I do not actually "celebrate" Chinese New year, in fact, i spent most of my time during Chinese New Year at home. During Chinese New Year, people typically wear new clothes from head to toe to symbolize a new beginning in the new year. However, i had never once bought any new clothes during Chinese New Year.
In the days before Chinese New Year, it is believed the cleaning sweeps away the bad luck of the preceding year and makes their homes ready for good luck. However, my family does not practice this custom, though we may have done this once or twice, for all i can remember.
As stated in the first paragraph, i spent most of the Chinese New Year at home. However, i do have to go and visit some of my relatives during the first day of Chinese New Year, as it is a time when families visit the oldest and most senior members of their extended family, usually their parents, grandparents or great-grandparents. I also went for some reunion dinner on one of the days of Chinese New Year, though i can't remember which -_-.
Besides visiting my relatives and such, there's nothing else my family and i actually do during Chinese New Year, or rather, nothing else I actually do. I am not very enthusiastic about the events that occur in Chinese New Year. In fact, if given a choice, i would not have went for those reunion dinners and things like that. I feel that the time i spent at home, even if i am not doing something productive, is better spent than the time i spent during reunion dinners and visitation of relatives. The time visiting my relatives totally bored me. Chinese New Year also does not affect my relationship with my family and relatives in ANY way. To sum it up, i do not enjoy Chinese New Year at all.
Julian Cheong (19) 2E4
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
[Part C]
Hari Raya Puasa is celebrated after a month of fasting. On the eve of Hari Raya, Muslims will recite the takbir, which is held in mosques and surau (smaller place of worship). Usually on the eve of the celebrations, family members, especially mothers and housewives, will be busy preparing food, cakes, sweets, biscuits and various delicacies to be served on the day of Hari Raya. It is customary for Malays to wear traditional Malay costumes. Muslims will attend Eid prayer in the morning and consecrate together harmoniously while taking the chance to meet and greet each other.
Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holiday. It is sometimes called the Lunar New Year, especially by people outside China. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th. The Chinese New Year celebrations are marked by visits to kin, relatives and friends, a practice known as "new-year visits". New clothings are usually worn to signify a new year. The colour red is liberally used in all decorations. Red packets are given to juniors and children by the married and elders.
On the days before the New Year celebration Chinese families give their home a thorough cleaning but the practice is not usually restricted on the 28th day of month 12 (Chinese Calendar). It is believed the cleaning sweeps away the bad luck of the preceding year and makes their homes ready for good luck. Most importantly, the first day of Chinese New Year is a time when families visit the oldest and most senior members of their extended family, usually their parents, grandparents or great-grandparents.
In our opinion, these two festivals are almost the same. Although the purpose of these festivals is different, the way we celebrate these festivals are almost the same. In both celebrations, we visit our elderly and relatives. In these celebrations, young children are given money by the elderly or married people. In our opinion, these celebrations can strengthen the family bond.
Hari Raya Puasa is celebrated after a month of fasting. On the eve of Hari Raya, Muslims will recite the takbir, which is held in mosques and surau (smaller place of worship). Usually on the eve of the celebrations, family members, especially mothers and housewives, will be busy preparing food, cakes, sweets, biscuits and various delicacies to be served on the day of Hari Raya. It is customary for Malays to wear traditional Malay costumes. Muslims will attend Eid prayer in the morning and consecrate together harmoniously while taking the chance to meet and greet each other.
Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holiday. It is sometimes called the Lunar New Year, especially by people outside China. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th. The Chinese New Year celebrations are marked by visits to kin, relatives and friends, a practice known as "new-year visits". New clothings are usually worn to signify a new year. The colour red is liberally used in all decorations. Red packets are given to juniors and children by the married and elders.
On the days before the New Year celebration Chinese families give their home a thorough cleaning but the practice is not usually restricted on the 28th day of month 12 (Chinese Calendar). It is believed the cleaning sweeps away the bad luck of the preceding year and makes their homes ready for good luck. Most importantly, the first day of Chinese New Year is a time when families visit the oldest and most senior members of their extended family, usually their parents, grandparents or great-grandparents.
In our opinion, these two festivals are almost the same. Although the purpose of these festivals is different, the way we celebrate these festivals are almost the same. In both celebrations, we visit our elderly and relatives. In these celebrations, young children are given money by the elderly or married people. In our opinion, these celebrations can strengthen the family bond.
Difference in Christmas/Easter and Chinese New Year
My family celebrates Chinese New Year in a different way from how Jess and his family celebrated Chirstmas and Easter. People who are not married in my family receive red packets during Chinese New Year while Jess and his family receive presents from others.
My family goes to a temple in Toa Payoh to pray to our ancestors while Jess goes to church on Christmas.
Christmas and Easter are a one day celebration while Chinese New Year last fifteen days.
However, all three celebrations, Chinese New Year, Christmas and Easter are meant for families and relatives to catch up with one another. It helps us understand each other better.
Name: Choon Wang
Class: 2e4
Reg. no.: 31
My family celebrates Chinese New Year in a different way from how Jess and his family celebrated Chirstmas and Easter. People who are not married in my family receive red packets during Chinese New Year while Jess and his family receive presents from others.
My family goes to a temple in Toa Payoh to pray to our ancestors while Jess goes to church on Christmas.
Christmas and Easter are a one day celebration while Chinese New Year last fifteen days.
However, all three celebrations, Chinese New Year, Christmas and Easter are meant for families and relatives to catch up with one another. It helps us understand each other better.
Name: Choon Wang
Class: 2e4
Reg. no.: 31
[Part B]
The festivals that Jess experienced with his family is totally different from what I celebrate with my family . Jess celebrates Christmas and Easter while my family and I celebrate Hari Raya Haji and Hari Raya Puasa .
For Christmas, presents are recieved but for Hari Raya Puasa, the younger generation will usually get money given by thier older relatives . For Easter, Jess's family goes to church but for Hari Raya Haji and Hari Raya Puasa , we will go to the mosque . Unlike Christmas or Easter, we celebrate Hari Raya Puasa for almost a month and before we even celebrate Hari Raya Puasa, we have to fast ( puasa in malay, hence the name Hari Raya Puasa ) for a month . This month is called Ramadan .
What Jess's family celebrates and what my family celebrates are different but similair in one way . These festivals bond the family together and make us feel happy. For my family, these festivals is meant for strengthening relationships and bonds with our family and relatives. Not only that, we seek for forgiveness and realise what we have did wrong. And also Repent (:
The festivals that Jess experienced with his family is totally different from what I celebrate with my family . Jess celebrates Christmas and Easter while my family and I celebrate Hari Raya Haji and Hari Raya Puasa .
For Christmas, presents are recieved but for Hari Raya Puasa, the younger generation will usually get money given by thier older relatives . For Easter, Jess's family goes to church but for Hari Raya Haji and Hari Raya Puasa , we will go to the mosque . Unlike Christmas or Easter, we celebrate Hari Raya Puasa for almost a month and before we even celebrate Hari Raya Puasa, we have to fast ( puasa in malay, hence the name Hari Raya Puasa ) for a month . This month is called Ramadan .
What Jess's family celebrates and what my family celebrates are different but similair in one way . These festivals bond the family together and make us feel happy. For my family, these festivals is meant for strengthening relationships and bonds with our family and relatives. Not only that, we seek for forgiveness and realise what we have did wrong. And also Repent (:
Chinese New Year
My family started to prepare for Chinese new year at about a week or two before the actual celebration. We started out by cleaning up the house and getting rid of those unwanted stuff. It is a tradition that we do that as my parents say that it gets rid of the bad luck and invites fortune to our house.
Next, we went for a shopping spree for new clothing and furniture. It is said that you will come to have a fresh new life after Chinese new year. On the eve of Chinese new year, all my paternal aunts and uncles went to my paternal grandparents house to have a gathering dinner,which is also known as reunion dinner.
On the first day of Chinese new year, my brother and I first wish our parents happy Chinese new year and then get our red packet. Then we dressed up in new clothing's and went to visit our grandparents' house. We presented two oranges with both hands and they gave us red packets. In the night, all the relatives would go to their friends' or other relatives' houses to catch up with one another.
It was a little different on the second day. My family went to my grandparents' house again. There, we met more relatives, therefore me and my brother received more red packets. However, many of us did not stay for dinner, including my family, as we had a big lunch.
Most people do not go and visit others on the third day of Chinese new year. It is considered as bad luck. Chinese new year last for about fifteen days and you are not allowed to open your red packet until the last day.
What I am most happy about is I get to see the relatives that I don't meet for a year. We chat about school life, and the other cousins talked about army life.
Name: Choon Wang
Class: 2e4
Reg. No.: 31
My family started to prepare for Chinese new year at about a week or two before the actual celebration. We started out by cleaning up the house and getting rid of those unwanted stuff. It is a tradition that we do that as my parents say that it gets rid of the bad luck and invites fortune to our house.
Next, we went for a shopping spree for new clothing and furniture. It is said that you will come to have a fresh new life after Chinese new year. On the eve of Chinese new year, all my paternal aunts and uncles went to my paternal grandparents house to have a gathering dinner,which is also known as reunion dinner.
On the first day of Chinese new year, my brother and I first wish our parents happy Chinese new year and then get our red packet. Then we dressed up in new clothing's and went to visit our grandparents' house. We presented two oranges with both hands and they gave us red packets. In the night, all the relatives would go to their friends' or other relatives' houses to catch up with one another.
It was a little different on the second day. My family went to my grandparents' house again. There, we met more relatives, therefore me and my brother received more red packets. However, many of us did not stay for dinner, including my family, as we had a big lunch.
Most people do not go and visit others on the third day of Chinese new year. It is considered as bad luck. Chinese new year last for about fifteen days and you are not allowed to open your red packet until the last day.
What I am most happy about is I get to see the relatives that I don't meet for a year. We chat about school life, and the other cousins talked about army life.
Name: Choon Wang
Class: 2e4
Reg. No.: 31
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI
Hari Raya Aidilfitri (also Hari Raya Puasa, literally "Celebration Day of Fasting") is the Malay term for the Muslim festival of Eid ul-Fitr. Hari Raya is also known as Lebaran. Muslims in Malaysia and Singapore celebrate Eid like other Muslims throughout the world. The term "Hari Raya" literally means "Day of Celebration" — it is also occasionally used to refer to Eid ul-Adha in the form of "Hari Raya Aidiladha". The main greeting used by Muslims in Malaysia and Singapore is "Selamat Hari Raya" which means "Happy Eid" in Malay. Another greeting is "maaf zahir dan batin" which translates loosely to "I seek forgiveness (from you) physically and spiritually", for Hari Raya is a time to reconcile and renew relationships with others.
FASTING
During the Muslim month of Ramadan leading up to Hari Raya, it is mandatory for Muslims to fast from dawn to dusk. All Muslims except the young, old or infirm must fast. Many Muslims also abstain from pleasures such as cigarettes during the daylight of the fasting month.
Widely, markets, or 'Ramadan bazaars' are held in many areas around the country, where all sorts of food and kuih — traditional Malay delicacies — are sold for breaking fast or buka puasa. Hotels and restaurants have also exploited this situation to offer exorbitant Ramadan buffets. This practice of overindulging has been criticised by Muslim clerics, notably the mufti of the state of Kelantan.
Widely, markets, or 'Ramadan bazaars' are held in many areas around the country, where all sorts of food and kuih — traditional Malay delicacies — are sold for breaking fast or buka puasa. Hotels and restaurants have also exploited this situation to offer exorbitant Ramadan buffets. This practice of overindulging has been criticised by Muslim clerics, notably the mufti of the state of Kelantan.
PREPARATION
On the eve of Hari Raya, Muslims will recite the takbir, which is held in mosques and surau (smaller place of worship). In some communities, there will be congregations reciting the takbir from house to house.
In big cities and towns, shopping malls and commercial centres will hold big promotions and price discounts for festive shoppers as people purchase clothes and supplies. Decorations are hung in public areas and Hari Raya songs will be played in shopping complexes. The media, such as the television will host various programs in conjunction with the celebrations.
Many people also traditionally return to their hometown generally from big metropolitan cities to rural areas. This is known as balik kampung — literally going back to one's home town to celebrate Hari Raya with family and friends. At many times, the flux of vehicles on the roads nationwide increased the number of car accidents, including deadly ones, occurring during the festive season. Road safety campaigns are often launched by the authorities ahead of the festivities in the effort of lowering the discomforting number of accidents.
In big cities and towns, shopping malls and commercial centres will hold big promotions and price discounts for festive shoppers as people purchase clothes and supplies. Decorations are hung in public areas and Hari Raya songs will be played in shopping complexes. The media, such as the television will host various programs in conjunction with the celebrations.
Many people also traditionally return to their hometown generally from big metropolitan cities to rural areas. This is known as balik kampung — literally going back to one's home town to celebrate Hari Raya with family and friends. At many times, the flux of vehicles on the roads nationwide increased the number of car accidents, including deadly ones, occurring during the festive season. Road safety campaigns are often launched by the authorities ahead of the festivities in the effort of lowering the discomforting number of accidents.
CELEBRATING
Usually on the eve of the celebrations, family members, especially mothers and housewives, will be busy preparing food, cakes, sweets, biscuits and various delicacies to be served on the day of Hari Raya. Delicacies such as ketupat or rice cake and a meat cuisine called rendang are among the most famous cuisines that are served during this day. Other family members will help in other chores such as decorating and cleaning up the house.
Days before Hari Raya, house compounds, particularly those in the countryside will be lit up with oil lamps known as pelita or panjut. This display of oil lamps will reach its height on the 27th night of Ramadan, called the Tujuh Likur night. 'Likur' literally meaning a figure between 20 and 30, hence 'tujuh likur' means twenty seven. Originally during the early days of the arrival of Islam among the Malays, the purpose of lighting the oil lamps was to attract spirits and angels to descend to people's homes during the night of Lailatulqadar. However after ages has passed, such misconception is regarded counterfactual as much understanding of Islam were obtained. Nowadays the oil lamps are lit solely for decorational purposes.
It is customary for Malays to wear traditional Malay costumes. The dress for men is called baju Melayu while the women's are known as baju kurung and baju kebaya. Traditional textiles such as songket and batik are worn favourably during this day.
Muslims will attend Eid prayer in the morning and consecrate together harmoniously while taking the chance to meet and greet each other. Once the prayer is done, it is also common for Muslims in Malaysia to visit the grave of their loved ones. During this visit, they will clean the grave, perform the recital of the Yasin — a chapter (surah) from the Qur'an and also the tahlil or prayers for the deceased. All these are done in hope that their loved ones are blessed by God and they are spared from the punishment in the grave.
The rest of the day is spent visiting relatives or serving visitors. Hari Raya is a very joyous day for children for this is the day where adults are extra generous. Children will be given token sums of money, also known as duit raya from their parents and elders.
During the night, there are often celebrations with sparklers and firecrackers, albeit restrictions on playing firecrackers enforced by the authorities. Most firecracker stocks are purchased and smuggled illegally from black markets. Safety issues, especially among children are raised and alarming cases relating to injuries caused by playing firecrackers are often reported, which initially led to the banning of playing firecrackers. Despite of the enforcement of banning firecrackers, more Malay children turn to home-made firecrackers such as meriam buluh (bamboo cannon) as alternatives to commercial fireworks. Usually the lighting of firecrackers begins a few days before the end of Ramadan, and continues for about a week afterwards.
Days before Hari Raya, house compounds, particularly those in the countryside will be lit up with oil lamps known as pelita or panjut. This display of oil lamps will reach its height on the 27th night of Ramadan, called the Tujuh Likur night. 'Likur' literally meaning a figure between 20 and 30, hence 'tujuh likur' means twenty seven. Originally during the early days of the arrival of Islam among the Malays, the purpose of lighting the oil lamps was to attract spirits and angels to descend to people's homes during the night of Lailatulqadar. However after ages has passed, such misconception is regarded counterfactual as much understanding of Islam were obtained. Nowadays the oil lamps are lit solely for decorational purposes.
It is customary for Malays to wear traditional Malay costumes. The dress for men is called baju Melayu while the women's are known as baju kurung and baju kebaya. Traditional textiles such as songket and batik are worn favourably during this day.
Muslims will attend Eid prayer in the morning and consecrate together harmoniously while taking the chance to meet and greet each other. Once the prayer is done, it is also common for Muslims in Malaysia to visit the grave of their loved ones. During this visit, they will clean the grave, perform the recital of the Yasin — a chapter (surah) from the Qur'an and also the tahlil or prayers for the deceased. All these are done in hope that their loved ones are blessed by God and they are spared from the punishment in the grave.
The rest of the day is spent visiting relatives or serving visitors. Hari Raya is a very joyous day for children for this is the day where adults are extra generous. Children will be given token sums of money, also known as duit raya from their parents and elders.
During the night, there are often celebrations with sparklers and firecrackers, albeit restrictions on playing firecrackers enforced by the authorities. Most firecracker stocks are purchased and smuggled illegally from black markets. Safety issues, especially among children are raised and alarming cases relating to injuries caused by playing firecrackers are often reported, which initially led to the banning of playing firecrackers. Despite of the enforcement of banning firecrackers, more Malay children turn to home-made firecrackers such as meriam buluh (bamboo cannon) as alternatives to commercial fireworks. Usually the lighting of firecrackers begins a few days before the end of Ramadan, and continues for about a week afterwards.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
[Part A]
On the every month of Syawal in the muslim calender, all muslims throughout the world celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri which is also known as Hari Raya Puasa. But before we celebrate this joyful festival, we have to fast for one month which is called the month of Ramadhan. We have to survive a day, from dawn to dusk, without eating or drinking. During this month too, we have to refrain ourselves from behaving badly, such as using vulgarities etc.
During the eve of this festival, my mum, and my maid will begin to prepare the dishes for the next day as my paternal relatives will be coming to visit my grandmother who is staying at my house. It is customary for the relatives to visit the older family members first, which in this case is my grandmother. Anyway, the dishes are Rendang, Lontong, Sambal goreng and etc. On the next morning, we are to go to the mosque to do our prayers whuch will probably start around 8.15 and end around 9.30 or so. After that, we return home and we will get ready; putting on our Baju Kurung! (: Every year its a different colour as suggested by my relatives in my maternal side. From 10.30am onwards, relatives from my paternal side will start visiting. Also, it is tradition that the older generation and/or the people who have worked, should give the younger generation money. So i am proud to say that i am one of those who gets the money (: Before each family leaves, we will go up to each person seeking for forgiveness. Usually the younger ones will seek to the older ones first.
At noon or at about 1pm, me, my mum and my two younger siblings will head to my maternal great-grandfather's house. Upon reaching there, my other relatives would have reached there already and we would join them while they are eating, talking or playing (for the younger generation). After everyone has arrived, we would all line up to seek forgiveness from the older generation - from my great-grandfather to the first generation, second generation and then third generation, where i fall in to. But usually, us third generation people will be blur. (: After all the crying and "drama", the third generation and some of the second generation people will be distributed with the Hari Raya money. I would always get more as i am the oldest of the third generation. Hehe (: Then comes the best part, the phototaking session! It is a tradition for my family to take photos for every joyful event that we celebrate. We would spent about and hour or more just taking pictures and chilling out, talking about the latest news/gossips etc. But the most important part is that we bond. (:
After all these, my family along with my grandparents(mum's parents) and aunt(mum's sis), we would head to their house as there would be more people coming - relatives from my grandfather's side. Meaning i would meet up with my dear cousins who are older than me. (: I would spent most of the time there not helping my mum and aunt prepare the food but instead chit-chatting with my cousins which i seldom get to meet. Its all for a good cause right? (: Anyway, the same things would happen here like seeking for forgiveness, phototaking sessions and of course getting of the "duit raya"! (:
But i think the most important thing of Hari Raya Aidilfitri is the bonding spirit we have with our family and relatives. To me, strong family relationships are important as without family, we would not be who we are now. Eventhough we argue, we would still be able to work it out in the end and this is the uniqueness of a strong family relationship. I am very greatful that i have wonderful family memebers and relatives who will support me and i have my back, and i know they have mine too. I respect and cherish my family relationship, and i think it is the number one thing everyone has to treasure! :D
And these are two pictures of my maternal relatives (:
second and third generations
my family - without my uncle and two other cousins (:
On the every month of Syawal in the muslim calender, all muslims throughout the world celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri which is also known as Hari Raya Puasa. But before we celebrate this joyful festival, we have to fast for one month which is called the month of Ramadhan. We have to survive a day, from dawn to dusk, without eating or drinking. During this month too, we have to refrain ourselves from behaving badly, such as using vulgarities etc.
During the eve of this festival, my mum, and my maid will begin to prepare the dishes for the next day as my paternal relatives will be coming to visit my grandmother who is staying at my house. It is customary for the relatives to visit the older family members first, which in this case is my grandmother. Anyway, the dishes are Rendang, Lontong, Sambal goreng and etc. On the next morning, we are to go to the mosque to do our prayers whuch will probably start around 8.15 and end around 9.30 or so. After that, we return home and we will get ready; putting on our Baju Kurung! (: Every year its a different colour as suggested by my relatives in my maternal side. From 10.30am onwards, relatives from my paternal side will start visiting. Also, it is tradition that the older generation and/or the people who have worked, should give the younger generation money. So i am proud to say that i am one of those who gets the money (: Before each family leaves, we will go up to each person seeking for forgiveness. Usually the younger ones will seek to the older ones first.
At noon or at about 1pm, me, my mum and my two younger siblings will head to my maternal great-grandfather's house. Upon reaching there, my other relatives would have reached there already and we would join them while they are eating, talking or playing (for the younger generation). After everyone has arrived, we would all line up to seek forgiveness from the older generation - from my great-grandfather to the first generation, second generation and then third generation, where i fall in to. But usually, us third generation people will be blur. (: After all the crying and "drama", the third generation and some of the second generation people will be distributed with the Hari Raya money. I would always get more as i am the oldest of the third generation. Hehe (: Then comes the best part, the phototaking session! It is a tradition for my family to take photos for every joyful event that we celebrate. We would spent about and hour or more just taking pictures and chilling out, talking about the latest news/gossips etc. But the most important part is that we bond. (:
After all these, my family along with my grandparents(mum's parents) and aunt(mum's sis), we would head to their house as there would be more people coming - relatives from my grandfather's side. Meaning i would meet up with my dear cousins who are older than me. (: I would spent most of the time there not helping my mum and aunt prepare the food but instead chit-chatting with my cousins which i seldom get to meet. Its all for a good cause right? (: Anyway, the same things would happen here like seeking for forgiveness, phototaking sessions and of course getting of the "duit raya"! (:
But i think the most important thing of Hari Raya Aidilfitri is the bonding spirit we have with our family and relatives. To me, strong family relationships are important as without family, we would not be who we are now. Eventhough we argue, we would still be able to work it out in the end and this is the uniqueness of a strong family relationship. I am very greatful that i have wonderful family memebers and relatives who will support me and i have my back, and i know they have mine too. I respect and cherish my family relationship, and i think it is the number one thing everyone has to treasure! :D
And these are two pictures of my maternal relatives (:
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