Essays on Festivals in Malaysia

1. Hari Raya Aidilfitri

Every year, after one month of fasting, Muslims celebrate Hari Raya Puasa which falls in the
month of Syawal. All Muslims celebrate the day with great joy. In the morning, they go to the
mosque to pray. Then, on returning home, they receive guests and relatives who come to pay
them a call.
Days before, the womenfolk make many varieties of cakes, cookies and sweetmeats. They also
cook 'rendang' curries and prepare 'satay' to go with the 'ketupat'. Homes are decorated with
many coloured lights all over the garden. Small lamps are lit and placed along the driveway.
On Hari Raya Day, many Malaysians visit their Muslim friends to share their joy. They receive
warm hospitality and are entertained to a feast of specially prepared food. Boys and girls wear
new clothes and shoes. Girls wear jewellery and boys new 'songkoks'.
The town is usually crowded with Muslims dressed gaily and going about. They visit their
friends and relatives while some go to the cinemas or to the Lake Gardens. Many, however, go
back to their 'kampungs' to celebrate the festival with their parents. It is also a time for family
reunions. Everyone rejoices during this festive season.


2. Chinese New Year
Chinese all over the world celebrate Chinese New Year in February when the Lunar Year usually
begins. In Malaysia, the Chinese celebrate the event with a festive spirit as it is the most
important festival to them and every Chinese home is made ready for the great event.
The preparations begin a month or so earlier as there are many things to be done before the great
day arrives. Shops and supermarkets stock all kinds of Chinese delicacies, eg. sweetmeats,
melon seeds and packets of specialities such as groundnuts which the Chinese must obtain and
store up for the festival.
In Chinese homes, the womenfolk get busy making cakes, biscuits, glutinous rice cakes and
jellies which are stored away carefully, out of the reach of young children. Homes are spruced
up (cleaned up), new curtains sewn, and new cushions and carpets bought to give the home a
new look. Red lanterns are hung outside and new pots of flowers and Mandarin orange plants are
placed in the garden.
Children are the ones who enjoy the festive season most. They receive red packets containing
money from their parents and their elders. New dresses are worn and old things cast aside (to
get rid of) as the New Year is supposed to be the start of a new period in their lives and
everyone follows these traditional customs.
On New Year's eve, the whole family gathers in the parents' home for a re-union dinner. Many
delicious dishes make up the meal and everyone enjoys himself. This is only the start of the
Chinese New Year celebrations which stretch on for a period of fifteen days.
A longer essay on Chinese New Year Celebration
Karaoke music blares through speakers and the smell of delicious food fills the house. Messages on red
paper decorate the walls. My cousins run up and down the stairs screaming with delight. I sigh as I sit in
front of my computer listening to the commotion. Once again, it's Chinese New Year. Every year, my
mom makes me wear bright red clothes and clean the house until it's spotless.

Chinese New Year is like Christmas in America. Gifts are exchanged, and everyone dresses their best to
get together for dinner. My mom tells me stories about different New Years when she was young.

"In China," she says, "people prepare for the new year weeks before the day. It was extremely exciting
and I could never wait until it was New Years again." The more she spoke the more it became clear why
we do what we do on Chinese New Year. Suddenly I had questions:

"Why do we always go to Chinatown and buy a bunch of candy? What do the dancing dragons and
exploding firecrackers mean? What do the words on the red paper mean? Why do we always eat the
same food on Chinese New Year? And, especially, how come I can't take a shower on the New Year?"

My mom was surprisingly patient and happy I was so interested. "Calm down! Let me explain one at a
time. Come and sit with me," she beckoned.

"First of all, New Year's is the beginning of a new year. This also means it is a chance for people to clear
out the bad luck and evil spirits and start fresh. Chinese New Year originally lasted 15 days, with each
day representing a different thing. For example, the first day is the welcoming of Gods of Heaven and
Earth. The second day is the birth of the dogs, and the seventh day is the birth of humans. So on each
day we do different things." She paused to collect her thoughts. It seemed as though she was lost
somewhere as she remembered her happy childhood. Thankfully, she continued her story.

"The best day was always the fifteenth day. It is the last day of the New Year's celebration and also the
prettiest. Lanterns of all designs are lit everywhere, brightening the sky. It was indeed very beautiful.
Unfortunately not everyone follows the old tradition anymore, things are more simplified." She looked
over to see if I was still interested. I smiled.

"There are reasons for everything we do on Chinese New Year that you may find odd and even silly. You
can call it a custom, or you may call it superstitious, but we believe that many things are signs of other
things, good and bad. For example, I tell you not to wash your hair on New Year's because it means you
are washing all your luck out. We wear red because we believe it is a happy color. The words on the red
paper you see hanging on the walls are happy wishes. We eat certain types of food on New Year's
because they represent things, too. Chicken means prosperity, uncut noodles represent long life, and
your favorite - black moss seaweed - is a homonym for wealth. Remember?" I nod as I think of the table
laden with food. My stomach suddenly growls and Mom smiles listening to the sound. She looks like she
is ready to get up and leave.

"Wait!" I cry out. "What do the firecrackers and the lion dragon mean?"

"Exploding firecrackers is the act of sending out the old year and welcoming the New Year. The dancing
lions are to scare the evil spirits away. Are you done asking questions? I have to go help cook for
tonight's banquet. Why don't you go and memorize the phrases and happy wishes I taught you so you
can say them to your relatives tonight?" She was already heading out the door.

"Whatever," I mutter and go back to my computer. A few minutes later my brother yells that dinner is
ready and I race downstairs. My eyes grow large and my stomach growls again as I stare at the food.

"Kung hai fat choi, everyone!" I announce. "Kung hai fat choi!" my family replies and soon everyone is
talking at the same time as chopsticks pick at the food. My mom looks over at me and winks. I feel warm
and glowing all over.




3. Deepavali / Diwali
Deepavali is celebrated in Malaysia by Hindus of Indian origin. It is the festival of lights which
symbolise the triumph (great success) of the good over the evil. It usually falls in November
yearly.
Hindus celebrate Deepavali with all the traditional customs. Weeks before the festival, Hindus
start preparing their homes and clean them up for the festival. New curtains are put up and old
furniture replaced. Traditional cakes, sweetmeats, biscuits and a variety of special snacks are
prepared by the womenfolk. New clothes are purchased for the family and everyone is gay and
excited.
Numerous lights are placed outside the home at the entrance, and it is a beautiful sight to behold
in the dark. Early on Deepavali morning, Hindus start the day with a bath and put on fresh, new
clothes. Girls put on new dresses or skirts and blouses while the boys show off their new shirts
and pants. The elder folk visit the temple to offer prayers to God for his mercies and blessings on
the family. They then return home to have a grand breakfast with curry, Indian pancakes, and hot
coffee or tea. This is followed by sweets and delicacies which are laid attractively on the table.
Soon, guests start coming and the 'open house' has become very much a feature of the Malaysian
way of life, a symbol of the warm hospitality of its people. The day ends with children playing
happily with fireworks in the garden.
4. Christmas
Christians all over the world celebrate Christmas in the same way whether they are in Europe
where it is cold or in Africa or South-East Asia where it is hot; the only difference is in the
climate. It is the birthday of Jesus Christ that Christians celebrate on December 25th and the
occasion is, therefore, a very joyous one.
This particular Christmas celebrations is in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Smiths who are Christians
living in Malaysia. They have been in the Far East for ten years now and the rubber plantation
and Mrs. Smith have invited all their friends, Europeans as well as Malaysians to their Christmas
Party.
The house is gaily decorated. Outside, over the doors green leaves are entwined. Traditionally
the evergreen leaf is used : holly, fir and pine but these cannot be found in Malaysia. Inside, too,
all is very gay and bright. Red paper 'chains' or garlands are festooned the electric fans which
would cut them down. Colorful vases of flowers and little bowls of fruit and nuts are placed on
every table. In the far corner of the room is a Christmas tree, the idea of which originally came
from Germany. This tree, standing in a bright red tub, is a local fir and it is decorated with silver
tinsel, miniature crackers, glass balls of many different colors and little pieces of cotton wool
tied on to represent the snow found in the cold countries in winter. On the top, looking down on
the tree with its myriads of tiny fairy lights is a Christmas star -- shining and silvery as the star in
Bethlehem shone once so long ago. Around the red tub at the bottom are many parcels tied up
with bright Christmas wrapping papers and cheerful silver strings. A festoon of gaily colored
balloons hang from the lights and in a far corner is a piece of mistletoe, artificially made.
The Smiths are welcoming their guests : the Browns, the Jones, the Ah Lims and Ah Chuas.
Many friends are arriving by car or on foot. All are in gay party clothes and all bring presents
since Christmas is the time for giving. There are many children here with laughing, smiling faces
for Christmas is a child's festival. Eagerly they rush to the gifts at the base of the Christmas tree
but they are told to wait because the celebration meal must come first.
The dining room table is as attractive as the sitting room. The guests eat the Christmas food
which is eaten everywhere in the world on Christmas day : a huge, golden brown turkey,
surrounded by potatoes stuffed with chestnuts : a 'plum pudding' made with rich fruits, butter and
sugar; its top alight with burning brandy and then, if there is room minced pies, nuts, fruits and
sweets for the children. Wine is drunk and there are speeches wishing everyone 'a happy
Christmas'.
The children have waited long enough for their presents and there is a gift for everyone : a doll
for Ah Lim's baby, a handbag of Mrs. Jones, a book for Ah Chua who reads all the time.
Laughter and thanks fill the room as guests and hosts open the presents they have been given.
The younger people begin to dance and the sounds of the latest 'pop' and 'beat' groups fill the air.
The younger children play with their new toys and shrieks of joy and delight mingle with the
music. The older people rest, chatting quietly. The men walk out into the evening air now
stealing darkly over the silent columns of rubber trees. The sky overhead is bright with stars. As
they stand in the still, tropical, hot night some of them will have thoughts of the countries beyond
the seas where they were born and lived as children. some will have thoughts of the Christmas in
Palestine nearly two thousand years ago. But all of them will have thoughts of this particular
Christmas in Malaysia and, as they turn to wander back to the house the sounds of carols wing
through the air because the young people have taken off the dance records and they are now
joyfully singing the words of one of the most beautiful Christmas songs :-