Right now the Malaysian Chinese people is busy making the preparation for the coming Chinese New Year fall on February 7, 2008 just next week. It is a good time to visit Malaysia as it is one of the biggest celebration of the year beside Christmas, Deepavali, and Hari Raya. This is the unique of Malaysia, many happening celebration in the year.
What is the special thing about Chinese New Year?
In my own humble opinion of non Chinese, I like 3 things about Chinese New Year or locally call as Gong Xi Fa Cai(pronounce: Gong Zi Fah Chai). The lion dance, and pow and the mandarin orange makes the celebration is so identical and people from other races and country waiting for.
I can remember when I was a kid I could hear the drum played by the Lion Dance team from about a mile a way. My friend would ride the bike and went to the chinese home at watch the lion dance. Actually the lion dance is perfom not only at chinese home but also in business premises. Today, it also performed at shoppinc complex and many hot spot in the city. You can see the acrobatic movement of 2 dancer in 1 lion. Some lion can jump from pole to pole and stand on top of another dances in the colorful lion mask and custom.
Ang pow for your prosperity
What is ang pow? It means red package in chinese. But it significantly for a red color envelople that contain cash it in as token given by the host to the kids when they visit their home. This day will be the happiest day for the kids as they will go to many house for visits, then wishing Gong Xi Fa Cai to everybody and hoping the angpow. THey dont care much about food being served. So many kids will be the rich kid.
Mandarin Orange for everybody
The Gong xi Fa Cai will be soemthing missing without the mandarin orange. The fruit that mostly available during the Gong Xi Fa Cai. Will be sell in carton and become most chinese will give it to their family, relative, neighbours, friends and to their business contact to show their respect and remembrance.
Its 2 days holiday for Malaysia
IT makes the Malaysian even happier as the other race also will be celebrating their 2 days holiday during the Gong xi fa cai and take this opportunity to visit their chinese friends and neighbour to get free ang pow or mandarin orange. Also, many take the opportunity to go bring their family for vacation.
