This topic took me by surprise. I never quite realised the existence of this category.
Since I myself am a Malaysian bred and born, I think I am qualified to write this review!!
There are lots and lots of festivals in Malaysia, because of the multi racial people. festivals=holidays, so, lots of festivals=malaysia=lots of holidays.
Basically, there are 4 main celebrations that is Hari Raya (EID), Diwali and Chinese New Year, Christmas
Lets start at the begining of the year, where there is new year. though it is worldwide and not Malaysian in particular, I just decided to give it a mention.
Then, we have Hari Raya Haji celebrated by the Muslims..
Around a week after that, we have our Thaipusam celebrations for the Hindus. You can see people carrying kavadis on the road and usually, roads will be congested. (more than usual) During Thaipusam, Batu Caves is one of the main spots and it will be crowded, I tell you. I mean, jam packed to the fullest.
Then, in the beginning of February, we have Chinese New Year. The Chinese have all sorts of taboos. Firstly, you can’t sweep the house on Chinese New Year because it is considered as sweeping out good luck. Then, it is auspicious to wear red on that day. Some Chinese follow this obsessively wearing all red. I mean, ALL red. A lot of Mandarin Oranges are sold during this season. Money is given by the older generation to the younger in red packets. It is called ’’angpau’’.
The name ’’angpau’’ is used throughout the year, not just chinese new year. Like, during deepavali, its common to refer to these hard, cold, irresistible cash in paper packets as ’’deepavali angpau’’.
Next is Wesak Day. The Chinese who are Buddhists go to the wat to pray. A ’wat’ is a kind of temple.
Somewhere in the year (I am not too sure when), we have the Tanglung Festival. A Chinese thing, though when I was younger, I used to play tanglung too. Tanglung is a kind of lantern, which comes in many shapes like rabbits, foxes. It is coloured and it is made of wires and a kind of paper. Its a lantern. (am I repeating myself?)
Oh yes, how could I forget the Hungry Ghost Festival. This is interesting, I tell you. I once got my Chinese friend, Charles to explain about it to me. It lasts for a month. The chinese belive that during this period the gates of hell are open. So they have to make offerings to appease the ghosts. They offer material stuff like money. NO, don’t freak out, not real money. They offer silver paper to the dead that is supposed to represent money. They also offer paper clothes to represent clothes
, and some even take it one step further and offer cars by burning paper models of cars!! Every night, at some places, there will be looud LOUD singing, usually Chinese operas.. Something about keeping the ghosts away.. Or is it keeping the ghosts happy? I’m not to sure. Hmm, I really should check it up..
Anyway, during this time, you can get mooncakes.. yum... they are DELICIOUS!! Simply wonderful to savour... Mooncakes are this kind of food. They are round, about 3 inches wide, half an inch thick. It is brown on the outside with elaborate designs on top. Inside, it is completely filled. Different types of mooncakes have different fillings. There is red bean, egg-and-pandan, and lots of others.
Next in November is Diwali.. Lots of ppl in Mouthshut already celebrate Diwali so you know what its all about.. It is more also known as Deepavali..
This year, Diwali was just 2 days apart from Hari Raya.
Hari raya is the Malay name, you probably know it as Eid. So, there were lots and lots of cute advertisements and such on tv celebratin DEEPARAYA.. Cool, huh?
DEEPAvali + hari RAYA=DEEPARAYA..
So, coz of Ramadan month, there were lots and lots of Ramadan Bazaars at night selling food I can get only during Ramadan like ’’murtabaks’’.. Ramadan bazzars patronised by all races..
And then later in the year, we have Christmas.
The typical Christmas, not too much of cultural mix here..
You see? We have so many different things throughout the year and so many different reasons to give angpau to each other. :D .. Great way for the young(like me)to make money..
One thing I noticed is how all the different cultures in Malaysia has invariably mixed. Nothing is original on its own instead its like all the cultures have been blended together to form what is ’’Malaysian’’.
And then there are the few slightly mixed religious practises. For example, you might see a Chinese in a Hindu temple and you might see an Indian in the Siamese wat (temple) on Wesak Day.
One can’t say binge during festivals thinking that its only once a year because fests are THROUGHOUT the year!!
Have I mentioned, food is like among the most important parts of the Malaysian life?
I mean, we get indian food, chinese food, malay food and some mixed identity malaysian food!! Malaysian’s have this slight obsession to hanging around ’’mamak stalls’’- open air food stalls. Among food that are uniquely Malaysian are rojak, cendol, nasi lemak
Writing this review is making me hungry.
Where was I? Ah yes, food. Nasi lemak is Malay food but there are chinese selling it and so on. As I have said like a million times before, cultural mix..
I will be waiting for your comments.