharam. |
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| Prophet
Mohammed's Birthday |
| The
bithday of the founder of Islam,
Prophet Mohammed, is
commemorated by the Mosllems.
It falls on the twelfth day of
the month of Rabiulawal or, in
1989, on October 12. As a
public holiday, Prophet
Mohammed's birthday is
celebrated with special prayers,
processions and religious
rallies. |
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