I noticed the Chinese New Year celebrations in Indonesia were lively today. Perhaps the Chinese New Year celebrations have actually been quite lively since a few years ago, but the attention of the Indonesian people who are not descendants of China becomes larger from year to year.
If you are Indonesian and have some Chinese-New-Year-themed stock photos, why not join the Wonderful Imlek Photo Contest. You get a chance to win cool prizes such as free flights and various other interesting prizes! Show the spirit of diversity in unity of Wonderful Indonesia.
At Wonderful Lunar Photo Contest page, Ministry of Tourism Indonesia provides highlights the Chinese New Year celebrations that happen in some cities.
– Palembang – in the China Town area of Dempo usually has a festive Chinese New Year by the exhibition. There are a wide variety of culinary competitions.
– Medan – There Lunar Fair event is enlivened by musical events and fashion shows.
– Solo – Pasar Gede, not far from the temple Tien Sie Kok. The most famous event is the seizure of crops and foods prepared Formatting mountain, called Grebeg Sudiro.
– Yogyakarta – Centralized in Kampung Ketandan, there will be a lot of exhibitions, competitions in mandarin and so forth.
– Semarang – Pasar Imlek Semawis (PIS)/Lunar Market Semawis needs to be visited on Chinese New Year in Semarang. There is an open stage and various attractions as well in the city.
– Singkawang – The area is very popular with the celebration of the Cap Go Meh. The main attraction is the Tatung parade with a variety of unique rituals.
Speaking of enlivening the Chinese New Year Celebration in Indonesia, I would like to share several Chinese New Year facts that I gathered from my Indonesian Chinese friends. I hope you find them interesting π
Gathering with family
The favourite Chinese New Year tradition for most Chinese Indonesian’s is the family gathering.Β It is like a family dinner during the New Year’s Eve. Usually the family will gather in the home of an elder person. It could be a parent or oldest brother/sister.
Imlek (Chinese New Year) and Cap Go Meh
Chinese New Year is usually celebrated during 15 days starts from the Chinese New Year celebration. The fifteenth day celebration is called Cap Go Meh. In Hokkien dialect Cap Go Meh means the Fifteenth evening (cap = ten, go = five, meh = evening).
Some friends say that Cap Go Meh in Indonesia is not as vibrant as in China. Cap Go Meh is same like Lantern festival in China. If you would like to see Cap Go Meh celebration and some unique rituals in Indonesia then you should visit Singkawang, West Kalimantan.
Husband comes first
It is tradition for Chinese Indonesian couples to visit the husbands family for a meal on Chinese New Year’s eve.
Get a hair cut
You have to cut your hair before the Chinese New Year. This is supposed to remove bad luck in the previous year.
Clean the crib
It is traditional to clean the house before Chinese New Year. Cleaning activities are banned on the day, because it is believed that the fortune is coming and should not be expelled.
Angpao (Hung Bao) / Small Red Envelope Containing Money
The angpao symbolizes the fortune of the New Year. If you’re already married, then you are obliged to provide angpao to: parents, children, nieces and nephews as well as grandparents. There are no rules about the amount.
Layer Cake
One of my friend said that her mom always make a layer cake for the Chinese New Year celebration. The layer cake is a symbol for good fortune.
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I think a cake is good fortune too π
There’s no doubt layer cake is a symbol for good fortune – I certainly feel very fortunate whenever I have a sizeable slice of Kue Lapis in my belly!
As of late, I’m trying to call it “Lunar New Year” instead because I have many Vietnamese friends and it is also part of their culture (they celebrate it too). I guess they are kinda annoyed with the term “Chinese New Year” which sounds like it belongs to Chinese people.
But yea, Lunar sounds odd though π
Hey Nugi,
Thanks for letting me know. That is an interesting fact. I thought people who celebrate Imlek (Chinese New Year or Lunar) is only people who have Chinese ancestry.
Btw, Lunar reminds me of Luna – Sailormoon’s cat. Hahaha. π
Fun to see how Chinese New Year is celebrated in Indonesia … hope you had a good one!