Festivals

Festivals are something every race and religion individually has. Despite your difference in belief and culture, you each definitely will have your own festival. In Malaysia, we are a multi racial and culture country with different backgrounds .My blog will be discussing a few main different festivals being celebrated in Malaysia.
First festival that will be featured is Chinese New Year which can fall on any date as it follows the lunar signs. The good about our country is that everybody celebrates each other’s festivals with the visiting of neighbours and the sharing of food. It usually falls between the mid Januarys to early February. The most important day during the Chinese New Year period is the reunion dinner in which all the members of each individual family gets together to have a meal. Besides this angpows are given by the married to unmarried people to symbolize wealth or prosper for the year.

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Second festival that will be discussed is Deepavali which stands for the festival of lights. Its date constantly changes and is decided by the lunar calendar. Legends say that the day represents the day good prevailed over evil according to their ancients scripts. In Malaysia, all the different races will visit each other having sweet treats like Nankatai (Butter biscuits), Ladoos (roasted gram flour with cardamoms), etc. Houses are cleaned, kitchens are constantly busy with cooking and the houses alive with laughter and merriment.

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Third festival that will be discussed is Hari Raya Aidilfitri or known as Hari Raya Puasa. This festivals date is also determined by the lunar calendar. The festival begins with a month of fasting awaiting this event and the fasting is broken on the auspicious Hari Raya day. On the day, the Muslims begin the day with early prayers at the mosque. Following this is the distribution of money in green packets called duit raya. The rest of the day is spend shopping and feasting on food in grand restaurants or hotels.

(http://coretanmuslim.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/aidilfitri_s.jpg)
The fourth and last main festival celebrated in Malaysia is Christmas day. It falls on the 25th of December. It symbolizes the birth of Christ who is accepted by Christians as the son of God. The festival begins by attending church services the night before that ends at midnight. On the morning of Christmas, presents are wrapped and placed under the small pine trees that are located in their houses. The entire day is filled with fun and joy visiting neighbours and family members while opening their presents.

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It is hoped that these festivals will continue to bind the citizens of Malaysia together is peace and harmony.