Gong Xi Fa Cai a la Baba Nyonya

The Peranakan or Straits Chinese are descendants of Chinese immigrants who intermarried with the locals and settled here during the early 1400s. Over time, they assimilated Malay language and customs into their lives and created a fusion culture all their own.

Because most Peranakan are of Hokkien ancestry, their language (Baba Malay) is interspersed with many Hokkien words. The men came to be known as Baba, and the women, Nyonya. Malay influence is evident in their clothing and food, but they have also retained their Chinese heritage, especially customs like ancestral worship.

Hence, Chinese New Year is celebrated according to their mixed lineage.

“Our celebrations actually begin on Dec 22 during the tang chek or Winter Solstice, which signifies renewal and hope. This is the day when all Peranakan are considered a year older. We roll glutinous rice balls in red and white and stick them as markers on door posts to inform the public that we are fortunate enough to celebrate the New Year,” explains Cedric Tan, assistant secretary of the Peranakan Baba Nyonya Association of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

A red cloth is then tied around the door for happiness and to signal that spring cleaning activities have begun. However, if there is a death in the family, this practice is suspended until the mourning period is over.

“The Peranakan have been carrying out quaint practices from yesteryear, some of which are non-existent in mainland China. We may not know the reason because it was passed down through oral traditions so the meaning might get lost,” says Tan, who learnt some of the practices through his late grandmother who lived with them.

For example, unlike their Chinese ancestors, the Peranakan do not simply place oranges and pineapples on the altar but tie and decorate the fruits with serrated-patterned red paper before offering it to the gods.

“We are lovers of beauty, so the Peranakan home always has beautiful items. Even if there is a so-called feng shui item being used, it is purely for decorative purposes. Only the mirror is hung above the main door of the house to repel evil forces.”

Once the cleaning is completed, the baking commences. A must in every Peranakan household are kuih bakul, pineapple tarts, jelly, dodol and wajik. The latter two signify perpetuity.

“The Malays have cucu (grandchild), cicit (great-grandchild) and oneng-oneng (great-great-grandchild) but we go two steps further, and the next in line are called dodol and wajik. We make the kueh and hope that the human production will continue forever,” says Tan who is also the founder of Baba-Nyonya Culture Promotions, a consultancy firm which organises Peranakan weddings and puts up cultural shows.

A week before New Year, gifts comprising food items are exchanged with relatives so that on visiting days, guests do not come bearing gifts anymore. On the eve of Chinese New Year, the community will hang three lanterns with the family name painted on it outside the house and pray to the ancestors.

In Tan’s household, there is no reunion dinner on the eve; rather, they have a reunion lunch because one of his two brothers usually goes to his in-laws for dinner. The food cooked for the occasion is the same as what’s offered to the ancestors. Peranakan food is tangy, aromatic and spicy — a mix of Chinese and Malay ingredients and recipes.

“On the day itself, we open the main door of the house to greet the New Year, and follow with prayers. It is not to greet the God of Prosperity. The time to open the main door remains the same throughout the year which is around 6am-8am.”

Then comes the paying of respect to the elders, also called sohjah. Back in the days when grandma was alive, Tan says, the youngsters would stand in line according to seniority while the matriarch sat on her chair and gave out angpow.

“The girls would squat without their knees touching the floor while the boys would kneel and clasp their hands” says Tan. Instead of wishing Selamat Taon Baru, the elders would utter something like “Pande-pande surat” or “Cepat-cepat kahwin” or “Cepat-cepat beranak” while the younger ones would reply by saying, “Panjang-panjang umur”.

The day continues with relatives and friends dropping in to visit. The celebration culminates on the 15th day (Chap Goh Meh), when all lights and oil lamps at home are doused. The Peranakan will take three huge joss-sticks to the temple, burn them and stick them in a vase. Then they retrieve their joss-sticks, head home and use it to light candles and oil lamps in a ritual called Ambek Api.

“We bring home the holy fire for divine blessings and hope we will be endowed with good luck and happiness the whole year,” says Tan.

While their “authentic” Chinese counterparts throw oranges into the river or sea during Chap Goh Meh in the hope of finding themselves a spouse, the Malacca Peranakan embark on a fancy dress parade. Everyone, from children to adults, whether men or women, married or otherwise, dress up and go from house to house, sing songs, eat, mingle and make merry.

“It’s a really fun event,” enthuses Tan. “The elders act as judges, and the winners usually get a hamper or something.”

An excerpt from The Star 24 January 2009.

The customs mentioned really brought back fond memories of celebrating CNY when my grandparents were still around, especially Sohjah. After the demise of my Ng Kong which was followed closely by Mak's passing, Chinese New Year was never the same again. There's no longer the excitement and camaraderie that I felt back then. Of course I'm also married now and no longer join my parents and extended family back in Malacca on the first day.

Happy Chinese New Year one and all!