The big February event in Japan is St. Valentine’s day. We can enjoy shopping a variety of fashionable, sophisticated chocolates in this festive season.

But, different people have different customs!! There are many excited people who are waiting for another new year.

Yes, it’s spring festival.  Chinese New Year is coming!  The date in 2013 is February 10.

By the way, is Chinese New Year celebrated only in China?

No, No. Chinese New Year is celebrated as public holidays in many Asian countries such as Taiwan, South Korea, North Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia and Mongolia.

Not only that!  China towns in the world come alive in this special season.

Let’s explore the Spring Festival in Malaysia this time!

The population of Malaysia consists of three main ethnic groups, which are Malays, Chinese and Indians. Each group’s celebrates New Year in a different date according to their religion, so there are 4 New Year days in a year.  Of course, it’s on February 10 this year for Malaysian Chinese and the Chinese New Year is the most important and exciting holidays for them.

While the gorgeous and fantastic Christmas decorations last after Christmas and even the end of the year, there is no atmosphere to celebrate for New Year’s Day on January 1.

Then from the middle of January, the towns suddenly turn to red all over. Red symbolizes good fortune and joy in Chinese traditions.

Everywhere in supermarkets, department store, shopping centers are decorated with red ornaments for celebration.  Many gifts are displayed.

Special gift set consists of sweets, drinks, high class ingredients such as edible bird’s nest. The price is from RM 100 to over 1000!

There are many sweets gifts.

Similar to Japanese New Year customs, family reunion on the New Year’s Eve is very important part of celebration. Followed by the family reunion, people visit relatives and friends.  So, people need to prepare a lot of food and sweets to show their hospitality.

Upper left: Pineapple tarts. Fashionably wrapped for gift.
Upper right: Fortune cookies with a “fortune” message wrapped inside.
Lower left: Mandarin orange. It’s sold for gifts and ornamental purposes like Japanese decorative pine trees.
Lower right: Sweets made of boiled rice. How does it taste!?

I can say that Yee Sang is the typical dish and customs only in Malaysian Chinese New Year.

Yee Sang literally means “raw fish”, but it’s like seafood salad. Yee Sang usually consists of slices of raw fish (salmon or whitefish), shredded vegetables (white radish, carrots etc…), jellyfish, condiments, a variety of sauces and other ingredients.

Yee Sang is usually served as the appetizer.  But don’t forget the important ceremony before eating! Yee Sang is a symbolism of “good luck” for the New Year.

When it’s ready, all diners at the table stand up and on cue, proceed to toss the shredded ingredients into the air with chopsticks while saying various “auspicious wishes” out loud. It is believed that the height of the toss reflects the height of the diner’s growth in fortunes!

This enthusiastic and unique custom is just like cheery Malaysian Chinese!

You can find many topics and advertisements about Yee Sang in newspapers such as topics on “this year’s special Yee Sang of a venerable restaurant”, a variety of ads of advance orders, delivery services and special dinner courses for New Year.

The Yee Sang set for handmade dish is also sold in supermarkets.

Where do you visit if you want to join and celebrate Spring Festival?
It’s a one of good ideas to go to Yokohama China town!

reported by Makiko Wada, Sugahara Institute