2. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF IMLEK 2.1 History of Imlek
Imlek or Sin Tjia is a celebration of tradition in Chinese farmers who usually falls on the first day of the first month at the beginning of the New Year.
This celebration is also associated with a party of farmers to welcome spring. The celebrations began on the 30thof the 12thmonth and ends on the 15th of the first month.
Lunar program included prayer, a prayer to the Creator, and the celebration of Cap Go Meh. The purpose of this worship is as a form of thanksgiving and prayer in the hope that next year gets more sustenance, to entertain the ancestors, and as a means of gathering with relatives and neighbors.
captured byHongjun Laozu, an ancient Taoist monk. The Nian became Hongjun Laozu's mount.
In Indonesia, Imlek actually has nothing to do with the celebration of spring. Since the first Chinese community knows only as the Imlek Chinese new year. For the Chinese New Year Chinese society closely associated with New Year prayer, worship God, to pray in the Vihara, new clothes, a good meal with family, paycia, angpao, Barongsay, firecrackers, following cap go meh and mutual Tepekong.
Chinese New Year celebrations in Indonesia actually been done since the Dutch colonial era until the time of president Sukarno. However, the Suharto government, then banned the celebration of Imlek with the issuance of Presidential Decree No.14/1967, precisely on December 6, 1967. In Presidential Instruction, determined that all rituals, beliefs and customs of the Chinese only be celebrated in the family and in a closed room. Thus, all matters relating thereto, including Barongsay, and Cap Go Meh.
Cap Go Meh is a celebration of the 15th night after the Imlek New Year, which this year falls on February 17, 2011. Cap Go Mehbegan to be celebrated in Indonesia since the 17th century, when there was a great migration of southern China.
on the eve of the Cap Go Meh, usually the emperor's own special out of the palace to celebrate with the people.
Every culture has always had a tradition of origin. One version of the origin of Cap Go Meh occurs at the time of the Zhou dynasty (770-256 BC). Every evening the 15th of the first month after the Chinese New Year, the farmers put up the lanterns called Chau Can Tian around the fields to repel pests and frighten the animals plant destroyer. When the goal put the lanterns is to repel pests. But today it became a tradition featuring a beautiful landscape in the evening of the first 15 months.
When it is to frighten or repel the animals wrecking crops, in addition to installing lanterns, they add all the sounds and playing Barongsai, to be more crowded and beneficial to farmers. Beliefs and cultural traditions from one generation to continue, both in mainland China and overseas throughout the world.
While in Indonesia, in addition there are events around the parade procession, there is another characteristic, namely the cap go meh food rice cake, which is particularly abundant in the Java community. Cap go meh rice cake consists of various types of food, ie, opportunistic, plus rice cakes and soy powder.
means "night to 15" which is the 15th of the first month, which is called in the dialect of Hokkien "cia gwee cap go".
This celebration is the culmination of a series of celebrations at the same time cover the Imlek New Year celebration. In Indonesia alone, since the first one is more familiar with the term Cap Go Meh than another term although in the original version.
2.2 Traditional Foods
More food is consumed by Indonesian Chinese families during the New Year celebration than at any other holiday. As it is considered bad luck to cook on New Year's Day itself, food is prepared the day before. Chinese believe that what you do on New Year's Day will reflect on your life in the coming year, so most housewives do not want to take a chance of being 'chained to the oven'. The large number of traditional dishes prepared is also meant to symbolize abundance and wealth for the household.
Kue keranjang was originally named asNien KaoorNi-Kweeor Yearly
Imlek. As an offering, this cake should not be eaten untilChap Goh Meh(15 days after Imlek). People believe that the cake was given to satisfyDewa Tungku, who was supposed to deliver a report to the Heavenly King (Yu Huang Da Di). The shape is round, symbolizing unity and peace. Most traditional dishes served on Chinese New Year are chosen for the significance of their name or appearance. One required dish is a whole fish. Fish in Chinese is 'yu' which sounds similar to the word meaning surplus or abundance. A whole fish must be served as this represents family togetherness. Oysters are also a favorite. In Cantonese the word oyster sounds like the word that means 'good business.' In Cantonese shrimp is pronounced 'ha', which to the Chinese sounds like laughter so it also often included. Clams are another favorite, as they open up when cooked, symbolizing the opening of new horizons. Indonesian Chinese whose ancestors come from Shanghai serve egg skin dumplings which are thought to look like gold ingots and glass noodles are thought to resemble silver chains, which earn them a place at the festive meal. Bean sprouts are another favorite. They are said to resemble a traditional scepter-like art object called 'ruyi', which means 'to your heart's content', symbolizing a great way to start a New Year. The word for black moss seaweed sounds similar to the word for 'exceeding in wealth'. Lotus seeds are
Ethnic-Chinese who have immigrated to Indonesian from the northern part of China serve 'jiaozi' or meat-filled dumplings. The pronunciation of this word sounds like a word meaning 'meeting of the last hour of the old year with the first hour of the new'. In the southern regions of China, 'nian gao'is an important part of the festivities. Indonesian Chinese from these regions serve this sweet rice pudding for their New Year's festivities. Another popular delicacy is 'Zong zi', glutinous rice wrapped up in reed leaves. Some celebrants place stalks of sugar cane behind their doors, as the height and section-upon-section construction of the sweet stalks represents the family's hope for a ladder-like ascent to new levels of glory in the coming year.
A candy tray is considered a necessity on the coffee table of any Chinese home, for visiting family members and expected guests. The tray should be circular or octagonal in shape and is called the 'Tray of Togetherness', symbolizing the family's sweet start of the New Year. Items on the tray are intentionally chosen for symbolic good fortune. Candied melon is symbolic of growth and good health. Melon seeds are dyed red to symbolize joy, happiness, truth and sincerity. Lychee nuts are thought to ensure strong family relationships. Kumquat represents prosperity while coconut symbolizes togetherness. Peanuts
Just as some foods are always served on Imlek New Year, there are other foods that are to be avoided for their perceived bad meanings. One of them is tofu. Chinese believe that white is the color of death and misfortune, so tofu is never included in the Imlek New Year meal as it might cause bad fortune to fall upon family members.
2.3 Before Imlek New Year
The happy ceremonial tradition to welcome Imlek New Year usually hold on three weeks. Preparation begin with house cleaning on the 20thof twelfth moon and supplier are laid in for the New Year feast.
The Kitchen God is seen of to make His annual report on the family’s behavior on the night of the 23rd of twelfth moon. The kitchen God is one’s of the oldest of the household deities. In the household plays dual role, for he does not only look after the hearth, but has constituted Himself the censor of morals of the family. He is the connecting link between God and man, and seven days before the New Year, he is dispatched to make His annual report where officials are concerned it as axiomatic in Chinese that every man has got his price and the kitchen God is no exception to the rule.
The family, whose record is about be laid before the all Highest, make every effort to ensure that a favorable report shall be rendered. A special sticky sweetmeat is part of the sacrifice.
everything that is sent. The messenger must be rewarded with “Ang Pao” by the recipient. The banquet takes places on the vigil, every housewife will prepare and make ready the food for several days. At the least day before the New Year, the all generations will reunion to their parents ‘home for dinner although they have their own family and daughters who have married should return to their parents in law’s home for having dinner.
For some people, the New Year it self is being observed as a fast day on which no meat is eaten, theoretically, only vegetables and beancurd in oli, and no lard, should appear on the table. In sending food present vegetables dishes are included with this observance. For some families who are not as strict as others in the absention from meat and including it in the evening meal, but breakfast, the fist meal of the year is usually vegetables.
After dinner, attended by all generation, the children bow to their parents who will give them “Ang Pao”. On the last day of the year, there is a general clean up all around, in the shape of bath and hairdressing. No one goes to bed on the night of the 30th of twelfth moon, but all sit up to welcome in the New Year.
After twelfth o’clock on the last day of the year, most of the them will worship at the temple for begging the safety and lucky. The others will go there the next morning.
2.4 Chinese New Year
occasion for general reconcilia. Friends and relation in ceremonial garments greet each other by saying “Gong Xi Fat Chai” For the parents who have not given the “Ang Pao” to their children in the New Year night, they can give it on tomorrow morning. Ang Paois the money which enclosed in a special red envelope.
managers also give bonuses through red packets to employees for good luck, smooth-sailing, good health and wealth.
relatives (of different households) during Chinese New Year. Gifts are usually brought when visiting friends or relatives at their homes. Common gifts include fruits (typically oranges, and never pears), cakes, biscuits, chocolates, candies, or some other small gifts For persons who have not married should not give the lucky money to anybody except money only.
They also must not saying dirty words or be angered by anyone. The reasons why must do not these things will be discussed in Chapter Three.
2.5 After Imlek New Year
Rarely shop is open on the third day. On the fifth day, a ceremony is held to welcome all of the deities who have returned from the Heaven. It is said that at the day all of the deities return to check up the situation after the New Year.
On the tenth is known as the birthday of the Earth God are five brothers and in every person in a household deities who takes care of every person in house. It is know that the Earth God are five brothers and in every 10thdate from the first moon till fifth moon is their birthday. The eggs and a kind of noodle named “Mie Sua” is part of the sacrifice.
The official holiday ends on the fifteenth. Everybody will worship the deities and the ancestor for begging the luck. The night to welcome the first full moon in the year is so crowded with people. West Borneo Chinese cultural experts, Fat Lie Sau says, every feast of Chinese citizens, religious or cultural traditions exist origins as told from mouth to mouth, legends, based on the book with a variety of versions, depending on the culture, traditions and regions, respectively.
According to the man born in 1932, Cap Go Meh has two versions. The first version is Yuan Shiau Ciekis one of the festivals that are celebrated since Xie Han Dynasty (206 -24 ) to mark the end of the Imlek New Year celebrations. For ethnic Chinese, Cap Go Meh celebrations may be as important to the Chinese Imlek New Year celebrations. "In a religious community Taoists, Cap Go Mehis known as the day of birth San Yuan Shang Kuan Yuan Thianor sky god who gave humans the gift," he said.
Therefore, the Emperor also ordered the people to worship celebration, procession, installing lanterns, and folk art performances at night precisely Cap Go Meh. "As for the other Chinese people celebrated as the feast of cultural traditions Yuan Shiau Ciek or Cap Go Meh Festival or Lantern suit the conditions and circumstances of each," he said.
While other versions, according to folklore Asali is on Tung Zhou Dynasty (770 BC - 256 BC), namely the farmers on the 15th of the month 1 Imlek installing lanterns called Chau Can Tian around the fields to repel pests and vermin scaring plants.
Farmers are also seeing a change in the color of fire lanterns (Ten Lung) is believed to change the color of the flame in the lantern at night it can be known the weather to come, namely whether droughts or more of rain throughout the year.
Thus, every year on the same day the farmer will put lanterns around the field. Every year growing many lanterns are mounted so as to form a beautiful landscape on the 15th of 1 Imlek month.
"Installing lanterns useful addition to repel pests, also created the beautiful scenery. While to scare the vermin plants plus all the sounds, play Barongsaiand pageantry Tatungas starting reinforcements and make it more crowded,"
