Christmas (December 25)
The spirit of Christmas is felt very much in Malaysia,
especially in hotels, department stores and homes of
Christians. Christmas trees, decorations, brilliant
lights, Santa Claus and carols add to the festive air.
Experienced among a host of other religious holidays,
Christmas takes on new meanings.
New Year's Eve
As in many other countries throughout the world, New
Year's Eve is celebrated with much merrymaking at public
squares, hotels and restaurants. The Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur is particularly
a good place to join in revelers, who gather at the
square to usher in the new year.
Hari Raya Puasa
Hari Raya Puasa is a celebration marking the end of a
Muslim month of fasting and abstinence, Ramadan. It is a
special occasion for Muslims; even the daily prayers are
changed for one day. Hari Raya Puasa officially begins at
the sighting of the moon on the day before the next month
on the Muslim calendar, Syawal. The first moon of the
month of Syawal is sighted by religious elders in the
late evening from several vantage points in Malaysia. The
festival actually begins the following day, ushered in by
prayers at the mosque early in the morning, and a visit
to the cemetery to pray for the departed souls of loved
ones. Then, of course, comes the feast.
Thaipusam (late January or early
February)
Thaipusam, a day of consecration to the Hindu deity,
Lord Murugan, sometimes also called Lord Subramaniam. A
feature of the festival is the carrying of a kavadi, a
frame decorated with colored papers, tinsels, fresh
flowers, and fruits as a form of penance. In Kuala
Lumpur, Hindus carrying the kavadi make the annual
pilgrimage to the Batu Caves in Selangor,
where the kavadi is carried up the 272 steps to the
entrance of the great cave and deposited at the feet of
the deity.
On the eve of Thaipusam, the grounds of Batu Caves are
transformed into a fairyland of lights. Kavadi-carrying
begins after sunset. Devotees and penitents carry
Kavadis, which are gaily decorated wooden or steel
paraphernalia. Some have entered a trance, and pierced
their cheeks, tongues, or foreheads. The next day they
will return to their ordinary lives, cleansed. Open-door
observers of the kavadi do not have to participate in
this ritual unless they really, really want to. Apart
from the mortification of flesh, other forms of devotion
are practiced, such as honey or milk offerings.
Chinese New Year (January/
February)
To the Chinese, the most important festival is Chinese
New Year, which falls in either January or February. It
is ushered in with the lighting of fire crackers at
midnight on the eve of the Chinese Lunar Calendar.
The colorful spectacle of Chinese New Year is evident
long before the day of celebration itself. Eager crowds
of shoppers can be seen searching for all kinds of
seasonal delicacies: oranges for good luck, flowers and
kumquat trees to beautify their homes. All debts must be
settled and the house spotlessly cleaned before the new
year begins.
On the even of the New Year, family relationships are
remembered with a special reunion dinner to usher in the
New Year. Younger members of the family visit their
relatives, receiving red packets of lucky money (ang
paus) while feasting and merrymaking.
The Chingay parade adds to the festive atmosphere with
stilt walkers, lion and dragon dances, acrobats, and
dozens of decorated floats taking to the streets amidst
the clashing of cymbals and beating of gongs and drums. Penang is the place to celebrate
the Chinese New Year.
Wesak Day (May 25)
This is the most important day of the Buddhist
Calendar as it marks the birth, enlightenment and death
of Buddha. Buddhist devotees will gather in temples
throughout the country to release doves and to offer
prayers. Wesak is also an occasion to offer alms to monks
and give free meals to the needy.
Kaamatan Festival in Sabah (May l -31)
The Kaamatan or Harvest Festival is celebrated by the
Kadazans / Dusuns in thanks for a bountiful harvest.
Highlights include a beauty pageant, cultural dances and
rituals culminating in the thanksgiving ceremony
performed by the Bobohizan or high priestess.
Gawai Festival in Sarawak (end May or early
June)
The Ibans and Bidayuhs of Sarawak celebrate the end of
padi harvesting season with much merry-making, dancing
and the drinking of tuak, a potent rice wine. A
fascinating Gawai dance is the Ngajat Lesong. A dancer
displays his strength and skill by lifting the lesong
(the mortar where padi is pounded) with his teeth.
Festival of San Pedro, Portuguese Settlement, Malacca (June 24 - 26)
A delightful cultural event to celebrate the birthday
of the patron saint of fishermen, San Pedro. The fishing
boats, which are colorfully decorated for the festival,
are blessed and prayers offered for a better season.
Flora Fest (July)
Malaysia, with year-round sunshine and high humidity,
provides the ideal climatic conditions for a rich plant
life, amongst them a profusion of flowering species.
Every year, in July, the Flora Fest is held to celebrate
the beauty of Malaysia's blooms through various
floral-themed events and competitions.
The week-long festival culminates in a spectacular
Floral Parade, whereby flower-bedecked animated floats
will make their way through the main streets of Kuala Lumpur, accompanied by
marching bands, equestrian units and dance troupes.
Malaysia Fest (September)
Pesta Malaysia, or Malaysia Fest, is a two-week affair
held in September of every year. First held in 1987. it
aims to create awareness and appreciation of Malaysian culture, craft and cuisine. This is one of the best
times to make your journey to Malaysia if you are a new
visitor. All the thirteen states of Malaysia participate
in the event, which is held in Kuala Lumpur. Among the
programs and activities visitors can look forward to will
be cultural shows, demonstrations of the beautiful
Malaysian handicrafts, and cuisine of the thirteen
states. Streets are strung with lights, while shopping
complexes and hotels compete for awards in creative light
decorations. If you can only make it to one festival,
this is the one to aim for.
Mooncake Festival (September)
The Chinese Mooncake Festival celebrates the overthrow
of the Mongols during the end of the Yuan Dynasty (120G-
1341 AD) in China. It falls on the fifteenth day of the
eighth moon (August/September). The festival is
celebrated with colorful lantern processions on the night
of the festival.
The other specialty of the festival is the Mooncake
itself. These cakes are rich, round pastries filled with
a mixture of sweet red bean paste, lotus nut paste, or
salted egg yolk. It is said that secret messages of
revolt carried inside these cakes led to the uprising
which deposed the Mongol Dynasty.
Deepavali (late October or early
November)
Deepavali or The Festival of Lights" is
celebrated during the 7th month of the Hindu calendar.
Hindus celebrate it by adorning their homes with dozens
of lights or oil lamps, called vikku, to signify the
triumph of good over evil, and thus light over darkness.
It is a day of festive joy and Malaysians visit their
friends of Hindu faith to extend good wishes and to
partake in the feasting and jollity.
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