So I have finally spent close to a year in Malaysia, thus I have experienced most of the celebrations which occur here. Well, when Christmas came around, I was really excited seeing that it is a HUGE deal in Australia. I thought that it would be the same here, better in fact because my family was here. Well, I did have a good Christmas but for one thing... we only had ONE day off... I felt cheated. I mean, in Australia, we would get a few days off... a week even seeing that the New Year was just around the corner. I know I know I know... seeing that I wasn't working at the time, why should I care right? Well, my boyfriend only had ONE day off and that pissed me off.

Anyways, I soon realized why we only have one day off for Christmas... we have other holidays! The Chinese celebrate the Chinese New Year which is a really big thing here. The Malays celebrate this thing called Hari Raya... which literally means Happy Day. I think that it is the new year for them. By Malays, I mean the Muslims. If I am not mistaken, the Muslims make up something like 50% - 60% of the population... the Chinese come in second... 40% or something and the Indians, the third. 

Now, these two different new years aren't like the Western ones i.e. it isn't based on dates but on the moon (still haven't figured that one out yet). It so happens that this year (and a few before this I am told), both New Year's happen to overlap. The entire country comes to a stand still for about a week. The Chinese New Year lasts for something like 15 days... some businesses are known to close for the entire 15 days. I am not sure how long the Muslim ones last for. Well, I got my holidays . My boyfriend got something like 10 days off.

It sure is weird having so many public holidays in a row. One of the Chinese tradition during the new year is to give out money (much like Christmas presents). They are given in little red packets (called ang pows). It is the custom... even if you go to a stranger's house, you would receive something... perhaps a dollar or two. That was my favourite part of the Chinese New Year. Only married people are obligated to give out ang pows. I had a brilliant time telling all the young ones that I wasn't married yet thus I didn't have to give them any . Perhaps somewhere down the line, someone decided that the Chinese ought to give out something and that person was too lazy to go out and get a gift so money was it. I am not complaining. The way I see it, this is another bonus to NOT get married... I would definitely save a lot during the Chinese New  Year.

If I am not mistaken, the Muslims have the same custom as well... but instead of the red packets, they are green. I have received a total of one in my entire life. This custom isn't practised as much as the Chinese one I think.

Well, the amount of money one tends to get during this festive season can amount to great sums. But unfortunately, in this recession we are receiving, mate... it was really depressing. I know that I am sounding a little bit materialistic right now but man... my collection this year is pathetic. 

There I was, really excited about the New Years (my first in 7 years) and well, I have to admit that seeing that I am still on my sabbatical, I am a little short when it comes to money... I was expecting a little more. Oh well...

We had this celebration at home... my mum's siblings (who live in the same state) came by for this huge dinner... most got thoroughly drunk and a good time was had by all (I think). It is the tradition that families get together during the New Years. Dad's relatives are all in a different state so they didn't turn up for that dinner.

Even as the time of writing, the Chinese New Year is still in progress... some have gone back to work but there are still businesses which remain close. Can you imagine a country coming to a complete stand still for that long a time?? No wonder the economic situation in this country is stuffing up! Well, that could be one of the reasons.

Now, one month prior to Hari Raya, all the Muslims in this country begin their "puasa" or fasting month. This is when they can only eat and drink at certain times i.e. the last meal they have is in the wee hours of the morning e.g. at around 6 am or so and they can't have anything, nothing in their mouth be in food, water or cigarettes till around 7 pm or so. The times vary between places. The majority of the population becomes weak and irritable (particularly those who are smokers). Productivity drops like you wouldn't believe (you would feel like shit as well if you didn't have food or water for the whole day) and half of them smell. You know the kind of bad breath you have when you wake up in the morning... a lot of them have that and they can't do anything about it like taking mints or using mouth wash. All the Muslims leave work early to that they can make it home in time for the "buka puasa" thingie (the time they can break fast). Then, these people stuff themselves and go to bed seeing that they have to wake up at around 4 - 5 am to have their last meal for the day. Weird huh? But then, religion was never supposed to be practical.

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