CNY Visits & Visitors

Chinese New Year in Sibu

The Year of the 'Golden' Ox arrived with the crackling sound of explosion and whistles in Sibu. Yes, at the stroke of midnight, like all the other towns in Sarawak, fireworks and probably I can say fire bombs were let loose by the celebrants. As my parent's lived in a predominantly Chinese neighbourhood, we got to enjoy some spectacular fireworks celebration.

Evidence of fireworks leftovers the previous night

Though fireworks was said to be 'banned' the town of Sibu seemed lighted up come midnight. The intensity this year though was not like in previous years where we would usually be treated with an hour of non stop 'artillery' barrages. This time it lasted just half an hour.

Oooha and Yamseng toast mix with Mr. Goh and family - Chinese New Year visiting in progress

We kept the spirit of visiting during Chinese New Year alive as our family visited friends in full force. This scene is replicated Statewide as I read in other blogs about the various house visiting and open houses held by celebrants. This augurs well for the unity of the multi racial population of Sarawak.

New Year 'visitors'

There's a scene that I get to see in Sibu almost every year which is of a group of Chinese New Year 'visitors' comprised of a 'family' who goes from house to house wishing Happy New Year and asking for 'ang pows'. From my random observations and queries, most of them comprises of small Iban families usually led by the womenfolks. This 'practice' came into light since the last eight to ten years or so probably due to urban migration phenomenon. Its an interesting scene really. At one time we were in a friend's house these folks would come into an 'open' house and ask for ang pow. Though it was a tradition for the Chinese families to give ang pows to children but it seems that the adults here wish to have some also. The drinks and oranges offered would go into the back packs. It would be quite interesting if we start to find out the cause of this 'visiting trend' during festive season so that they do not downgrade their visitor status to beggar status. Perhaps a job for the Non Government Organisations (NGOs) that look into the plights of the Dayak's or Ibans' welfare in urban settings like SADIA and SDNU. It would be more appropriate for SADIA as they have noble Aims and Objectives (using the Kuching SADIA website as example) listed out for the community. Looking at SDNU's website, I can see that their cause now are more on a macro approach and International in perspective - maybe a new direction not incorporating Dayak welfare as it is felt that our community is quite progressive already? Anyway, Cheers and Gong Xi Fa Chai.