Indonesia
Imlek Traditions
First day of the first month of year 2566, Chinese people are celebrating the new year, Imlek. This year with goat zodiac. What is Imlek?
Sin Cia or Imlek is just like the new year or Hijra for moslem. Imlek is Chinese New Year, celebrated by Chinese people.
The word imlek is derived from im = month, lek = date, from Hokkian dialect or Yu Li in Mandarin which means lunar almanac (lunar new year). According to the history, Sin Cia is the celebration performed by farmers in China that usually falls on the first day of the first month of the year.
This celebration is closely related with the party to welcome the spring. Imlek celebration begins on the 30th of the 12th month and ends on the 15th of the first month, known as the Cap Go Meh. Imlek celebration includes prayer to the Creator/Thian and Cap Go Meh.
And there are a number of traditions to do before and during imlek for those who celebrate it:
1. Home sweeping
A day before imlek, those who celebrate it would sweep the house as a symbol of removing all bad luck, making enough room for fortune.
2. All red
Red is associated with Chinese new year because it is believed as the color nian afraid of. In Chinese myth, nian is the beast dwells in the ocean floor or in the mountain. Once a while in the spring or around Imlek, the beast would come out to harm human, especially kids.
3. Filling ang pao
Older people use to give ang pao money to children. It doesn’t have to be much, but they are new bills.
4. The tray of togetherness
On Imlek they use to serve food on a round or octagonal tray, which is referred to as the tray of togetherness. The tray contains: candy, nuts, seeds, or dried fruits.
5. Good fortune foods
There are good fortune foods such as uncut noodles, representing longevity. There are also dumplings resemble ancient Chinese money representing wealth.
6. Fireworks
Fireworks are among the most popular shows for Imlek, because the loud noise is believed to scare evil creatures away.
7. Rain
Imlek is also very identical with rain. For Chinese, the rain throughout imlek is believed to be the source of sustenance. With the rain fall, more bless is coming to earth.
Gong xi fat chai!
NURUL L. IRFAN
DESIGN: CAECILIA SANDY
