New Years Come in Threes

Malaysia is blessed with a wide range of festivals linked to the different ethnic and religious groups in the country. And, like other countries, Malaysia can even be said to have its very own Festive Season. But whereas in other countries, like the UK, the Festive Season basically means Christmas and the New Year, here in Malaysia the term takes on a whole new meaning altogether.

That’s because, for the last couple of years or so, three different New Year festivals have been falling within a month or two of one another. Confused? Don’t be! You see, the movable nature of the Islamic and Lunar calendars means that all Islamic celebrations such as Hari Raya Puasa, as well as the Chinese New Year, never fall on the same day every year.

The Hari Raya, or Eid il-Fitri, is in fact gradually moving backwards through the calendar each year. And the Chinese New Year, even though it is generally around January/February, is never on exactly the same date every year. So, whenever the Chinese and Islamic New Year festivals fall close to the Christian New Year, you have a triple eclipse of New Years.

This is great for a number of reasons. Firstly, we hard-working wage slaves get plenty of holidays within a few weeks of one another. Secondly, having all these colourful, exciting festivals is very good for tourism, and business in general. And thirdly, having three different New Years at the same time is just so damn cool, and so Malaysian!

This year is no exception. Back in January 1^st, we had of course the usual firecrackerfest and global street party that augured in the year 2008. Auld Lang Syne and all that... Last week, on January 10^th, it was the turn of the Islamic world to have their New Year – the Awal Muharram, which is the first day of the Arab New Year which is followed by Muslims the world over. The Muharram was a much quieter and more sober affair than the 2008 New Year – we had a day off work but it was spent in the Wisma Saberkas hunting for printers. Just an ordinary day off for me. And as for firecrackers and street parties, there wasn’t much – I heard just one or two desultory bangs over the river in the Malay area.

And in early February, of course, there will be arguably the most spectacular New Year of all, the Chinese Lunar New Year, complete with the colourful lion dances, deafening fusillades of firecrackers and a tempting array of invitations to our Chinese friends’ houses. Chinese New Year is secretly my favourite out of the three, simply because of the noise, the colour and passion of the whole thing. And on the eve of the New Year, our street, which is 99% Chinese, is going to be the scene of such a pandemonium of smoke and explosions that you will think you are in a war zone! Just like last year!!

Watch this space for a special report from the front line come February...

Happy New Year! Three times!!!