The Meanings Of Imlek For The Society Of Chinese In Medan
2. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF IMLEK
2.1 History of Imlek
Imlek or Sin Tjia is a celebration of tradition in Chinese farmers who
usually falls on the first day of the first month at the beginning of the New Year.
This celebration is also associated with a party of farmers to welcome
spring. The celebrations began on the 30th of the 12th month and ends on the 15th
of the first month.
Lunar program included prayer, a prayer to the Creator, and the
celebration of Cap Go Meh. The purpose of this worship is as a form of
thanksgiving and prayer in the hope that next year gets more sustenance, to
entertain the ancestors, and as a means of gathering with relatives and neighbors.
According to tales and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year
started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nian. Nian would come
on the first day of New Year to eat livestock, crops, and even villagers, especially
children. To protect themselves, the villagers would put food in front of their
doors at the beginning of every year. It was believed that after the Nian ate the
food they prepared, it wouldn't attack any more people. One day people saw that
the Nian was scared away by a little child wearing red. The villagers then
understood that the Nian was afraid of the color red. Time when the New Year
was about to come, the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls
on windows and doors. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nian.
From then on, Nian never came to the village again. The Nian was eventually
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captured by Hongjun Laozu, an ancient Taoist monk. The Nian became Hongjun
Laozu's mount.
In Indonesia, Imlek actually has nothing to do with the celebration of
spring. Since the first Chinese community knows only as the Imlek Chinese new
year. For the Chinese New Year Chinese society closely associated with New
Year prayer, worship God, to pray in the Vihara, new clothes, a good meal with
family, paycia, angpao, Barongsay, firecrackers, following cap go meh and
mutual Tepekong.
Chinese New Year celebrations in Indonesia actually been done since the
Dutch colonial era until the time of president Sukarno. However, the Suharto
government, then banned the celebration of Imlek with the issuance of
Presidential Decree No.14/1967, precisely on December 6, 1967. In Presidential
Instruction, determined that all rituals, beliefs and customs of the Chinese only be
celebrated in the family and in a closed room. Thus, all matters relating thereto,
including Barongsay, and Cap Go Meh.
Cap Go Meh is a celebration of the 15th night after the Imlek New Year,
which this year falls on February 17, 2011. Cap Go Meh began to be celebrated
in Indonesia since the 17th century, when there was a great migration of southern
China.
Cap-Meh-Go is actually a Hokkien term, which means "the night 15." In
mainland China itself, called Xiau Yuan Jie in Mandarin, which means the first
month of the festival night. In the first days of the Han dynasty (202 BC - 220),
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on the eve of the Cap Go Meh, usually the emperor's own special out of the
palace to celebrate with the people.
Every culture has always had a tradition of origin. One version of the
origin of Cap Go Meh occurs at the time of the Zhou dynasty (770-256 BC).
Every evening the 15th of the first month after the Chinese New Year, the
farmers put up the lanterns called Chau Can Tian around the fields to repel pests
and frighten the animals plant destroyer. When the goal put the lanterns is to
repel pests. But today it became a tradition featuring a beautiful landscape in the
evening of the first 15 months.
When it is to frighten or repel the animals wrecking crops, in addition to
installing lanterns, they add all the sounds and playing Barongsai, to be more
crowded and beneficial to farmers. Beliefs and cultural traditions from one
generation to continue, both in mainland China and overseas throughout the
world.
While in Indonesia, in addition there are events around the parade
procession, there is another characteristic, namely the cap go meh food rice cake,
which is particularly abundant in the Java community. Cap go meh rice cake
consists of various types of food, ie, opportunistic, plus rice cakes and soy
powder.
Cap Go Meh title itself is more popular in Indonesia than in any other
place in the world. Cap Go Meh was actually a misguided naming which may
have been hundreds of years to become true because of tradition. Cap Go Meh
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means "night to 15" which is the 15th of the first month, which is called in the
dialect of Hokkien "cia gwee cap go".
This celebration is the culmination of a series of celebrations at the same
time cover the Imlek New Year celebration. In Indonesia alone, since the first one
is more familiar with the term Cap Go Meh than another term although in the
original version.
2.2 Traditional Foods
More food is consumed by Indonesian Chinese families during the New
Year celebration than at any other holiday. As it is considered bad luck to cook on
New Year's Day itself, food is prepared the day before. Chinese believe that what
you do on New Year's Day will reflect on your life in the coming year, so most
housewives do not want to take a chance of being 'chained to the oven'. The large
number of traditional dishes prepared is also meant to symbolize abundance and
wealth for the household.
Kue keranjang was originally named as Nien Kao or Ni-Kwee or Yearly
Cake or Seasonal Cake, because they are only made once a year. In East Java, this
cake was named Kue Keranjang because the wrapper is made from
a bamboo basket with a little hole in the middle. In West Java, it was named
China Cake, as the origin of the cake from China, but some call it China Cake
because the producers are Chinese. Kue Keranjang or Basket Cake is a cake that
is made from glutinous flour and sugar. It has an elastic and sticky texture. This
kind of cake is prepared for Imlek celebrations. Kue keranjang was used as an
offering to spirits, just before New Year (Jie Sie Siang Ang) until the day of
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Imlek. As an offering, this cake should not be eaten until Chap Goh Meh (15 days
after Imlek). People believe that the cake was given to satisfy Dewa Tungku, who
was supposed to deliver a report to the Heavenly King (Yu Huang Da Di). The
shape is round, symbolizing unity and peace. Most traditional dishes served on
Chinese New Year are chosen for the significance of their name or appearance.
One required dish is a whole fish. Fish in Chinese is 'yu' which sounds similar to
the word meaning surplus or abundance. A whole fish must be served as this
represents family togetherness. Oysters are also a favorite. In Cantonese the word
oyster sounds like the word that means 'good business.' In Cantonese shrimp is
pronounced 'ha', which to the Chinese sounds like laughter so it also often
included. Clams are another favorite, as they open up when cooked, symbolizing
the opening of new horizons. Indonesian Chinese whose ancestors come from
Shanghai serve egg skin dumplings which are thought to look like gold ingots and
glass noodles are thought to resemble silver chains, which earn them a place at the
festive meal. Bean sprouts are another favorite. They are said to resemble a
traditional scepter-like art object called 'ruyi', which means 'to your heart's
content', symbolizing a great way to start a New Year. The word for black moss
seaweed sounds similar to the word for 'exceeding in wealth'. Lotus seeds are
believed to signify having many male offspring, which is much desired in a
Chinese family. Chicken is considered a symbol of prosperity. The chicken
however, should be presented with the head, tail and feet to symbolize
completeness. Noodles are also considered a necessity but should be uncut as in
this state they represent long life.
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Ethnic-Chinese who have immigrated to Indonesian from the northern part
of China serve 'jiaozi' or meat-filled dumplings. The pronunciation of this word
sounds like a word meaning 'meeting of the last hour of the old year with the first
hour of the new'. In the southern regions of China, 'nian gao' is an important part
of the festivities. Indonesian Chinese from these regions serve this sweet rice
pudding for their New Year's festivities. Another popular delicacy is 'Zong zi',
glutinous rice wrapped up in reed leaves. Some celebrants place stalks of sugar
cane behind their doors, as the height and section-upon-section construction of the
sweet stalks represents the family's hope for a ladder-like ascent to new levels of
glory in the coming year.
A candy tray is considered a necessity on the coffee table of any Chinese
home, for visiting family members and expected guests. The tray should be
circular or octagonal in shape and is called the 'Tray of Togetherness',
symbolizing the family's sweet start of the New Year. Items on the tray are
intentionally chosen for symbolic good fortune. Candied melon is symbolic of
growth and good health. Melon seeds are dyed red to symbolize joy, happiness,
truth and sincerity. Lychee nuts are thought to ensure strong family relationships.
Kumquat represents prosperity while coconut symbolizes togetherness. Peanuts
are thought to represent long life. Longan are believed to bring many good sons
and lotus seeds many children. In very traditional families after taking several
pieces of candy from the tray, adults place a red envelope containing money, Ang
Pao, in the center of the tray to wish good fortune for the family.
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Just as some foods are always served on Imlek New Year, there are other
foods that are to be avoided for their perceived bad meanings. One of them is tofu.
Chinese believe that white is the color of death and misfortune, so tofu is never
included in the Imlek New Year meal as it might cause bad fortune to fall upon
family members.
2.3 Before Imlek New Year
The happy ceremonial tradition to welcome Imlek New Year usually hold
on three weeks. Preparation begin with house cleaning on the 20th of twelfth moon
and supplier are laid in for the New Year feast.
The Kitchen God is seen of to make His annual report on the family’s
behavior on the night of the 23rd of twelfth moon. The kitchen God is one’s of the
oldest of the household deities. In the household plays dual role, for he does not
only look after the hearth, but has constituted Himself the censor of morals of the
family. He is the connecting link between God and man, and seven days before
the New Year, he is dispatched to make His annual report where officials are
concerned it as axiomatic in Chinese that every man has got his price and the
kitchen God is no exception to the rule.
The family, whose record is about be laid before the all Highest, make
every effort to ensure that a favorable report shall be rendered. A special sticky
sweetmeat is part of the sacrifice.
Before New Year, everybody goes around collecting debts in order to
clean up his own liabilities. The daughters who have married will send food gifts
to their parents. Chickens are Usually delivered alive. It is bad form to accept
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everything that is sent. The messenger must be rewarded with “Ang Pao” by the
recipient. The banquet takes places on the vigil, every housewife will prepare and
make ready the food for several days. At the least day before the New Year, the
all generations will reunion to their parents ‘home for dinner although they have
their own family and daughters who have married should return to their parents in
law’s home for having dinner.
For some people, the New Year it self is being observed as a fast day on
which no meat is eaten, theoretically, only vegetables and beancurd in oli, and no
lard, should appear on the table. In sending food present vegetables dishes are
included with this observance. For some families who are not as strict as others in
the absention from meat and including it in the evening meal, but breakfast, the
fist meal of the year is usually vegetables.
After dinner, attended by all generation, the children bow to their parents
who will give them “Ang Pao”. On the last day of the year, there is a general
clean up all around, in the shape of bath and hairdressing. No one goes to bed on
the night of the 30th of twelfth moon, but all sit up to welcome in the New Year.
After twelfth o’clock on the last day of the year, most of the them will
worship at the temple for begging the safety and lucky. The others will go there
the next morning.
2.4 Chinese New Year
The First day in Imlek New Year is a sacred it is regarded as a family
reunion. All members who are with it reach every endeavor to attend, unless
positively bedridden. All quarrels are supposed to be forgotten. It is also an
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occasion for general reconcilia. Friends and relation in ceremonial garments greet
each other by saying “Gong Xi Fat Chai” For the parents who have not given the
“Ang Pao” to their children in the New Year night, they can give it on tomorrow
morning. Ang Pao is the money which enclosed in a special red envelope.
The first day is for the welcoming of the deities of the heavens and earth,
officially beginning at midnight. It is a traditional practice to light fireworks, burn
bamboo sticks and firecrackers and to make as much of a din as possible to chase
off the evil spirits as encapsulated by Nian of which the term guo nian was
derived. Many people, especially Buddhists, abstain from meat consumption on
the first day because it is believed that this will ensure longevity for them. Some
consider lighting fires and using knives to be bad luck on New Year's Day, so all
food to be consumed is cooked the days before. On this day, it is considered bad
luck to use the broom. Most importantly, the first day of Chinese New Year is a
time to honor one's elders and families visit the oldest and most senior members
of their extended families, usually their parents, grandparents and greatgrandparents. For Buddhists, the first day is also the birthday of Maitreya
Bodhisattva (better known as the more familiar Budai Luohan), the Buddha-tobe. People also abstain from killing animals. Some families may invite
a Barongsay troupe as a symbolic ritual to usher in the Chinese New Year as well
as to evict bad spirits from the premises. Members of the family who are married
also give red envelopes containing cash known as lai see or Ang Pao, a form of
blessings and to suppress the aging and challenges associated with the coming
year, to junior members of the family, mostly children and teenagers. Business
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managers also give bonuses through red packets to employees for good luck,
smooth-sailing, good health and wealth.
Red envelopes or Ang Pao are passed out during the Chinese New Year's
celebrations, from married couples or the elderly to unmarried juniors. It is also
common for adults or young couples to give red packets to children. The red
covers are stocked in quantities by every prudent housewife. Ang Pao almost
always contain money, usually varying from a couple of dollars to several
hundred. Per custom, the amount of money in the red packets should be of even
numbers, as odd numbers are associated with cash given during funerals. The
number 8 is considered lucky (for its homophone for "wealth"), The number six
is also very lucky as it sounds like 'smooth', in the sense of having a smooth year.
Sometimes chocolate coins are found in Ang Pao. Odd and even numbers are
determined by the first digit, rather than the last. Thirty and fifty, for example, are
odd numbers, and are thus appropriate as funeral cash gifts. A married person
would not turn down such a request as it would mean that he or she would be
"out of luck" in the new year. Ang Pao are generally given by established married
couples to the younger non-married children of the family. It is custom and polite
for children to wish elders a happy new year and a year of happiness, health and
good fortune before accepting Ang Pao. Ang Pao are then kept under the pillow
and slept on for seven days after Chinese New Year before opening because it
symbolizes good luck and fortune when you sleep on the red envelopes for seven
nights. In addition to Ang Pao, which are usually given from elder to younger,
small gifts (usually of food or sweets) are also exchanged between friends or
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relatives (of different households) during Chinese New Year. Gifts are usually
brought when visiting friends or relatives at their homes. Common gifts include
fruits (typically oranges, and never pears), cakes, biscuits, chocolates, candies, or
some other small gifts For persons who have not married should not give the
lucky money to anybody except money only.
They also must not saying dirty words or be angered by anyone. The
reasons why must do not these things will be discussed in Chapter Three.
2.5 After Imlek New Year
Rarely shop is open on the third day. On the fifth day, a ceremony is held
to welcome all of the deities who have returned from the Heaven. It is said that at
the day all of the deities return to check up the situation after the New Year.
Very early in the morning of the sixth day, all of the deities, a sort of
vicarious exercise to ensure that no exactly disposed fairy Gogmother is omitted.
Business is resumed in the shop on the sixth day. This old custom is not so
rigorously adhered to in modern times and most shops does not stay for the full
period of five days, though some of the prosperous business can afford the
holiday. After twelve o’clock in the night. It is said that a long time ago, there was
a war in the Hokkianese’s village. They hid in a place which has sugarcane’s
treesand they prayed to the god for stopping the war. In the 9th of first moon the
war was stopped, so they worship the sacrifice. By the other Chinese tribes, it is
said that on the 8th night of the first moon or the 9th morning is he Hokkianese’s
New Year. However, the other tribes also worship the God but they do that on the
morning of the ninth day and most of them do not use the sugarcane as sacrifice.
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On the tenth is known as the birthday of the Earth God are five brothers
and in every person in a household deities who takes care of every person in
house. It is know that the Earth God are five brothers and in every 10th date from
the first moon till fifth moon is their birthday. The eggs and a kind of noodle
named “Mie Sua” is part of the sacrifice.
The official holiday ends on the fifteenth. Everybody will worship the
deities and the ancestor for begging the luck. The night to welcome the first full
moon in the year is so crowded with people. West Borneo Chinese cultural
experts, Fat Lie Sau says, every feast of Chinese citizens, religious or cultural
traditions exist origins as told from mouth to mouth, legends, based on the book
with a variety of versions, depending on the culture, traditions and regions,
respectively.
According to the man born in 1932, Cap Go Meh has two versions. The
first version is Yuan Shiau Ciek is one of the festivals that are celebrated since Xie
Han Dynasty (206 -24 ) to mark the end of the Imlek New Year celebrations. For
ethnic Chinese, Cap Go Meh celebrations may be as important to the Chinese
Imlek New Year celebrations. "In a religious community Taoists, Cap Go Meh is
known as the day of birth San Yuan Shang Kuan Yuan Thian or sky god who gave
humans the gift," he said.
While at Tung Han Dynasty (25-220), by Emperor Liu Chang, Yuan Shiau
Ciek celebration in honor of the Buddha, who had appeared on the 30th Imlek
month 12 in the West Mainland, which is interpreted the same as the date 15
months 1 Imlek in Mainland east.
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Therefore, the Emperor also ordered the people to worship celebration,
procession, installing lanterns, and folk art performances at night precisely Cap
Go Meh. "As for the other Chinese people celebrated as the feast of cultural
traditions Yuan Shiau Ciek or Cap Go Meh Festival or Lantern suit the conditions
and circumstances of each," he said.
While other versions, according to folklore Asali is on Tung Zhou Dynasty
(770 BC - 256 BC), namely the farmers on the 15th of the month 1 Imlek
installing lanterns called Chau Can Tian around the fields to repel pests and
vermin scaring plants.
Farmers are also seeing a change in the color of fire lanterns (Ten Lung) is
believed to change the color of the flame in the lantern at night it can be known
the weather to come, namely whether droughts or more of rain throughout the
year.
Thus, every year on the same day the farmer will put lanterns around the
field. Every year growing many lanterns are mounted so as to form a beautiful
landscape on the 15th of 1 Imlek month.
"Installing lanterns useful addition to repel pests, also created the beautiful
scenery. While to scare the vermin plants plus all the sounds, play Barongsai and
pageantry Tatung as starting reinforcements and make it more crowded,"
Default explained, the celebrations continued for generations until now
celebrated Chinese community that embraces Tri Dharma (Sam Kaw) people as a
religious feast Taoism, Budhhis, and Confucianism. Cap Go Meh is celebrated on
the 15th day of the first month of the Imlek Calendar signifies the last day of
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Imlek New Year celebrations. In Indonesia, the cities that have a large number of
ethnic Chinese population is always a feast Cap Go Meh mass. The word is
derived from the Cap Go Meh Teochews or Hokkien dialect is the Cap Go Meh
fifteen and it was night. That is the fifteenth night. At the time of the celebration
of Cap Go Meh, most of the city of Medan will be filled with red ornaments which are considered as ethnic Chinese lucky color - throughout the city. A few
days before the Cap Go Meh, a few temples that exist in the field will hold a ritual
to bless the Liong that will be paraded at the time of the parade. Since morning,
one by one eye dragon decorated to display when Cap Go Meh underway.
Moreover, the barongsai will also be revoked paraded paper spells pasted on his
forehead. Then the barongsai will be paraded around the city over to people's
houses. Each resident whose home was visited by a barongsai will give angpao
containing money. In addition to the procession of Liong and barongsai, which
became the main attraction when the Cap Go Meh is the parade of Tatung
(spiritual medium). The Tatung present to resist and repel evil spirits luck in the
new year. Before starting the parade, the Tatung will run in vihara ritual prayer to
invoke the protection and avoid yourself from danger. But, it took mental steel to
see the Tatung wondrous attractions. Because they would casually jabbing sharp
objects into her body, walking on the sword, and others. What is surprising is the
Tatung will not hurt at all. In fact there is no trace left behind after they hold their
attraction. According to the belief of ethnic Chinese, the Tatung possessed by the
spirits of the ancestors, so that they will not get hurt while doing the things it was
pretty awful.
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2.1 History of Imlek
Imlek or Sin Tjia is a celebration of tradition in Chinese farmers who
usually falls on the first day of the first month at the beginning of the New Year.
This celebration is also associated with a party of farmers to welcome
spring. The celebrations began on the 30th of the 12th month and ends on the 15th
of the first month.
Lunar program included prayer, a prayer to the Creator, and the
celebration of Cap Go Meh. The purpose of this worship is as a form of
thanksgiving and prayer in the hope that next year gets more sustenance, to
entertain the ancestors, and as a means of gathering with relatives and neighbors.
According to tales and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year
started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nian. Nian would come
on the first day of New Year to eat livestock, crops, and even villagers, especially
children. To protect themselves, the villagers would put food in front of their
doors at the beginning of every year. It was believed that after the Nian ate the
food they prepared, it wouldn't attack any more people. One day people saw that
the Nian was scared away by a little child wearing red. The villagers then
understood that the Nian was afraid of the color red. Time when the New Year
was about to come, the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls
on windows and doors. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nian.
From then on, Nian never came to the village again. The Nian was eventually
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captured by Hongjun Laozu, an ancient Taoist monk. The Nian became Hongjun
Laozu's mount.
In Indonesia, Imlek actually has nothing to do with the celebration of
spring. Since the first Chinese community knows only as the Imlek Chinese new
year. For the Chinese New Year Chinese society closely associated with New
Year prayer, worship God, to pray in the Vihara, new clothes, a good meal with
family, paycia, angpao, Barongsay, firecrackers, following cap go meh and
mutual Tepekong.
Chinese New Year celebrations in Indonesia actually been done since the
Dutch colonial era until the time of president Sukarno. However, the Suharto
government, then banned the celebration of Imlek with the issuance of
Presidential Decree No.14/1967, precisely on December 6, 1967. In Presidential
Instruction, determined that all rituals, beliefs and customs of the Chinese only be
celebrated in the family and in a closed room. Thus, all matters relating thereto,
including Barongsay, and Cap Go Meh.
Cap Go Meh is a celebration of the 15th night after the Imlek New Year,
which this year falls on February 17, 2011. Cap Go Meh began to be celebrated
in Indonesia since the 17th century, when there was a great migration of southern
China.
Cap-Meh-Go is actually a Hokkien term, which means "the night 15." In
mainland China itself, called Xiau Yuan Jie in Mandarin, which means the first
month of the festival night. In the first days of the Han dynasty (202 BC - 220),
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on the eve of the Cap Go Meh, usually the emperor's own special out of the
palace to celebrate with the people.
Every culture has always had a tradition of origin. One version of the
origin of Cap Go Meh occurs at the time of the Zhou dynasty (770-256 BC).
Every evening the 15th of the first month after the Chinese New Year, the
farmers put up the lanterns called Chau Can Tian around the fields to repel pests
and frighten the animals plant destroyer. When the goal put the lanterns is to
repel pests. But today it became a tradition featuring a beautiful landscape in the
evening of the first 15 months.
When it is to frighten or repel the animals wrecking crops, in addition to
installing lanterns, they add all the sounds and playing Barongsai, to be more
crowded and beneficial to farmers. Beliefs and cultural traditions from one
generation to continue, both in mainland China and overseas throughout the
world.
While in Indonesia, in addition there are events around the parade
procession, there is another characteristic, namely the cap go meh food rice cake,
which is particularly abundant in the Java community. Cap go meh rice cake
consists of various types of food, ie, opportunistic, plus rice cakes and soy
powder.
Cap Go Meh title itself is more popular in Indonesia than in any other
place in the world. Cap Go Meh was actually a misguided naming which may
have been hundreds of years to become true because of tradition. Cap Go Meh
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means "night to 15" which is the 15th of the first month, which is called in the
dialect of Hokkien "cia gwee cap go".
This celebration is the culmination of a series of celebrations at the same
time cover the Imlek New Year celebration. In Indonesia alone, since the first one
is more familiar with the term Cap Go Meh than another term although in the
original version.
2.2 Traditional Foods
More food is consumed by Indonesian Chinese families during the New
Year celebration than at any other holiday. As it is considered bad luck to cook on
New Year's Day itself, food is prepared the day before. Chinese believe that what
you do on New Year's Day will reflect on your life in the coming year, so most
housewives do not want to take a chance of being 'chained to the oven'. The large
number of traditional dishes prepared is also meant to symbolize abundance and
wealth for the household.
Kue keranjang was originally named as Nien Kao or Ni-Kwee or Yearly
Cake or Seasonal Cake, because they are only made once a year. In East Java, this
cake was named Kue Keranjang because the wrapper is made from
a bamboo basket with a little hole in the middle. In West Java, it was named
China Cake, as the origin of the cake from China, but some call it China Cake
because the producers are Chinese. Kue Keranjang or Basket Cake is a cake that
is made from glutinous flour and sugar. It has an elastic and sticky texture. This
kind of cake is prepared for Imlek celebrations. Kue keranjang was used as an
offering to spirits, just before New Year (Jie Sie Siang Ang) until the day of
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Imlek. As an offering, this cake should not be eaten until Chap Goh Meh (15 days
after Imlek). People believe that the cake was given to satisfy Dewa Tungku, who
was supposed to deliver a report to the Heavenly King (Yu Huang Da Di). The
shape is round, symbolizing unity and peace. Most traditional dishes served on
Chinese New Year are chosen for the significance of their name or appearance.
One required dish is a whole fish. Fish in Chinese is 'yu' which sounds similar to
the word meaning surplus or abundance. A whole fish must be served as this
represents family togetherness. Oysters are also a favorite. In Cantonese the word
oyster sounds like the word that means 'good business.' In Cantonese shrimp is
pronounced 'ha', which to the Chinese sounds like laughter so it also often
included. Clams are another favorite, as they open up when cooked, symbolizing
the opening of new horizons. Indonesian Chinese whose ancestors come from
Shanghai serve egg skin dumplings which are thought to look like gold ingots and
glass noodles are thought to resemble silver chains, which earn them a place at the
festive meal. Bean sprouts are another favorite. They are said to resemble a
traditional scepter-like art object called 'ruyi', which means 'to your heart's
content', symbolizing a great way to start a New Year. The word for black moss
seaweed sounds similar to the word for 'exceeding in wealth'. Lotus seeds are
believed to signify having many male offspring, which is much desired in a
Chinese family. Chicken is considered a symbol of prosperity. The chicken
however, should be presented with the head, tail and feet to symbolize
completeness. Noodles are also considered a necessity but should be uncut as in
this state they represent long life.
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Ethnic-Chinese who have immigrated to Indonesian from the northern part
of China serve 'jiaozi' or meat-filled dumplings. The pronunciation of this word
sounds like a word meaning 'meeting of the last hour of the old year with the first
hour of the new'. In the southern regions of China, 'nian gao' is an important part
of the festivities. Indonesian Chinese from these regions serve this sweet rice
pudding for their New Year's festivities. Another popular delicacy is 'Zong zi',
glutinous rice wrapped up in reed leaves. Some celebrants place stalks of sugar
cane behind their doors, as the height and section-upon-section construction of the
sweet stalks represents the family's hope for a ladder-like ascent to new levels of
glory in the coming year.
A candy tray is considered a necessity on the coffee table of any Chinese
home, for visiting family members and expected guests. The tray should be
circular or octagonal in shape and is called the 'Tray of Togetherness',
symbolizing the family's sweet start of the New Year. Items on the tray are
intentionally chosen for symbolic good fortune. Candied melon is symbolic of
growth and good health. Melon seeds are dyed red to symbolize joy, happiness,
truth and sincerity. Lychee nuts are thought to ensure strong family relationships.
Kumquat represents prosperity while coconut symbolizes togetherness. Peanuts
are thought to represent long life. Longan are believed to bring many good sons
and lotus seeds many children. In very traditional families after taking several
pieces of candy from the tray, adults place a red envelope containing money, Ang
Pao, in the center of the tray to wish good fortune for the family.
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Just as some foods are always served on Imlek New Year, there are other
foods that are to be avoided for their perceived bad meanings. One of them is tofu.
Chinese believe that white is the color of death and misfortune, so tofu is never
included in the Imlek New Year meal as it might cause bad fortune to fall upon
family members.
2.3 Before Imlek New Year
The happy ceremonial tradition to welcome Imlek New Year usually hold
on three weeks. Preparation begin with house cleaning on the 20th of twelfth moon
and supplier are laid in for the New Year feast.
The Kitchen God is seen of to make His annual report on the family’s
behavior on the night of the 23rd of twelfth moon. The kitchen God is one’s of the
oldest of the household deities. In the household plays dual role, for he does not
only look after the hearth, but has constituted Himself the censor of morals of the
family. He is the connecting link between God and man, and seven days before
the New Year, he is dispatched to make His annual report where officials are
concerned it as axiomatic in Chinese that every man has got his price and the
kitchen God is no exception to the rule.
The family, whose record is about be laid before the all Highest, make
every effort to ensure that a favorable report shall be rendered. A special sticky
sweetmeat is part of the sacrifice.
Before New Year, everybody goes around collecting debts in order to
clean up his own liabilities. The daughters who have married will send food gifts
to their parents. Chickens are Usually delivered alive. It is bad form to accept
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everything that is sent. The messenger must be rewarded with “Ang Pao” by the
recipient. The banquet takes places on the vigil, every housewife will prepare and
make ready the food for several days. At the least day before the New Year, the
all generations will reunion to their parents ‘home for dinner although they have
their own family and daughters who have married should return to their parents in
law’s home for having dinner.
For some people, the New Year it self is being observed as a fast day on
which no meat is eaten, theoretically, only vegetables and beancurd in oli, and no
lard, should appear on the table. In sending food present vegetables dishes are
included with this observance. For some families who are not as strict as others in
the absention from meat and including it in the evening meal, but breakfast, the
fist meal of the year is usually vegetables.
After dinner, attended by all generation, the children bow to their parents
who will give them “Ang Pao”. On the last day of the year, there is a general
clean up all around, in the shape of bath and hairdressing. No one goes to bed on
the night of the 30th of twelfth moon, but all sit up to welcome in the New Year.
After twelfth o’clock on the last day of the year, most of the them will
worship at the temple for begging the safety and lucky. The others will go there
the next morning.
2.4 Chinese New Year
The First day in Imlek New Year is a sacred it is regarded as a family
reunion. All members who are with it reach every endeavor to attend, unless
positively bedridden. All quarrels are supposed to be forgotten. It is also an
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occasion for general reconcilia. Friends and relation in ceremonial garments greet
each other by saying “Gong Xi Fat Chai” For the parents who have not given the
“Ang Pao” to their children in the New Year night, they can give it on tomorrow
morning. Ang Pao is the money which enclosed in a special red envelope.
The first day is for the welcoming of the deities of the heavens and earth,
officially beginning at midnight. It is a traditional practice to light fireworks, burn
bamboo sticks and firecrackers and to make as much of a din as possible to chase
off the evil spirits as encapsulated by Nian of which the term guo nian was
derived. Many people, especially Buddhists, abstain from meat consumption on
the first day because it is believed that this will ensure longevity for them. Some
consider lighting fires and using knives to be bad luck on New Year's Day, so all
food to be consumed is cooked the days before. On this day, it is considered bad
luck to use the broom. Most importantly, the first day of Chinese New Year is a
time to honor one's elders and families visit the oldest and most senior members
of their extended families, usually their parents, grandparents and greatgrandparents. For Buddhists, the first day is also the birthday of Maitreya
Bodhisattva (better known as the more familiar Budai Luohan), the Buddha-tobe. People also abstain from killing animals. Some families may invite
a Barongsay troupe as a symbolic ritual to usher in the Chinese New Year as well
as to evict bad spirits from the premises. Members of the family who are married
also give red envelopes containing cash known as lai see or Ang Pao, a form of
blessings and to suppress the aging and challenges associated with the coming
year, to junior members of the family, mostly children and teenagers. Business
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managers also give bonuses through red packets to employees for good luck,
smooth-sailing, good health and wealth.
Red envelopes or Ang Pao are passed out during the Chinese New Year's
celebrations, from married couples or the elderly to unmarried juniors. It is also
common for adults or young couples to give red packets to children. The red
covers are stocked in quantities by every prudent housewife. Ang Pao almost
always contain money, usually varying from a couple of dollars to several
hundred. Per custom, the amount of money in the red packets should be of even
numbers, as odd numbers are associated with cash given during funerals. The
number 8 is considered lucky (for its homophone for "wealth"), The number six
is also very lucky as it sounds like 'smooth', in the sense of having a smooth year.
Sometimes chocolate coins are found in Ang Pao. Odd and even numbers are
determined by the first digit, rather than the last. Thirty and fifty, for example, are
odd numbers, and are thus appropriate as funeral cash gifts. A married person
would not turn down such a request as it would mean that he or she would be
"out of luck" in the new year. Ang Pao are generally given by established married
couples to the younger non-married children of the family. It is custom and polite
for children to wish elders a happy new year and a year of happiness, health and
good fortune before accepting Ang Pao. Ang Pao are then kept under the pillow
and slept on for seven days after Chinese New Year before opening because it
symbolizes good luck and fortune when you sleep on the red envelopes for seven
nights. In addition to Ang Pao, which are usually given from elder to younger,
small gifts (usually of food or sweets) are also exchanged between friends or
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relatives (of different households) during Chinese New Year. Gifts are usually
brought when visiting friends or relatives at their homes. Common gifts include
fruits (typically oranges, and never pears), cakes, biscuits, chocolates, candies, or
some other small gifts For persons who have not married should not give the
lucky money to anybody except money only.
They also must not saying dirty words or be angered by anyone. The
reasons why must do not these things will be discussed in Chapter Three.
2.5 After Imlek New Year
Rarely shop is open on the third day. On the fifth day, a ceremony is held
to welcome all of the deities who have returned from the Heaven. It is said that at
the day all of the deities return to check up the situation after the New Year.
Very early in the morning of the sixth day, all of the deities, a sort of
vicarious exercise to ensure that no exactly disposed fairy Gogmother is omitted.
Business is resumed in the shop on the sixth day. This old custom is not so
rigorously adhered to in modern times and most shops does not stay for the full
period of five days, though some of the prosperous business can afford the
holiday. After twelve o’clock in the night. It is said that a long time ago, there was
a war in the Hokkianese’s village. They hid in a place which has sugarcane’s
treesand they prayed to the god for stopping the war. In the 9th of first moon the
war was stopped, so they worship the sacrifice. By the other Chinese tribes, it is
said that on the 8th night of the first moon or the 9th morning is he Hokkianese’s
New Year. However, the other tribes also worship the God but they do that on the
morning of the ninth day and most of them do not use the sugarcane as sacrifice.
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On the tenth is known as the birthday of the Earth God are five brothers
and in every person in a household deities who takes care of every person in
house. It is know that the Earth God are five brothers and in every 10th date from
the first moon till fifth moon is their birthday. The eggs and a kind of noodle
named “Mie Sua” is part of the sacrifice.
The official holiday ends on the fifteenth. Everybody will worship the
deities and the ancestor for begging the luck. The night to welcome the first full
moon in the year is so crowded with people. West Borneo Chinese cultural
experts, Fat Lie Sau says, every feast of Chinese citizens, religious or cultural
traditions exist origins as told from mouth to mouth, legends, based on the book
with a variety of versions, depending on the culture, traditions and regions,
respectively.
According to the man born in 1932, Cap Go Meh has two versions. The
first version is Yuan Shiau Ciek is one of the festivals that are celebrated since Xie
Han Dynasty (206 -24 ) to mark the end of the Imlek New Year celebrations. For
ethnic Chinese, Cap Go Meh celebrations may be as important to the Chinese
Imlek New Year celebrations. "In a religious community Taoists, Cap Go Meh is
known as the day of birth San Yuan Shang Kuan Yuan Thian or sky god who gave
humans the gift," he said.
While at Tung Han Dynasty (25-220), by Emperor Liu Chang, Yuan Shiau
Ciek celebration in honor of the Buddha, who had appeared on the 30th Imlek
month 12 in the West Mainland, which is interpreted the same as the date 15
months 1 Imlek in Mainland east.
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Therefore, the Emperor also ordered the people to worship celebration,
procession, installing lanterns, and folk art performances at night precisely Cap
Go Meh. "As for the other Chinese people celebrated as the feast of cultural
traditions Yuan Shiau Ciek or Cap Go Meh Festival or Lantern suit the conditions
and circumstances of each," he said.
While other versions, according to folklore Asali is on Tung Zhou Dynasty
(770 BC - 256 BC), namely the farmers on the 15th of the month 1 Imlek
installing lanterns called Chau Can Tian around the fields to repel pests and
vermin scaring plants.
Farmers are also seeing a change in the color of fire lanterns (Ten Lung) is
believed to change the color of the flame in the lantern at night it can be known
the weather to come, namely whether droughts or more of rain throughout the
year.
Thus, every year on the same day the farmer will put lanterns around the
field. Every year growing many lanterns are mounted so as to form a beautiful
landscape on the 15th of 1 Imlek month.
"Installing lanterns useful addition to repel pests, also created the beautiful
scenery. While to scare the vermin plants plus all the sounds, play Barongsai and
pageantry Tatung as starting reinforcements and make it more crowded,"
Default explained, the celebrations continued for generations until now
celebrated Chinese community that embraces Tri Dharma (Sam Kaw) people as a
religious feast Taoism, Budhhis, and Confucianism. Cap Go Meh is celebrated on
the 15th day of the first month of the Imlek Calendar signifies the last day of
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Imlek New Year celebrations. In Indonesia, the cities that have a large number of
ethnic Chinese population is always a feast Cap Go Meh mass. The word is
derived from the Cap Go Meh Teochews or Hokkien dialect is the Cap Go Meh
fifteen and it was night. That is the fifteenth night. At the time of the celebration
of Cap Go Meh, most of the city of Medan will be filled with red ornaments which are considered as ethnic Chinese lucky color - throughout the city. A few
days before the Cap Go Meh, a few temples that exist in the field will hold a ritual
to bless the Liong that will be paraded at the time of the parade. Since morning,
one by one eye dragon decorated to display when Cap Go Meh underway.
Moreover, the barongsai will also be revoked paraded paper spells pasted on his
forehead. Then the barongsai will be paraded around the city over to people's
houses. Each resident whose home was visited by a barongsai will give angpao
containing money. In addition to the procession of Liong and barongsai, which
became the main attraction when the Cap Go Meh is the parade of Tatung
(spiritual medium). The Tatung present to resist and repel evil spirits luck in the
new year. Before starting the parade, the Tatung will run in vihara ritual prayer to
invoke the protection and avoid yourself from danger. But, it took mental steel to
see the Tatung wondrous attractions. Because they would casually jabbing sharp
objects into her body, walking on the sword, and others. What is surprising is the
Tatung will not hurt at all. In fact there is no trace left behind after they hold their
attraction. According to the belief of ethnic Chinese, the Tatung possessed by the
spirits of the ancestors, so that they will not get hurt while doing the things it was
pretty awful.
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