Celebrating Chinese New Year in Malaysia
Chinese Lunar New Year is a significant festival for Chinese communities worldwide. You can witness the pomp and show of Chinese New Year across South East Asia including China, Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Japan, Mongolia, etc. This year, people are relieved that there are relaxations on the restrictions, allowing them to enjoy the festivities after a long time.
When is CNY 2025?
The auspicious date for CNY 2025 is Wednesday, January 29, 2025. To accommodate the festivities, the Malaysian government has declared a public holiday on this day.
History and Significance of Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is a festival very much like the new year as per the Georgian Calendar. The date for the Lunar New year was fixed on the first day of the first Lunar month by the Han Dynasty. Though there is no specific date to signify the commencement of the celebrations, it is estimated that it began around 3500 years back during the Shang Dynasty.
The history and traditions of the Chinese New Year are full of legends and myths. One of the interesting legends is that a monster known as Nian (means ‘Year’), who used to trouble people during this time of the year, was afraid of bright lights, loud noises and red colour. So people tend to bring out all these together to shoo it away. It later became a tradition, and thus the festival came into existence. The Chinese New Year marks the transit between zodiac signs with 2024 being the Year of the Dragon!
You will see plenty of red banners all across the areas with Chinese communities during this time with beautiful lanterns and firecrackers.
Highlights of Celebrations in Malaysia
As you may know, Malaysia has a large Chinese population, and thus the Lunar New Year is a national festival here. Celebrations take place in full swing at all the major cities in Malaysia like Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands, Malacca, Penang, etc. The areas are decorated as per the theme.
The celebrations in Malaysia start on the eve of the New Year when families gather to exchange wishes and love. They welcome others into their clean and decorated homes wearing new clothes. A grand dinner is prepared to welcome a new beginning with special dishes.
One of the important dishes is Yee Sang. While consuming this delicacy, people have to use their chopsticks and toss their salad high up in the air. It is said that the higher the toss, the luckier the tosser will be in the coming year.
The 9th day of the year is marked as the birthday of the Jade Emperor. Another significant day of the 15-day celebration is the 14th day- Chap Goh Mei. On this day, single women throw mandarins with their phone numbers out into the sea to find their husbands among the ones who collect these oranges on boats.
How will the Chinese New Year celebrated in 2025?
People are eagerly waiting for this festival this year. As each Chinese year signifies a specific zodiac sign, 2025 is the Year of the Snake.
In 2024, the Chinese New Year will be observed with time-honored customs and festivities spanning 15 days, extending to 16 if New Year’s Eve is included. The celebratory mood sets in well before the actual dates, starting with the traditional winter cleaning. This ritual involves discarding old items, symbolizing the end of the old year and making way for new beginnings. Shopping then takes center stage, with families buying new clothes, decorative items, and firecrackers to welcome the new year in style.
As the main event approaches, households are adorned with festive decorations, completing the preparations and setting the stage for joyous celebrations. The actual days of the Chinese New Year are marked by people greeting each other with well-wishes and donning new attire as a sign of renewal. A particularly cherished tradition involves the giving of red envelopes, known as ‘Lucky Money,’ to children. These envelopes, believed to bring good fortune, are a gesture of love and blessings.
The festivities are further enhanced with vibrant cultural activities like the dragon dance and spectacular fireworks displays, each adding to the grandeur and excitement of the Chinese New Year celebrations. These elements come together to create a festive atmosphere filled with joy, hope, and the spirit of renewal that characterizes the Chinese New Year.
There will be visiting families, friends, and relatives for the next few days. On day 8, people usually go back to work as the number 8 is deemed lucky. It is also the day to start new businesses.
Where does the celebrations take place in Malaysia?
The major celebrations in Malaysia take place in Chinatown as well as the Old Klang Road of Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands, Georgetown in Penang. Malacca and Kuching are the other two important cities to visit during this festival time.
Chinatown is completely decked up for the festival, with dragon dances happening on the streets and inside the malls. The Kek Lok Si temple in Penang is one of the famous temples people visit on New Year.
How to reach the festival locations by bus?
Malaysia has a well developed public transportation system to help people travel from one location to another. One can reach any destination by bus. Buses are available to and from Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Ipoh, Penang to all major cities across Malaysia.
People can book bus tickets online easily to go to any part of the country. Transtar Travel is a popular bus service provider that offers cross-border buses from Malaysia and Singapore. Best of all, you can save so much more on bus tickets when you book a bus from KL to Singapore, bus from KL to Penang to witness the celebrations away from home!
Currently, fully vaccinated citizens are allowed to travel. There are plenty of direct and night buses (buses operating from 6 pm to 12 am) for various routes.
Conclusion
Over the years, Chinese New Year has seen several changes in the celebrations, but the old traditions are still maintained. The festival is known as the Spring Festival in Mainland China. It is celebrated as Chinese New year in other countries, including Malaysia. It is a colourful and bright festival believed to bring luck and prosperity.
To know about booking buses online in Malay, please visit – Tiket Bas Online
You may be interested in reading – Thaipusam – All You Need to Know
Chinese New Year in 2025 will fall on January 29th marking the beginning of the Year of the Snake. Snake is one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac cycle. The celebration traditionally lasts for 15 days, concluding with the Lantern Festival.
Yes, there will be school holidays in Malaysia for Chinese New Year 2025. Typically, the Ministry of Education Malaysia schedules school holidays around significant festivals, including Chinese New Year. Schools usually close for at least two days during the festival – the first and the second day of the Lunar New Year.
Yes, Chinese New Year is a public holiday in Malaysia. In 2025, the public holidays for Chinese New Year are expected to be on 29th and 30th of January. Given that the festival starts on Wednesday and thursday, there’s a possibility of a long weekend for Malaysians to celebrate.
CNY stands for Chinese New Year, which is one of the most significant and widely celebrated festivals in Malaysia. The festival is known for its vibrant celebrations, including family reunions, traditional feasts, lion dances, fireworks, and the giving of red envelopes (ang pao) containing money. It’s a time that brings together not just the Chinese community but is celebrated across the multicultural tapestry of Malaysia, showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage and unity.
The 15th day of Chinese New Year, also known as Chap Goh Mei, falls on February 12, 2024. This day marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations and is often referred to as the Chinese Valentine’s Day in Malaysia. Traditionally, Chap Goh Mei is celebrated with lantern displays, fireworks, and sometimes, the practice of young women throwing mandarin oranges into rivers while wishing for a good spouse.
Chinese New Year officially starts with the new moon that appears between January 21 and February 20 each year. Lunar new year celebrations continue for 15 days, culminating in the Chap Goh Mei festival. The start and end times of the celebrations on the first and last days can vary by community and household, but festivities like the reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve typically begin in the evening.
During Chinese New Year 2025 in Malaysia, there are several vibrant places to visit to soak in the festive atmosphere:nd cultural performances.
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