Typical Chinese New Year Traditions in Kuantan GONG XI FA CAI
Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival is celebrated by Chinese the world all over and it is also celebrated in Kuantan. This year of the Water Dragon will hopefully wash away all the threat of any radioactive and bring on abundance of wealth and prosperity to the people of Kuantan.
Traditionally, households will start to clean and paint their homes right after celebrating the Winter Solstice Festival on 22nd December 2011. Gates and walls are given a new coat, lighting and fixture are cleaned thoroughly and repair works done where they are required.
After Spring Cleaning, the homes are decorated with Chinese Calligraphy on red background depicting Chinese Characters that symbolize wealth, health and prosperity. Bright and red Chinese lanterns or Tanglung will be hanging on the car porch and kept lighted all night long.
Mothers and daughters will be busy making cakes and cookies but in these modern times, most are bought from the shops and from friends and relatives that made them to sell. Shops will be busy and stocked with plenty of Lanterns, Mandarin oranges, drinks and food.
Traditionally the sons and unmarried daughters will come home for Reunion Dinner on New Year’s Eve on the 22nd of January 2012 and the married sons will leave for the In Laws’ homes on the second day of Chinese New Year. Also on the second day of Chinese New Year, the married daughters will come home with their families.
Also from the second day of Chinese New Year onwards, families will go out together to visit relatives and friends with gifts and angpows.
There will also be plenty of fireworks, firecrackers and lion dances from Chinese New Year’s eve right up to the 15th day of Chinese New Year. During these times family and friends will get together to catch up on old times and will be off work for a few days. Family, relatives and friends will also get together to Loh Yee Sang which is a traditional salad dish served with raw fish.
Gong Xi Fa Cai from kuantan4u.com