Differences of different festivals.( Groupwork together)

Differences of celebrating different festivals.

Hari Raya:

• I get money instead of presents while Jess gets presents for Christmas.
• I have to go to visit my relatives while Jess usually stay at home ans does not do anything as well as visiting.

Christmas:

During Christmas, my family usually go somewhere to celebrate the festival. We buy presents for each other and have dinner at a restaurant. We usually have a good time in Christmas. At that time, I usually spend time with my family, not with my friends. But in case of Jess, he does not spend time with his family in Christmas. His sisters spend their time with their boyfriends and Jess also spends time with his best friend, Leslie. we can see that the relationship between Jess and his family is not close enough. Especially his father and Jess is not every close but in my case, my brother and father is very close. The similarity is that we all spend our time decorating the Christmas tree.

Easter:

During Easter, we do not do any special activity as Easter is not a big festival in Asia. If my father is busy, then we just stay at home or I'll go out with my friends. Jess also spends time with his friend usual, and goes to church to celebrate Easter. In western countries, Easter is quite important as most of them are Christians. At that time, they usually spend their whole day in church. We do not have any holidays for Easter.

Chinese New year:

During Chinese new year, we would usually go visit our relatives with Mandarin oranges and in exchange, the married adults and elders will give us red packets. we also have steamboat on the eve of Chinese New year which is also known as reunion dinner. For decorations of the house, we would put up 'chunlian', words that meant prosperity and good health for the year. Some of us, in different customs, would stay up late till the next morning as we believed that the longer we stay up late, it will increase our parents' longevity. Chinese new year is also the time when we could play with firecrackers. It had been such a pity, as the Singapore government had banned it. But, we can also see firecrackers most commonly in China.

AMIRAH'S EXPERIENCE

Experiences of celebrating Hari Raya.

My family is a little bit different from other families. We do not decorate our houses and celebrate hari raya 'lightly'. We treat it as a small affair. It was not like this before, but now my family has changed ways. We still go visiting but to lesser houses. We only go to about ten houses. On the first day, we usually go to my grandparents' house first. They are nowmy mother's parents. Because my mother only had 2 other sisters, I get to see my cousins and aunties early in the morning. Then, I would go to my father's oldest sister's house because my father's parents have passed away. Usually, we would go to their house in the afternoon. After that, we would go home and rest after a long day. The one thing I enjoy most about visiting these 2 houses is that I get to enjoy alot of great food. When we go home, we usually bring home some food of what my grandmother and my aunt had made. During Hari Raya, i usually wear formal clothing. As much as I would like to wear casually, I was not allowed. It will be considered rude. Still, I cant wait for the next Hari Raya.

JIE MIN'S EXPERIENCE

As a practice, every year on the eve of Chinese New year, my mother will cook alot of delicious food for the reunion dinner and lunch for the whole family, including all my uncles and aunts. This procewss will start from the day before the eve. My uncles and aunts will come when they think that my mum had finished cooking and ready to eat. For me, I think that Chinese New Year is the worst day of the year for my mum! On the actual day of Chinese New Year, my family and I will wake up early in the morning, have our breakfast and will go to my grandma's house and visit her as a traditon. After that, my family will be on the way to Malaysia to visit my other grandparent. The journey to Malaysia is long, so on the way, we will have some snacks to munch while travelling. Every year, my family and I will need to go to Malaysia during Chinese New Year and juct stay at my grandparent's house together with my cousins doing nothing but visit. But this year it was different. At Malaysia, we actually went to a funfair at night! The rides were exciting and a little scary too. We also went ot a Singh temple which is still building but i heard that it will be the biggest Singh temple in the SouthaEast! The environment there was wonderful and the cold breeze there was so refreshing. Good things always come to an end and the Chinese New Year is over. I will be looking forward to the next Chinese New year.

Pictures

CHINESE NEW YEAR PICTURES

FACTS (BY SHERRY)

Hari Raya Aidilfitri

(also Hari Raya Puasa, literally "Celebration Day of Fasting") Arabic: AidilFitri عيد الفطر is the Malay term for the Muslim festival of Eid ul-Fitr. Hari Raya is also known as Lebaran. Muslims in Malaysia and Singapore celebrate Eid like other Muslims throughout the world. The term "Hari Raya" literally means "Day of Celebration" — it is also occasionally used to refer to Eid ul-Adha in the form of "Hari Raya Aidiladha". The main greeting used by Muslims in Malaysia and Singapore is "Selamat Hari Raya" which means "Happy Eid" in Malay. Another greeting is "maaf zahir dan batin" which translates loosely to "I seek forgiveness (from you) physically and spiritually", for Hari Raya is a time to reconcile and renew relationships with others.

During the Muslim month of Ramadan leading up to Hari Raya, it is mandatory for Muslims to fast from dawn to dusk. All Muslims except the young, old or infirm must fast. Many Muslims also abstain from pleasures such as cigarettes during the daylight of the fasting month.
Widely, markets, or 'Ramadan bazaars' are held in many areas around the country, where all sorts of food and kuih — traditional Malay delicacies — are sold for breaking fast or buka puasa. Hotels and restaurants have also exploited this situation to offer exorbitant Ramadan buffets. This practice of overindulging has been criticised by Muslim clerics, notably the mufti of the state of Kelantan.

Personal opinions

I think that the Muslims have very interesting facts about celebrating Hari Raya. On the eve of Hari Raya, Muslims will recite the takbir, which is held in mosques and surau (smaller place of worship). Many people also traditionally return to their hometown generally from big metropolitan cities to rural areas. Days before Hari Raya, house compounds, particularly those in the countryside will be lit up with oil lamps known as pelita or panjut. This display of oil lamps will reach its height on the 27th night of Ramadan, called the Tujuh Likur night. 'Likur' literally meaning a figure between 20 and 30, hence 'tujuh likur' means twenty seven. Originally during the early days of the arrival of Islam among the Malays, the purpose of lighting the oil lamps was to attract spirits and angels to descend to people's homes during the night of Lailatulqadar. However after ages has passed, such misconception is regarded counterfactual as much understanding of Islam were obtained. Nowadays the oil lamps are lit solely for decorational purposes. It was such a pity, as the oil lamps would have been an object of great importance and perhaps interest other religions.

FACTS (BY SHERRY)

Floral Decor
Meaning
Plum blossom
symbolizes luck
Kumquat
symbolizes prosperity
Narcissus
symbolizes prosperity
Chrysanthemum
symbolizes longevity
Bamboo
a plant used for any time of year
Sunflower
means to have a good year

Food items
Name
Description
Buddha's delight(traditional Chinese: 羅漢齋; simplified Chinese: 罗汉斋; pinyin: luóhàn zhāi)
An elaborate vegetarian dish served by Chinese families on the eve and the first day of the New Year. A type of black hair-like algae, pronounced "fat choy" in Cantonese, is also featured in the dish for its name, which sounds like "prosperity". Hakkas usually serve kiu nyuk (Chinese: 扣肉; pinyin kòuròu) and ngiong tiu fu.
Fish
Is usually eaten on the eve of Chinese New Year. The pronunciation of fish (魚yú) makes it a homophone for "surpluses"(餘yú).
Jau gok (Chinese: 油角)
The main Chinese new year dumpling. It is believed to resemble ancient Chinese gold ingots(simplified Chinese: 金元宝; traditional Chinese: 金元寶; pinyin: jīn yuán bǎo)
Jiaozi dumplings
Eaten traditionally in northern China because the preparation is similar to packaging luck inside the dumpling, which is later eaten.
Mandarin oranges
Mandarin oranges are the most popular and most abundant fruit during Chinese New Year — jin ju (Chinese: 金橘子; pinyin: jīn júzi) translation: golden tangerine/orange or kam (Chinese: 柑; pinyin: gum) in Cantonese.
Melon seed/Kwatji(Chinese: 瓜子; pinyin: gwāzi)
Other variations include sunflower and pumpkin seeds
Nian gao (Chinese: 年糕)
Most popular in eastern China (Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai) because its pronunciation is a homophone for "a more prosperous year".
Noodles
Families may serve uncut noodles, which represent longevity and long life, though this practice is not limited to the new year.
Sweets
Sweets and similar dried fruit goods are stored in a red or black Chinese candy box.
Bakkwa
Chinese salty-sweet dried meat which is trimmed of the fat, sliced, marinated and then smoked for later consumption or as a gift.
Tikoy (Chinese: 年糕)
Known as Chinese New Year pudding, tikoy is made up of glutinous rice flour, wheat starch, salt, water, and sugar. The colour of the sugar used determines the colour of the pudding (white or brown).
Taro cakes
Turnip cakes

OPINIONS (SHERRY)

Chinese New Year

(simplified Chinese: 农历新年; traditional Chinese: 農曆新年; pinyin: Nónglì xīnnián; literally: "Agrarian Calendar New Year") or Spring Festival (simplified Chinese: 春节; traditional Chinese: 春節; pinyin: Chūnjié) is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month (Chinese: 正月; pinyin: zhēng yuè) in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival (simplified Chinese: 元宵节; traditional Chinese: 元宵節; pinyin: yuánxiāojié).
Chinese New Year's Eve is known as Chúxī (除夕).
Celebrated in areas with large populations of ethnic Chinese, Chinese New Year is considered a major holiday for the Chinese and has had a strong influence on the new year celebrations of its geographic neighbours, as well as cultures with whom the Chinese have had extensive interaction. These include Koreans, Mongolians, Nepalese, Bhutanese, Vietnamese, and formerly the Japanese before 1873. In Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and other countries with significant Chinese populations, Chinese New Year is also celebrated, largely by overseas Chinese, but it is not part of the traditional culture of these countries.

Good luck
Opening windows and/or doors is considered to bring in the good luck of the new year.
Switching on the lights for the night is considered good luck to 'scare away' ghosts and spirits of misfortune that may compromise the luck and fortune of the new year.
Sweets are eaten to ensure the consumer a "sweet" year.
It is important to have the house completely clean from top to bottom before New Year's Day for good luck in the coming year. (however, as explained below, cleaning the house after New Year's Day is frowned upon)
Some believe that what happens on the first day of the new year reflects the rest of the year to come. Asians will often gamble at the beginning of the year, hoping to get luck and prosperity.
Wearing a new pair of slippers that is bought before the new year, because it means to step on the people who gossip about you.
The night before the new year, bathe yourself in pomelo leaves and some say that you will be healthy for the rest of the new year.

Bad luck
Buying a pair of shoes is considered bad luck amongst some Chinese. The word "shoes" is a homophone for the word for "rough" in Cantonese, or "evil" in Mandarin.
Washing your hair is also considered to be washing away one's own luck (although modern hygienic concerns take precedence over this tradition)
Sweeping the floor is usually forbidden on the first day, as it will sweep away the good fortune and luck for the new year.
Talking about death is inappropriate for the first few days of Chinese New Year, as it is considered inauspicious as well.
Buying books is bad luck because the word for "book" is a homonym to the word "lose".
Avoid clothes in black and white, as black is a symbol of bad luck, and white is a traditional funeral colour.

Personal opinions

I think that these chinese beliefs are not true. As the chinese are known to be supersticious, believing in every myth or taboos they came across, such as buying a pair of shoes during chinese new year is considered that it meant evil & rough. Or maybe washing your hair during chinese new year is also considered to be washing away the good luck from ourself. Sweeping the floor being forbidden and inauspicious to talk about death or wear black and white colours. Though i do not believe these things, i had to abide them as i had elders who believed in these, so i do not wish to show any disrespect to them by going against their beliefs. These beliefs had been quite interesting and sometimes a bit ridiculous though.

SOH YEON'S EXPERIENCE

Korean New Year is the same date with Chinese New Year but we have three holidays. At that time, we should go to our grandparents' houses and meet our relatives. On the first day of the Korean New Year, adults prepare food for the sacrifice to our ancestors. We put many fruits, cereals and meats on the table for the sacrifice. And we bowed to our dead ancestors and eat rice cake soup to became older than last year. We Koreans believe that we will become one year older than last year when we eat the rice cake soup in the Korean Chinese New Year. After we finish having sacrifice and we perform a New Year's bow to our grandparents. Then they give handsel to us. We also play some games with our relatives, example we play yut game, 4 wooden sticks and we throw it. The sticks have crosses on one side and nothing on the other side. If you are lucky, you might just get the good lot- a stick with nothing on a side and three other sticks which had crosses on it. We have a map, and depends on the sticks, the toys on the map can move. When your toy reaches the finishing line, you will win the game. We also fly kites, and wrestle for the men and boys. We too, have a game similar to shooting hoops though, but it is throwing, which is aiming a arrow and throw it into the basket. Most of the adults played the card game. If one of the adults win the card game, the rest playing the card game who lost, shall pay money to the winner. The game is usually played at night. We have a good time with our whole families during the Korean New Year.

CHINESE NEW YEAR (SHERRY)

Chinese New Year Celebrations

HOW DO I CELEBRATE CHINESE NEW YEAR? WELL…IT’S NOT A GREAT DEAL OF A DIFFERENCE FROM OTHER FAMILIES THOUGH. FOR ME, THE CHINESE TRADITION, WE WOULD PRAY TO THE GODS AND HAVE VEGETARIAN FOOD IN THE MORNING OF THE FIRST DAY IN THE LUNAR NEW YEAR. OUR ELDERS WOULD PREPARE A VARIETY OF SCRUMPTIOUS FOOD FOR THE GUESTS. MOSTLY FOR THE FIRST DAY, I WOULD VISIT MY GRANDUNCLE’S HOUSE AFTER BREAKFAST. MANY OF MY RELATIVES WOULD GET TOGETHER AND HAVE THEIR LUNCH AND MAKE CONVERSATIONS. FOR ME, THIS IS INDEED A VALUABLE CHANCE I CHERISHED THE MOST AS I RARELY GET ANY CHANCE TO MEET UP WITH MY COUSINS EXCEPT THIS DAY OF THE WHOLE YEAR.IN ADDITION, ELDERS AND MARRIED COUPLES ARE BELIEVED TO GIVE RED PACKETS, (HONG BAO) TO THE UNMARRIED AND CHILDREN. AFTER THAT, I WOULD GO TO THE TEMPLE TO PAY MY RESPECTS TO MY BELOVED GREAT GRANDMOTHER, MY SECOND GRANDUNCLE AND MY AUNT, WHO DIED OF A RARE BRAIN CANCER. IT WAS SAD TO SAY THOUGH, BUT I HOPED THAT THEY REST IN PEACE AND CONTINUE TO WATCH OVER THEIR DESCENDENTS. FOR PREPARATION OF CHINESE NEW YEAR, YOU COULD SAY THAT IT TAKES UP A LOT OF TIME. WE HAD TO GET READY THE FOODSTUFFS, THE RED PACKETS, THE DECORATIONS OF THE HOUSE AND THE SHOPPING OF NEW CLOTHES TO BE TAKEN CARE OF JUST FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR. IT NOT ONLY TAKES UP TIME, BUT EFFORT AND A HUGE SUM OF MONEY IS PUT IN IT TOO. I VISITED MANY OF MY RELATIVES HOUSES, TO AND FRO. I VISITED UP TO 4 DIFFERENT PLACES A DAY. WHEN I CAME BACK HOME, I WAS EXHAUSTED. I LOVE THE NEW YEAR GOODIES, THEY WERE GOOD…THE CHOCOLATES, AND SWEETS…MANY MORE OTHER DELIGHT. TO SOME, THE BEST PART IS…COLLECTION OF RED PACKETS AND COUNTING HOW MUCH CASH THEY RECEIVED IN TOTAL. IT IS ALSO BELIEVED THAT IT IS BAD LUCK TO BE REPRIMANDED IN THE MIDST OF THE 15 DAYS OF CHINESE NEW YEAR. IT SHOULD BE A HAPPY OCCASION FOR ALL AND THINGS SHOULD GO SMOOTHLY WITHOUT ANY STUMBLING BLOCKS. WE WOULD ALSO HAVE A REUNION DINNER ON THE FIRST DAY, WHICH IS WHEN EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY GATHERS TOGETHER FOR A HEART WARMING AND MOUTH-WATERING DINNER OF STEAMBOAT. WE WOULD ALSO HAVE A COMMON TYPE OF FOOD FOR THE DAY-ABALONE. PLAIN YET EXPENSIVE, MOST FAMILIES WOULD HAVE THEM FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR MEALS.WE WERE MOSTLY ENCOURAGED TO WEAR THE COLOUR RED, WHICH SIGNIFIES PROSPERITY AND HAPPINESS. THIS HAS TOO, BEEN A TRADITION PASSED DOWN FROM THE EARLY YEARS WHEN OUR ANCENSTORS USED TO CELEBRATED CHINESE NEW YEAR. RED, BELIEVED TO SCARE OFF NIAN, WHICH IS A MONSTER WHO HATES RED AND ALSO THE BIANPAO, WHICH IS FIRE CRACKERS. NOWADAYS, WE RARELY SEE FIRE CRACKERS BEING PUT UP AS IT HAD BEEN BANNED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN SINGAPORE. BUT IT COULD BE SEEN AS OFTEN IN CHINA, WHERE MANY HOUSES WOULD EACH HAVE SOME ANS ALLOWED TO USE THEM ANYTIME. IT HAD BEEN SUCH A PITY THOUGH; NO MORE FIRE CRACKERS WOULD BE SEEN IN SINGAPORE ANYMORE.