Chinese Culture-'chap goh meh' also known as the Yuan Xiao Festival at Padang Kota Lama

'Chap goh meh' is a last day of Chinese New Year and it is also a Eastern Valentinne's Day for the chinese to celebrate it. In my opinion, 'chap goh meh' is a romantic day for the couples and the singles. The couples can enjoy their datings during this romantic day. For example, they can write their wishes on the chinese oranges and then throw those oranges to the sea. Besides, the singles can also meet and find their soulmates in this romantic festival. For instance, the women can write their names and contact numbers on the chinese oranges and then throw those chinese oranges to the sea. On the other hand, the men will collect those chinese oranges to meet and find their soulmates. In conclusion, 'chap goh meh' is a nice day for the couples and the singles to celebrate the festival.

-KC-

sanique with the ox cartoon~

chinese big flag performance.

foreigners were also participating themselve in chinese cultural events.

the full moon of the night.

the Lantern (lights).

the "Chap Goh Meh" which pronounce in the language of Hokkien, actually carried a legend which almost far 2000years ago from China. In Mandarin, it is pronounce as "Yuan Xiao Jie", the lantern festival. The 15th day of the 1st lunar month is the Lantern Festival because the first lunar month is called yuan-month and in the ancient times people called night Xiao. The 15th day is the first night of the year to see a full moon. So the day is also called Yuan Xiao Festival in China.

The accurate history of the Lantern Festival is originated since 2000years, during the Dong Han Dynasty. The emperor, Ming Di, was promoting Buddhism in China aggressively. He found out that during the 15th day of 1st month, the Buddhists will light up Lantern and pray to the Relic of Buddha. As to show his respect to Buddha, he ordered his people to light up the lights of all temples and castle during the night. The people of the country slowly followed this acitivity and light up lights on their houses and streets.

Until the Sui Dynasty in the sixth century, Emperor Yangdi invited envoys from other countries to China to see the colorful lighted lanterns and enjoy the gala performances.

By the beginning of the Tang Dynasty in the seventh century, the lantern displays would last three days. The emperor also lifted the curfew, allowing the people to enjoy the festive lanterns day and night. It is not difficult to find Chinese poems which describe this happy scene. And this was the time for the couples of that century, have an opportunity to meet up each and other, and spend their time together celebrating the festival. However time passes, a lot of people confused it as the valentine day for chinese.

In the Song Dynasty, the festival was celebrated for five days and the activities began to spread to many of the big cities in China. Colorful glass and even jade were used to make lanterns, with figures from folk tales painted on the lanterns.

However, the largest Lantern Festival celebration took place in the early part of the 15th century. The festivities continued for ten days. Emperor Chengzu had the downtown area set aside as a center for displaying the lanterns. Even today, there is a place in Beijing called Dengshikou. In Chinese, Deng means lantern and Shi is market. The area became a market where lanterns were sold during the day. In the evening, the local people would go there to see the beautiful lighted lanterns on display. People who is still single would take the opportunity to search for their life-partners.

Additionally, throwing "kam"(Mandarin, small orange with loose skin) to seek for relationship only happens in Malaysia Chinese society. This activity has become the main purpose of the Yuan Xiao Festival in Malaysia, instead of watching Lantern and poems. People believes that this activity was actually originate from a Hokkien song, which tells that, throwing mandarin will get you a good husband, throwing apple will get you a good wife... Hence, this throwing mandarin activity only found in Malaysia and Singapore which it has become an unique culture activity for the local Chinese here.

other than that, during the Yuan Xiao Festival, Chinese will ready a unique cuisine which is the "Tang Yuan"(rice ball, as the picture below), and eat with their family as to indicates the meaning of "Gather".

however, when the original Chinese culture was brought into Malaysia, the malaysia local Nyonya culture has eventually changed the traditional of eating rice ball to bobochacha instead, which a cuisine we are so familiar with. Hence, during the 15th of the 1st month, malaysian chinese will prepare the cuisine to share with family and friends.