Cultures & Festivals

Malaysia's festivals and celebrations are colourful. During such times, many homes are beautifully decorated and many Malaysians wear their traditional costumes. One unique feature of Malaysian celebrations is the concept of open house where friends of other races are invited to join in the merry making and enjoy festive goodies.

Awal Muharram
Also known as Maal Hijrah, Awal Muharram is the start of the Islamic New Year. This day coincides with the Prophet Muhammad's journey from Mecca to Medina in 622AD on the first of Muharram. Muslims celebrate Awal Muharram by attending religious talks and Nasyid (spiritual singing) performances.

Chinese New Year
On New Year's eve, all family members will attend a reunion dinner. The next day, there are visits to temples to offer prayers for good luck. Unmarried youngster are given red packets containing money, called Ang Pow. Yam Seng (mean "bottoms up") parties and feasting are part and parcel of the celebrations. During this festivals, which lasts 15 days, the sweeping of the floor is forbidden as it is believed that good luck will be swept away. Also strongly discouraged are arguments and the scolding of children. The celebrations end with a bang on Chap Goh Mei, meaning 15th night in the Hokkien dialect.

Christmas
Christmas celebrations by Malaysians are similar to those in any other part of the world, to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Midnight services are held at churches on Christmas eve and morning services are also held on Christmas day. Shopping centres, hotels, orphanges and old folks' homes echo with beautiful carols. The revelry and yuletide spirit of Christmas is enjoyed by both Christians and non-Christians.

Deepavali
Popularly known as the Festival of Lights, Deepavali is celebrated by Hindus to commemorate the triumph of good over evil. Hindus believe that on this day, Lord Krishna defeated the forces of evil lead by Nargansuran. On Deepavali day, Hindus rise early to have an oil bath. Then they put on their new clothes and go to temples to pray. During the Deepavali season, homes are lighted up with oil lamps to signify the victory over darkness, and the floor of the sitting room is decorated with rangoli, made of rice flour. Friends and relatives are feted with traditional Indian delicacies.

Festival of the Patriotic Poet
Commonly known as the Dumpling Festival, the Festivalof the Patriotic Poet falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. According to legend, Chu Yuan was a righteous minister of the State of Chu until he was sacked because of a conspiracy by corrupt officials. For the next 20 years, he travelled around the country, composing poems on his love for his country and denouncing corruption. In BC 278, the Tsin State attacked the State of Chu, which had become weak from corruption. Overcome with grief, Chu Yuan wrote two odes, then went to the Mi-Lo River to commit suicide. A fisherman row boats to throw rice dumplings into rivers. In Malaysia, Chinese celebrate this festival by offering rice dumplings to deities. In Penang, Dragon Boat Races are popular event.

Hari Raya Aidil Fitri
One of the most important festivals celebrated by Muslims. Hari Raya Aidil Fitri or Hari Raya Puasa marks the end of Ramadan, amonth of fasting from sunrise to sunset, and the first of Syawal, the teenth month of the Muslim calender. The day is significant as it encompasses the act of fasting and the paying of zakat (or alms tax) both of which are tenets of Islam. The fastive mood starts on the 20th day of Ramadan, when Muslims light oil lamps outside their homes for seven days. Muslims usher in Hari Raya with morning prayers in mosques followed by visits to the graves of the departed. After the prayers, young members of the family formally ask for forgiveness from their parents for sins of commission and omission in the previous year. Well-wisher visiting Muslim homes are treated to delicacies like rendang, satay and all kinds of kuih.

Hungry Ghost Festival
According to traditional Chinese belief, the gates of Hell are open for 30 days for ghosts to wander about in the seventh lunar months, which is around April or May. In the evening, on either the 14th or 15th day, the Chinese make sacrificial offering to hungry ghosts at the roadside outside their homes, hoping they will not cause trouble for the family members. Mock money, mock textiles and paper cars are also burned. This ritual is preceded in the day by making offerings to departed ancestors before the spiritual tablets, followed by a feast. Religious ceremonies are also held at temples and associations.

Mooncake Fesival
Celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month by Chinese, this festival is characterised by mooncake and lanterns. It was on this night in ancient China that the Hans overthrew the Mongols. Weeks before the event, shops in Chinatowns are packed with lanterns of all colours, and confectionary and food outlets sell mooncakes of different varieties. The mooncakes are filled with red-bean paste, lotus paste and other flavor paste.The giving of mooncakes to friends and relatives is also common. Night celebrations see the making of sacrificial offerings on an open-air altar. After the ritual, children dressed in their best parade the streets carrying lanterns.

Thaipusam
Falling in late January or early February as determined by the Hindu calender, Thaipusam is a celebration of the birthday of Lord Subramaniam, also known as Lord Muruga. On the eve of Thaipusam, a statue of Lord Subramaniam is taken for a procession on a chariot drawn by bullocks. The next day, devotees carrying kavadis throng Hindu temples amidst chanting and drumming. A kavadi is either a metal or wooden arch with elaborate decorations, which is placed on the devotee's shoulder. Hooks or spikes extend from the kavadi to various parts of the devotee's body. Thaipusam is celebrated on a big scalein the states of Selangor, Pulau Pinang, Negeri Sembilan, Johor and Perak.

Wesak Day
Celebrated by Buddhists, Wesak Day marks the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. Activities at Buddhist temples on Wesak Day normally comprises a "bathing the Buddha" ceremony; the chanting of sutras; the lighting of fragrant joss-sticks, oil, lamps, and candles; the offering of incense and flowers, the release of pigeons, and the ordination of monks. At night, colourful processions of illuminated floats are held with devotees carrying lighted candles. Falling normally in May, Wesak Day is also considered to be an auspicious occasion for making donations in cash and kind to the needy.