PETALING JAYA: A few days ago, an elderly Chinese man, requested the writer’s permission to take the banana leaves outside the surau in front of her house.
“I want to make the ‘kuih bakul’. It is difficult to find banana leaves in town. Can I take some?” the man who is probably in his 60s asked politely.
The writer knowing well that he lives in the neighbourhood without hesitating allowed his request.
“I have my own knife, can I take…six or seven of the leaves,” asked this genial gentleman again adding that the ‘kuih bakul’ or ‘nian gao’ is a must for him during each Chinese New Year (CNY).
‘Kuih Bakul’, like many other CNY traditions also symbolises good luck, with the ‘nian gao’ pronunciation in Mandarin that sounds similar to ‘a better year’ especially in income.
In the Klang Valley, a piece of the kuih bakul fetches between RM9 and RM13, depending on the size and location. Other than the ‘kuih bakul’, new clothing especially in bright red signifying prosperity is a must for the Chinese community during CNY.
As for Peggie Ng, though she has converted to Islam, she still adheres to CNY traditions and makes sure that her children are dressed in red when they go to their grandparents’ place.
“My children love to wear red. Regardless of the traditional ‘cheongsam’ or even modern outfits. When CNY appears each year, they will get ready their new year clothes to take them to their ‘Po-po’s’ (grandmother’s) house in Penang,” noted Peggie Ng who lives in Kampung Tunku here.
Peggie recalled that her preference during her younger days was in contrast with her children’s.
She was not very keen then to don red clothing as they were too bright and prominent, but to fulfill the Chinese custom she chose clothes with patches of red.
A day before CNY, Peggie is back at her mother’s house to join the family reunion dinner with her siblings.
Peggie still follows the Penang Teochew customs in celebrating CNY where the daughters are required to send the necessities before the family dinner.
This custom is called ‘song nian’, literally means ‘deliver’.
“Now, it is easier to send the money than the things so my mother can buy the necessities. We sisters don’t have to decide who has to buy what. This prevents all of us sending the same things, which is a waste.
“The money if often used to buy dried foodstuff like abalone, waxed duck, traditional cakes and groundnuts.
“In those days these items were delivered by the daughters and this indirectly encourages the children to visit the parents before CNY, especially the daughters who will be joining the in-laws for the family reunion dinner,” explained Peggie.
Though she is a Muslim now, Peggie has no problems in celebrating CNY with her family. — Bernamad. — Bernama