Chinese New Year – Home away from home
According to the Chinese calendar, this year on the 12th of February the Year of the Ox will begin. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival (春节 chun jie), is one of the most traditional celebrations of the Chinese culture. In China, people have their holidays and they generally celebrate for two weeks. They eat together, honour ancestors, and create some unique shows. All the cities in China and the Chinatowns around the world are full of red decorations and the character of “luck” ( 福fu ) is always hanging on the door. Also, something that cannot be missing is the traditional Dragon Dance and Lion Dance.
This year people have to adapt because of the difficult situation due to Covid-19. Almost all the celebrations have to change this time, and especially this can be harder for Chinese people around the world.
For the new episode of our series “Home away from home”, we had the pleasure to interview Yenle Yuen and Wong Chee How, third generations of Chinese living in Malaysia. There are three great communities in Malaysia: Malaysians, Chinese, and Indians. A great cultural mix.
Yen Le and Chee How were born in Malaysia and they still live there, they are part of the third generation of Chinese people in this country. Their grandparents were from China and they arrived in Malaysia before Independence (31st August 1957).
From tradition to technology
Losing cultural traditions is a common thing in expat communities, especially for new generations. This is the case of Yen Le. She told us that when she physically or virtually travel to China, she can find it hard sometimes to understand the Chinese language. Even when her grandfather from Shanghai talks to her in his native language. On the other side, Yen Le feels an important responsibility in carrying on Chinese cultural traditions also through new generations.
Yen Le used to celebrate New Year in Malaysia with her family, cooking from 6 a.m. all day long and eating together with her relatives. They used to chit chat all night long, play with fire crackles, and so on.
Those traditions are similar in China even if people nowadays like also to play digital games or online activities at home. For example, the most well-known tradition of exchanging Red Pockets (红包Hong Bao) with family and friends has become virtual. People can use WeChat to send them to anyone! These new digital ways to celebrate are becoming even more useful this year as a lot of people won’t be able to travel and join their relatives around the world.
Chee How is also a part of the third generation of Chinese people in this country. He told us about some of the New Year traditions, which still exist in time and space. One of them is the spring cleaning a week before the New Year. Everybody cleans the house, buys flowers, and decorates it with ornaments.
From get-together to distance
This year will be different for all Chinese people around the world and also in China. Not everybody will be able to reunite with all their relatives due to restrictions.
In Malaysia, for example, Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the extension of Malaysia’s national lockdown until 18 February. This is the third extension of the lockdown, which began in some parts of the country and then extended to almost all areas at the end of January especially to prevent people to travel for the Chinese New Year.
Despite the distance, together with Yen Le and Chee How we are happy to wish you 新年快乐, 心想事成! Happy New Year, may all your wishes come true!
Watch the complete video interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp9xlDoxHA8
To discover more about migrant celebrations, have a look at the other blog posts of our series Home Away From Home:
– Diwali in Malta
– Thanksgiving in Germany
– Christmas in Australia