Kapanlagi.com - The Lunar New Year celebration in Indonesia is not just an annual ritual, but also a rich and colorful cultural celebration, passed down from generation to generation as a tribute to ancestors and a hope for abundant fortune. Each existing tradition holds a unique story that reflects important values in Chinese society, such as harmony, happiness, and prosperity.
The Lunar New Year becomes a special moment for gathering with family, as well as the right time to reflect on new hopes for the coming year. From activities like cleaning the house to the tradition of sharing red envelopes, every step in this celebration contains profound philosophy. The Chinese community believes that by maintaining these traditions, they can attract happiness and good fortune in the future.
As one of the countries with a large Chinese community, Indonesia celebrates the Lunar New Year in a unique and distinctive way. Here are 17 Lunar New Year traditions that are still preserved in Indonesia, summarized by Kapanlagi.com on Sunday (19/1).
Before the Chinese New Year celebration, the Chinese community performs a ritual of cleaning the house to drive away negative energy and bring in new luck. During the Chinese New Year, cleaning the house is prohibited as it is believed to sweep away the fortune that has come.
After cleaning, the house is decorated with traditional Chinese New Year ornaments, such as red lanterns, calligraphy, and symbols of good fortune. The color red is chosen because it symbolizes happiness and prosperity.
The Chinese community hangs pictures of the 'door god' or mèn shén at the entrance of the house to protect the family from evil spirits. This tradition has existed since the Tang Dynasty and continues to this day.
A variety of traditional snacks such as nian gao (glutinous rice cake), oranges, and longevity noodles are served as symbols of good fortune and happiness during this celebration.
Extended families usually gather for a dinner together on the eve of Lunar New Year. This is an important moment to strengthen family ties and pray for shared happiness.
This tradition involves a special dish made of a mixture of fresh vegetables and sliced fish that are tossed together using chopsticks. The higher the toss, the greater the hope for prayers to be fulfilled.
Angpao containing money is given by those who are married to children or unmarried relatives as a symbol of good fortune and blessings.
In Chinese tradition, the fish served on the table should not be turned over. This symbolizes the continuity of fortune without interruption in the coming year.
The lion dance is an eagerly awaited attraction every Lunar New Year. Besides entertaining, the lion dance is believed to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits.
The loud sounds from firecrackers are believed to drive away evil spirits and bad luck. Firecrackers also create a festive atmosphere during the Lunar New Year celebrations.
The tradition of making noisy sounds originates from folklore about driving away the monster Nian that attacked the village. To this day, noisy sounds are considered capable of driving away negative energy.
Rain during the Lunar New Year is believed to bring blessings and abundant fortune. Many Chinese families hope for rain during the celebrations.
The Chinese community performs prayers at home or in temples to honor their ancestors, usually a day before the Lunar New Year by burning incense and offering food.
Singkawang is famous for the Tatung parade, which has become a world tourist attraction. This event involves ancestral spirits entering the bodies of participants to protect their community.
According to ANTARA, in the Chinatown of Semarang, the door knocking tradition is held with an interfaith prayer procession involving the local community to commemorate togetherness during the Lunar New Year.
Releasing sparrows and scattering fish seeds is done in Solo as a symbol of self-purification and harmony with nature.
Reading zodiac predictions has become a significant tradition in the Lunar New Year celebrations among the Chinese community in Indonesia. The zodiac is known to be a yearly belief prediction for the Chinese. The results of the zodiac are usually associated with luck, fortune, health, and even marriage.
Indonesia, as a country rich in cultural diversity, celebrates Lunar New Year with a local flavor unmatched anywhere else in the world. Unique traditions such as the Tatung parade in Singkawang and door knocking in Semarang are proof of the harmony between Chinese culture and local wisdom.
Lunar New Year is not just a family celebration, but also an opportunity to showcase Indonesia's cultural uniqueness to the world. Tourists from various corners often flock to witness the wonders of this tradition.
In every celebration, it is clear how the Indonesian people proudly preserve Lunar New Year traditions while still prioritizing local values. This is what makes the Lunar New Year celebration in Indonesia so special and different from others.
As Lunar New Year approaches, the tradition of cleaning the house is not just a routine, but a ritual to radiate positive energy and welcome new luck.
Red symbolizes happiness, prosperity, and good luck according to Chinese belief.
Angpao symbolizes prayers and hopes for fortune and happiness given to children or relatives.
The Tatung parade involves ancestral spirits believed to provide protection and is a captivating cultural attraction for tourists.
(kpl/rmt)
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