The Overview of Indonesia Chinese New Year Holiday
Also, fruits are a big part of the celebration because the Chinese believe they bring luck. The highly associated ones are oranges and pineapple. They say that pineapples mean good fortune will arrive and oranges bring good luck. A lot of people in Indonesia enjoy the colourful and exciting festivities of the Chinese New Year even if they are not from the same race.
There are many facets to the beliefs and traditions of the Chinese that they are celebrated around the world. Even if you are just visiting, you will not get bored with the celebrations.
If you want to celebrate Chinese New Year in Indonesia, you must learn more about it from here.
What is the Chinese New Year in Indonesia All About?
Imlek is the local term they use for the Chinese New Year. The Chinese Indonesians did not have the freedom to celebrate the new year in the past because they were culturally restricted. It became a reflection of how they handled discrimination throughout the years.
It was in the year 2000 when the ban was lifted because President Abdurrahman Gus Dur overturned it. After that, Megawati Soekarnoputri issued a decree in 2002 which made it a national public holiday in Indonesia.
The people who consider it a religious celebration still follow all the rituals like using incense to pray to the gods and ancestors and offer things at the shrine.
Those who see it as a custom celebrate it by reuniting with their family and exchanging red envelopes.
There are regions where culture and religion are mixed like churches holding special masses for Imlek.
Usually, people wear new clothes on the Chinese New Year, and they are typically red. They believe that red protects them from misfortune and bad spirits. They purchase new clothes for themselves, their children, parents, and elders. That is why shopping malls have midnight sales during this time to cater to those who want to shop for new clothes before the Imlek celebration begins.
How to Celebrate Chinese New Year in the Indonesia and Things You Can Do
People in Indonesia celebrate Imlek by going to parades and watching dragon dances in different communities. People want to bring good fortune and prosperity in the coming year. A lot of people will give time to their friends and family. It is an unofficial national holiday, which means the businesses and government are open.
There are many things you can do during the Chinese New Year in Indonesia, like:
- You can find Chinese ornaments in Glodok – On regular days, the Chinatown in Jakarta is where you can go to purchase electronics for lower prices. Before Imlek starts, this place gets busier because they will start selling Chinese ornaments such as pink sakura tree imitation, and red lanterns.
- Watch the Acrobatic Barongsai and Liong – Before Chinese New Year, the shopping malls in Jakarta decorate their properties and holding festivals that sell delicious and festive Chinese food. They also feature the Barongsai and Liong, which is a Chinese lion and dragon dance. Clashing cymbals and drums accompany the dance while they move from one pillar to another.
- Release a bird – You can do this at Vihara Dhara Bakti, which is a Chinese temple, and worshippers and rituals are being practised. You can go to the Glodok area, and find people releasing sparrows because they believe it gains them merit. This is called ‘fang shen’, and you can also buy live sparrows to release them. The belief is that by freeing these creatures, you will have better luck in life.
How the Chinese New Year in Indonesia is Celebrated
When they prepare for the festivities of Chinese New Year, they do it in advance before the date. While the year comes to an end, the ethnic Chinese organize everything and take care of unfinished business to anticipate starting the New Year right. The business owners balance books and take care debts by paying them or collecting from people who owe them.
Those who cannot pay off what they owe spend their pre-New Year time avoiding Jakarta malls, hiding in their homes and temples. In ancient times, the debt collectors looking for debtors by putting their lanterns up until midnight. They consider it vulgar to mention about debts During the Chinese New Year, which is why they want to settle it before the holiday. If they can resolve it before Imlek, then they can start fresh.
On the New Year day itself, they consume more food because cooking on New Year’s Day is considered bad luck. Hence, they prepare it in advance.
Since 2014, their favourite festive activities are the potehi puppet show, releasing thousands of lanterns, music and cultural performances, culinary and handicrafts fair, and a fashion show of traditional Chinese dresses known as the cheongsam.
Venues and Special Events for Celebrating the Chinese New Year in Indonesia
- Surakarta, Central Java – This is a Javanese-style celebration that lasts a week, and it is called the Grebeg Sudiro or Solo, and it is before the Chinese New Year’s Day. It combines local tradition and Chinese tradition that features two gunungan which is made from Chinese glutinous rice cakes (kue keranjang) that they parade all over the city with a lion dance and ponorogo dance.
- Central Park in Pullman Jakarta – They hold a Collage All Day Dining with an excellent buffet selection that serves the traditional Chinese delicacies like Roasted Pork Belly Chasiew, and Roast Duck to mention a few of them.
- Magelang – The Chinese New Year is celebrated in Magelang by watching the lion dance. You can also visit the Liong Hok Bio temple in Magelang. You will find many kinds of dance, like Topeng Ireng, Reog Merapi, Soreng, and Reog Ponorogo.
You can enjoy the Chinese New Year in Indonesia with your friends, family, or even yourself. Many festivities are in store for you, and you will not be disappointed with the decorations and food you will find. If you are fascinated by beautiful Chinese lanterns, this is the perfect time to go.
