AT 12am, you are about to go to bed, when suddenly “Kaboom” – the loudest firecracker just went off, beckoning the dawn of the lunisolar (Chinese) calendar.

Disgruntled, you ask: “Why can’t they pick a better time?”

No, they cannot choose a better time because symbolically, the new calendar kicks off at 12am, marking a new day. Over the years, beyond the community that celebrates Chinese New Year (CNY), meaning has been lost in translation… perhaps, never learnt.

Looked through a rosy glass, the Chinese society in Malaysia is often flattened into a stereotype – seen as prosperous and celebratory. Meanwhile, the cultural nuances behind its rituals are dismissed rather than recognised as heritage.

Often perceived as a homogenous community, the complex multicultural background of a Malaysian Chinese continually reshapes its traditions, redefining the meaning of being ethnically Chinese as rules blur.

To learn more, theSun chatted with members of the society to learn about the meaning of being Chinese in Malaysia at the culmination of CNY, marked by the Jade Emperor’s birthday.

Roundtable where worlds collide

“CNY starts with the reunion dinner on the eve of it,” shared Nez Goh, 29, who is of Cantonese and Hokkien lineage. 

After dinner, her family practises serving tea to their grandparents and parents. 

“It’s a way of showing respect and filial piety, and we’ll say auspicious wishes such as wishing them good health and long life. In return, they’ll give us ang pows.” 

On the second day of CNY (or colloquially known as Chor 2), Goh shared married daughters will return to their parents’ home after spending day one at their spouse’s place. 

“The whole family eats together again. We’ll usually have auspicious dishes such as fish for abundance, roast pork for prosperity and nourishment and fatt choy because it sounds like ‘prosperity and wealth’.

“My family is quite traditional,” she shared as they insist on wearing red for good luck, and avoid wearing black and white as those are colours of mourning. 

Au contraire, Nick Lau, 30, chimed his CNY is a “modern, city-like experience celebration that is almost counter-traditionalist”. 

Lau, who is of Hainan-Teochew-Hakka descent, said his multi-faith (Taoist and Catholic) upbringing largely impacted the way he views CNY. 

“Like wearing black during CNY visits, because I’m not going to buy red clothes just to wear them once,” he shared, adding that it used to drive his grandma crazy, who, over time, was more accepting. 

He also quipped he never had a balik kampung experience since he was born and bred in Kuala Lumpur, like most of his family. True to his metropolitan upbringing, Lau shared trying new food is part of his reunion dinner tradition.

Chris Teo, on the other hand, used to balik kampung every CNY to visit her grandmother while she was still around. 

The 30-year-old, who is of Cantonese-Hokkien-Baba Nyonya ancestry, said getting stuck in traffic is one of the earliest memories she has, but following the passing of her grandmother, the celebration had stayed in Kuala Lumpur, where her family would participate in a reunion dinner on the eve of CNY. 

“There’s always auspicious food available, such as the ‘thousand blessings pot’, which comes with a variety of seafood and a tofu inside,” she shared, adding that she hated spring cleaning the most. 

For Eugene Kong, the bustling city is swapped for a hearty, vegetarian feast with his family.

“On the first day of CNY, we will eat vegetarian food, and our pick is always lei cha, a favourite traditional Hakka dish, as part of a practice to cleanse the body and spirit, starting off the year with a pure and respectful mind as well as body,” said the 32-year-old who is Hakka-Hokkien. 

Similarly, family lunches, dinners and friends’ open houses are ways Chad Tan, 29, whose sub-ethnicity is Hokkien, kicks off his CNY. 

Beyond reunion dinners

Traditionally observed for 15 days, each day of CNY is a day to celebrate a part of life.

For instance, on the seventh day, Ren Ri (direct translation: People Day) is observed, also known as mankind’s birthday, marking the day when Goddess Nuwa of the Taoist mythology created humans. 

Symbolically, it is celebrated by serving seven-vegetable soup or yu sheng (yee sang or raw fish salad). 

Then, on the ninth day, people of Hokkien descent visit their respective temples to honour the Jade Emperor on his birthday – also known as Thnee Kong Seh (Pai Ti Kong, Bai Tian Gong or Praying to Heaven God).

Occupying 34.2% of the Chinese population in Malaysia, it is only conceivable Thnee Kong Seh is celebrated in grandeur by Hokkiens. Goh shared on the night of the eighth day, they will pray to the Jade Emperor.

“As a sign of gratitude and protection, where offerings such as sugarcane, fruits, auspicious food, incense and candles are prepared.”

She noted sugarcane is especially meaningful because it symbolises protection and survival.

Its symbolism is derived from an ancient, Ming dynasty legend. In it, Hokkiens were saved from a band of bandits by hiding in a sugarcane plantation for protection.

They stayed hidden until the outlaws left on the ninth day, coinciding with the Jade Emperor’s birthday.

For Teo, the day includes going to the temple and praying. The 30-year-old shared that the day is also celebrated by setting off fireworks in the spirit of celebration that good triumphs over evil.

On the final day of CNY, Chap Goh Mei is celebrated, dubbed as the Chinese Valentine’s Day.

The day is marked by sweet, symbolic playful traditions such as single women tossing mandarin oranges with their numbers on them into rivers or lakes in hopes of finding love, eating tang yuan (sweet rice balls) and lighting lanterns.

Generational gap

As these rituals meet the ever-evolving modern Malaysia, the generational gap widens, transforming ancestral obligations into a conscious, personal choice for the new generation.

This is especially true for those who are of the third, fourth or fifth generation since their ancestors moved to Southeast Asia, having set foot here as traders and business people.

Therefore, while many Chinese take pride in their ancestral home, this also implies that cultural values are being diluted by multiculturalism, with new beliefs and principles formed that are relevant to the time.

One such example is Tan, who attributed his open-mindedness to his multicultural and Catholic upbringing.

“It has enriched my celebration of culture, giving me diverse perspectives and experiences. Hence, allowing me to easily connect with people from different racial backgrounds,” Tan said.

However, having been raised in a Eurasian, Chinese and Indian household made navigating different sets of beliefs tricky, with Tan often having to justify his identity as a Hokkien.

Just the same, Lau, raised in a modern, “almost Western” household, said traditional culture and identities rarely followed him, who is of Hainan-Teochew-Hakka descent.

“Anything that is culturally normative has always been a struggle. However, I’m a firm believer in just doing whatever feels comfortable or right for me,” he said, adding that traditions evolve and should not be forced upon.

Goh described her multicultural experience as “a really beautiful” one: “Being exposed to different traditions within my own family has taught me that culture isn’t fixed.”

Echoing Tan, Goh said it has just made her more open, curious and appreciative.

Though she does not feel the disconnect between cultures, she just accepts that it is “how family works”.

“Instead of feeling torn, I feel like it has added more layers to who I am, and I embrace both,” she said, sharing she would like to pass down the traditions but with education to discern absurdity from wisdom.

Kong prefers to go with the flow, citing that culturally they have deviated from the source, although he believes “deep down the core values are still the same”.

Teo said growing up, the lines were so blurred that she could not differentiate between the celebration of sub-ethnicities, but she is glad that she can now see the difference.

Presence over ang pows

Navigating through CNY and ethnic identity can take a toll on people who are just trying to get through the day, but within, they also find solace and for some… meaning.

“I used to hate CNY every year,” confessed Lau, as he found it boring to sit at someone else’s house for hours with nothing to do. However, he now finds the purpose in gathering for the festivity.

“I realised the celebration was never about me, it’s about being present for those who are still with us, because slowly and surely, fewer and fewer people tend to be there as they age.”

This sentiment is reaffirmed by Goh, who said CNY is an “excuse” for the extended family to reconnect and “remind ourselves that we’re family”. She said receiving ang pows is one of the highlights.

“I know once I’m married, I won’t be receiving anymore – I’ll be the one giving instead. But, I guess that’s also part of growing up and taking on more responsibility.”

She shared a running joke in her family: “…at least next time if we go out and (have a dispute), we’ll know they are (our) extended family.”

Teo said she gets to see all of her family during CNY and catch up – and of course, eat lots of junk food.

Her personal favourite? Bak kwa, a pork jerky that is smoky, salty and sweet.

For Kong, CNY (or specifically reunion dinner) strengthens the family bond through spending time together, showing gratitude towards meals and prosperity shared.

“Like every new year celebration, it is meant to celebrate new milestones and how far one has come. Also, a good time to boost my finances (ang pows) and connect with loved ones,” Tan quipped.

Lost in translation

For a community that is sometimes stereotyped as superstitious, many symbolic traditions are often trivialised by those who do not practice them. Giving out mandarin oranges during CNY, for instance, has deep significance, yet these meanings are often learnt frivolously rather than earnestly.

“There’s beauty in it, but it requires a lot of listening and patience to reap its benefits,” hoped Tan.

Goh exasperatedly said these “superstitious” beliefs are more about the fundamentals: “respect, relationships and family values”.

However, the Chinese experience is not monolithic. Lau insisted on the need for a broader awareness of multiculturalism or counter-culturalism within and outside the community.

To bridge this gap, Teo suggested cultural nuances be incorporated into education to move beyond tolerance towards genuine understanding.

Ultimately, when culture is consumed through idealised fantasies, its people are denied their complexity.

Perhaps the starting point is not fascination, but curiosity that is void of preconception. The Chinese experience is multifaceted, and we are invited to learn these cultures as they are lived, not as imagined. Xin Nian Kuai Le!

Read more:

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 The Sun Malaysia