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Sharing joys and traditions of Chinese New Year
When former president Abdurrahman Wahid declared Chinese New Year as a national holiday and that its celebration could be held publicly, many shopping centers participated in the merriment
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When former president Abdurrahman Wahid declared Chinese New Year as a national holiday and that its celebration could be held publicly, many shopping centers participated in the merriment. Today, the festivity doesn't only belong to those of Chinese descent, but to all Indonesians alike.
Vania Tio, a mother-to-be in Cijantung, grew up during the Soeharto era when all things Chinese were banned. She recalled waking up early in the morning of Chinese New Year to stop by her grandfather's house before school, lining up for a red envelope with her cousin. Everyone was wearing a school uniform. On the weekend, they would meet again for family lunch in her eldest uncle's house.
'There was nothing special, but Chinese New Year is always about families gathering.'
When Chinese New Year became a public holiday and shopping centers started to adapt the culture into their decorations, her family moved the gatherings to Chinese restaurants. The parents and grandparents would stay for a talk while the younger children would go to see performances in the mall's atrium. She can't wait for her unborn son to grow up and learn about his culture. She already has a long list planned. 'I'm due around Chinese New Year, so we will miss this year's celebration. But next year, we're planning to take him to malls to see Barongsai, Liong or Shaolin performances.'
Nowadays, Chinese New Year is not only celebrated by Indonesians of Chinese descent, but also by those of non-Chinese descent. The euphoria invites every Indonesian to celebrate the occasion as well.
'The Chinese New Year celebration is something that we have to preserve. I'm glad we can celebrate it now in our country. Even though I'm not of Chinese descent, I believe those of Chinese descent have the same right to celebrate their holiday, inasmuch as those of non-Chinese descent celebrate theirs. The different cultures and traditions will enrich our country, making it more colorful,' said Diana Puspitasari, a Kalibata resident.
Residing right above Kalibata City Mall, Diana and her family usually visit the mall on Chinese New Year. Her three-year-old son, Hawriyu, has been a big fan of Barongsai since he was a toddler. 'At the mall, my son was watching Barongsai from his father's shoulder and he was dancing eagerly to the music. But the best moment was when he fed the Barongsai with a red envelope. He was so excited,' she said, recalling her experience last year.
She's also actively participating in a Chinese New Year photo contest. 'Red is our favorite color so we have many matching family outfits in red. So we think it's fun when we have a chance to participate in a family photo competition for Chinese New Year in our red outfits.'
Then on weekend, she would go to Kelapa Gading, searching for more elaborate decorations. 'One of my favorites was the seven-meter-tall Pagoda at La Piazza. Last year I also watched the glow-in-the-dark Liong dance. There were 11 dances and the Liong was 11 meters long. It was unforgettable,' she said, adding that Chinese New Year is also when she has a playdate reunion with old friends and their children.
Barongsai and Liong dances are a must-have for mall celebrations. But each shopping center has its own twist when it comes to the theme.
Emporium Pluit Mall has world champion Barongsai and Liong performances from the Kong Ha Hong Foundation on their list of attractions. The mall is planning to show pink Barongsai on Valentine's Day. Taking the theme of 'The Wonders of Chinese New Year', Emporium Pluit also has Duo Face Changing Mask, the Chinese Orchestra and the Mandarin Idol Competition in their agenda. The mall will decorate the stage with lanterns of different sizes and place a Barongsai statue made of Faber Castle Connector Pens at its main lobby entrance.
'Our mall is located in an area in which the majority of the residents are of Chinese descent. However, aside from celebrating the New Year, we also want to introduce Chinese culture and traditions to our guests,' said Priscilla Ganda-Moningka, the senior advertising, promotions and public relations manager of the Emporium Pluit Mall.
The highlight this year is the Shaolin Kung Fu performance. 'We have invited 10 Shaolin monks straight from Henan, China, to perform Kung Fu and acrobatic shows,' explained Priscilla. A total of 18 shows will be held starting Feb. 13. The Emporium Pluit Mall has celebrated Chinese New Year every year since it was first opened in 2009. The series of events continue on with Mandarin idol and a shopping program called Fortune Cookies, to a Cap Go Meh celebration in early March.
They might not enjoy as much euphoria as those in Jakarta, but Indonesians in other big cities are excited about Chinese New Year celebration as well. Pungki Irawan, owner of Cinta Kids Fashion in Semarang, sees the celebration as a way to improve his daughter's talent. He observed that competitions held during Chinese New Year usually have better stages, more contestants and higher prize values. 'I registered my daughter Claudya at a Chinese New Year fashion contest held at a mall because in my opinion, as it becomes more competitive, it motivates children to go beyond their comfort zone,' said Pungki, whose business is based on handmade costumes and fashions for children.
'I love how they adorn the stage and that there are other attractions like Barongsai that we can enjoy, aside from just participating in the contest. I hope in the future there will be celebrations that combine both traditional Indonesian and Chinese culture to bring us closer to one another,' he added.
(Ruth Ninajanty)
