A Malaysian Hokkien Lunar New Year in the 1950s
With the Hokkien community celebrating its New Year today, Alan Teh Leam Seng goes down memory lane, rejoicing in the simple warmth and merriment of the festivity during his childhood
By Alan Teh Leam Seng
The mother puts her index finger to her daughter’s lips cautioning her to remain silent. The little girl looks up at her in bewilderment. They freeze at the sudden sound of a twig snapping nearby, followed by a rustling noise coming from among the sugarcane fronds.
Their eyes cloud in fear as they spy heavily armed men with torches walking in their direction. The men appear to be searching for something — or someone. The marauders begin shouting, trying to scare those hiding in the safety of the darkness to reveal themselves. Despite the threats, the child and her mother remain motionless, not daring to even move a muscle. They’re the closest to danger and if they give up their position, all will be lost. At least a hundred of their clansmen are hiding close by.
After an hour of fruitless searching, the bandits decide to search elsewhere. The villagers heave a sigh of relief but they know that although imminent danger has passed, they have to remain hidden just to be sure it’s completely safe. Fortunately, they had the presence of mind to bring some food along with them. Making do with whatever little sustenance they have, the villagers remain rooted where they are. At the same time, they look up to the starlit sky above and pray hard to the God of Heaven for protection.
It is only days later that the villagers are able to emerge from their hideout in the sugarcane plantation unscathed. To many of them, that day signified deliverance. Despite the fact that it was already the ninth day of the new Lunar Calendar, the Hokkien villagers returned home to celebrate their New Year.