Malaysia is decorated with colorful lights for Chinese New Year

Roads, alleys, shopping malls, and houses—everywhere you look in Malaysia is now red! Chinese New Year has arrived again. So every city, shopping mall, alley, and home in Malaysia is decorated with red Chinese clothes and red lanterns.  

The names of twelve animals mark the Chinese New Year. Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Rooster, Dog, Goat, Dragon, and Pig—these rotate and take their place in the Chinese calendar each year. This year has come as the 'Year of the Snake'. Therefore, along with red clothes and lanterns, snake images also adorn various places.  

Snakes are also seen in product advertisements on TV, billboards, and social media. On the occasion of the Chinese New Year, large discounts are being offered in shopping malls. Some are offering discounts of 25 percent, while others are offering discounts of up to 75-80 percent.  

The first day of the lunar year is celebrated by the Chinese as the New Year, which is called 'Chun Ji'. Since the Chinese follow their calendar, the date of the start of the new year changes every year. This year, the Chinese New Year begins on January 28th.  

The Chinese New Year celebration originally started with the Christmas festival. The wave of this festival is not only in China but also spread among the Chinese living abroad. The atmosphere of this festival is even more in Malaysia because it is a country of mixed cultures of Malay, Tamil, and Chinese.  

During the Chinese New Year, Malaysia offers long holidays and bonuses. Although there is an official two-day holiday, Chinese-owned businesses are closed for about a week or two. Many businesses also offer bonuses equal to their salaries.  

During this time, millions of tons of oranges are imported from all over Malaysia. Orange stalls are set up at every corner to celebrate Chinese New Year. Oranges are seen as a symbol of good luck in Chinese culture. Chinese owners greet their employees and customers with oranges and various gifts.  

Every city and shopping mall in Malaysia, including the capital Kuala Lumpur, is decorated with red cloth and Chinese lanterns. It looks like a dreamland. The biggest festival of the Chinese in Malaysia, 'Chinese New Year' (Gong xi fa cai), has a festive atmosphere that is noticeable.