The traditional festivals of Malaysian Chinese are all derived from China. People of different native places had already practiced traditional festivals in their respective ancestral homes before coming to Southeast Asia. After arriving in the Southeast Asia, they brought their living habits together and passed on the cultural customs after settling down. In the past, there were many ceremonies and festivals of Engchoon. Today, Malaysia still retains some of the meaningful and common festivals as follows:

1. Chinese New Year

This is the most important festival in the Chinese community. Although it differs from the agricultural society celebrations in their ancestral homeland in the past, everyone still welcomes the arrival of the new year with the mindset of “a new start, everything renewed.” This is an opportunity for a thorough spring cleaning, discarding old and useless items from the home. Then, decorations are put up inside and outside the house, and some may also put up spring couplets. Both in action and mentality, people show full hope and expectations for the coming year.
On New Year’s Eve, everyone stays up all night to wait for the dawn, a custom known as “staying up late” or “guarding the year.” Many believe that staying up late can ensure longevity for parents, so New Year’s Eve is also called “Longevity Night.” After midnight on New Year’s Eve, the New Year begins. At this time, families begin the “greeting the new year” ceremony at their front doors. Apart from offerings, they also burn big incense stick and gold joss paper, followed by setting off fireworks and firecrackers to celebrate the arrival of the brand new year.
In the past, there were many taboos on the first day of the lunar new year: no cutting with knives to avoid cutting off good fortune; no sweeping with brooms to avoid sweeping away good luck; eating dry rice with whole leaf mustard greens for breakfast, symbolizing longevity; avoiding eating rice porridge to prevent encountering rain while going out; wearing new clothes to symbolize renewal, avoiding going barefoot to prevent bad luck; refraining from cursing, fighting, collecting debts, and instead speak nice words, avoiding words like death, hunger, and poverty; refraining from working hard, napping during the day. Most of these traditional customs have gradually faded and are no longer strictly observed.

2.Tian Gong’s Birthday

It is believed that this day marks the birthday of the Jade Emperor, an important celebration during the Lunar New Year for the Minnan people. Those who observe it with particular attention typically prepare a pair of sugarcane with roots and leaves. Offerings on the table include three cups of tea and rice wine, various fruits and vegetarian dishes, preserved fruits, red noodles, red turtle cake, fa cake, and three sacrificial animals etc. In front of the altar, incense burner and a pair of large red candles are placed. The presence of a “golden pig” (roast pig) among the offerings is considered a grand gesture.

3. Yuan Xiao Festival (Lantern Festival)

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, known as Shang Yuan Festival or Yuan Xiao Festival. Taoism designates the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month as Zhong Yuan Festival and the fifteenth day of the tenth lunar month as Xia Yuan Festival. The festive period of the Spring Festival starts from the first day of the lunar new year until the fifteenth day, concluding after the Yuan Xiao Festival. According to tradition customs, on the early morning of the fifteenth day of the lunar month, families typically offer sacrifices to Tian Guan to pray for blessings, and also pay homage to ancestors, the God of the Earth, and the Bed Mother etc.

4. Qingming Festival

The custom of sweeping tombs during the Qingming Festival has long been observed in Engchoon, but nowadays some families choose to sweep tombs during the Winter Solstice. On the day of sweeping tombs, families bring food offerings to the gravesite, clear away weeds, scatter joss paper, and repaint red inscriptions on the tombstone to commemorate the deceased. Traditionally, it is believed that the earlier the tomb is swept, the better. After the cemetery is tidied up, the eldest and most senior family member usually hosts the ritual of ancestor worship. The sweeping of tombs during Qingming Festival is a manifestation of Chinese culture and ethics, it is one of the three major festivals for ancestral worship among the Chinese ethnic group. It is the grandest day after the Lunar New Year, also seen as another moment for family reunion. Through the ritual of ancestor worship, it embodies the noble tradition of remembering and honoring ancestors for their nurturing grace.

5. Duanwu Festival

The fifth day of the fifth lunar month is known as the Duanwu Festival, also called the Fifth lunar month Festival or Duan Yang Festival, commemorating the patriotic poet Qu Yuan. Malaysian Chinese also uphold the tradition of celebrating the Duanwu Festival, mainly through activities such as making rice dumplings (zongzi) and dragon boat racing. The focus on Qu Yuan’s patriotic legend, however, is relatively less emphasized. During the Duanwu Festival, households prepare rice dumplings as offerings to the Gods and ancestors. With improving economic conditions, there has been a greater variety of rice dumpling styles, incorporating precious ingredients. The flavors of rice dumplings have also become more diverse. Nowadays, some local communities organize rice dumpling wrapping competitions to promote and preserve this traditional skill, receiving enthusiastic responses.

6. Zhong Yuan Festival

In the seventh lunar month, commonly known as the “Hungry Ghost Month,” from the first day (when the “Gate of Hell” are opened) until the thirtieth day (when the gate is closed) of the month. According to tradition, after midnight on the thirtieth day of the sixth month, the gate of the hell will open widely, allowing wandering spirits to roam into the world of living. These spirits, known as “hungry ghosts” or “lost souls,” must return to the hell on the thirtieth day of the seventh month, marking the end of a month-long period of rituals and offerings.

7. Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival has a long history and, like other traditional festivals, has evolved over time. In ancient times, there were imperial ceremonies for worshipping the sun in spring and the moon in autumn. The term “Mid-Autumn” is documented as early as the Rites of Zhou during the Zhou Dynasty. This festival became popular during the Song Dynasty and by the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it had become one of China’s major festivals alongside the New Year. The Mid-Autumn Festival is rich in legends, including stories of Chang’e flying to the moon, Wu Gang chopping the osmanthus tree, and the Jade Rabbit pounding medicine. In Malaysia, Chinese families still highly value this festival until today, and many overseas Chinese return home to reunite with their families.

8.Winter Festival

The Winter Festival refers to the Winter Solstice. In Engchoon, it involves making glutinous rice cakes and steamed cakes to worship ancestors, symbolizing a connection to their roots. There are various ways to prepare these cakes, such as boiling them in sweet or savory broth, or serving them with sugar, crushed peanuts, and kumquat. On the day of Winter Solstice, families make tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls) and offer them to their ancestors. Those living away from home are expected to return for this day to reunite with their families. There’s a saying in Minnan dialect: “people who do no return on Winter Solstice means they are people without ancestors or forget their ancestor; no return on Lunar New Year means they are people without home.” This highlights the importance of observing these traditional festivals.

In Malaysia, since there are no four seasons in a year, Malaysian Chinese celebrate the Winter Festival only in accordance with the traditional festival customs.