Celebrations in Malaysia

Malaysia is a country made up of different races, culture and language. In Malaysia, Malays is the biggest race and followed by Chinese, Indian and other races. Each of races they have their own festival that will be celebrate every year.

For Malay they will celebrate Eid Fitr, Eid Adha, Maal Hijrah and Maulidur Rasul. Each of festival will be given a public holiday to make all Malay can celebrate it with their relative. Every year the date will be different and actually thedate will be following the Islamic calendar.

The reason why we celebrate Eid Fitr is because celebrate the end month of Ramadhan and because all malay people successful fasting on Ramadhan. They will celebrate the eid with the new and colorful cloths and they will prepare a lot of food such as rendang, cookies, lemang and others. For Eid Adha, they will be encouraged to sacrificing a sheep, cow, goat, buffalo or camel.  They will be giving away one-third of the meat to friends and neighbors also can donate one-third or more of the meat to the poor and needy.

Next is Maal Hijrah and sometimes we will called Islamic New Year. This celebration will be celebrated on 1^st Muharam every year. The first Islamic year beginning in 610 AD during our Prophet Muhammad emigration from Mecca to Medina know as the hijrah. For Maulidur Rasul we celebrate it because to remember our Prophet Muhammad. We will celebrate it on 12 rabi’ al-awwal.

Chinese New Year will be celebrate by Chinese people and it also known as the new year to them. They did not have any specific date but they will refer to Lunar Calendar. Often, the evening preceding Chinese New Year’s Day in an occasion for Chinese families to gather for the annual reunion dinner. They will clean the house to sweep away any ill-fortune. They also will decorate their house with red color paper and they also will giving money in a red paper envelope.

For Indian people, they will celebrate Thaipusam and Deepavali. All Indian people will come to Batu Caves to celebrate it on the full moon in Tamil month either January or February. They will begin at 6 a.m on Thaipusam. The male chattier will carry peacock feather accompanying the silver chariet. Deepavali, also known as the Festival of Light. This celebration also did not have any specific date and it depend on Tamil Calendar. on this festive, they will light up the colorful light. They also prepare a lot of food and most of the food is traditional.

Christian also have their celebration which is Christmas.  this festival famous with giving gift, decorate the tree and Santa clause. They will celebrate it on 25 Dec every year.

Vaisakhi was celebrate by the Sikh people in Malaysia. The Sikh community is a minority in Malaysia so on their festival they did not a public holiday. The Prime Minister, Najib Razak, has announced that beginning 2013 all Sikh community will be given day off. They will celebrate it more to make open house.

For people who live at Sabah and Sarawak they will celebrate Hari Keamatan and Hari Gawai. The way they celebrate is same. They will celebrate it on 31 Mei and 1 Jun. The preparation will start early. Tuak (rice wine) is brewed using rice and mixed with yeast.  The long house will be repainted and repaired if necessary. Everyone will be busy preparing food and cakes and cleaning. The celebration on 31 Mei called Muai Antu Rua. On 1^st of Jun they will invite the guest to celebrate it together.