Tang Lung (Lantern) Moon Cake Festival at Tamna Jaya

There will be a Pesta Tang Lung-cum fruits (Lantern cum fruits festival) at Taman Aman in Section 14 to celebrate the Moon Cakes festival.

Date: 13 September 2008
Venue: Taman Aman, PJ

Among the activities planned are a Lion Dance Performance plus a walk-about with lanterns (lanterns parade). Food such as Moon cakes and Fruits will be served. The food including the moon cakes will be Halal (kosher or not forbidden) so Muslims can join in the festival. Admission, the food and lanterns are free on a first com first served basis

If you do not know the location of Taman Jaya (Sucess Garden), below is a location map of Taman Jaya which has a tasik (lake):



You are encouraged to use the public transport. The Taman Paramount LRT station is just beside Taman Jaya.

How Malaysians celebrate New Year

Most Malaysians celebrate New Year 1st January the way others around the world celebrate New Year. Many go watch the usual fireworks at 12 midnight:

Photo of Fireworks in the sky
by Angelo Juan

Other Malaysians celebrate New Year's Eve by going for concerts like those featuring Malaysian singers such as Mawi, M. Nasir, Awie and Wings, Malay cultures like ghazal music, or Chinese culture like a Chinese lion dance and even Indian cultures like Indian dances. Some may go for dinner and hotels and make lots of noise at 12 midnight. This is more dangerous, but some do get drunk. But let's hope they don't go driving around.

How Penangites celebrate New Year

Penangites are residents of Penang, the Pearl of the Orient. Here are how some Penangites celebrated the beginning of 2008. They celebrated 1st January 2008 in jail. Twenty-six youngsters aged between 15 and 21 on Penang Island were jailed for creating disturbances at Gurney Drive and the Esplanade. They sprayed vehicles with artificial snow and started fights. Not only that, when policemen arrived to help calm down the disturbances, the boisterous youths threw empty spray cans at the policemen. To make matters worst, they verbally abused the policemen. The over enthusiastic youths were charged with vandalism and fighting in public areas. A man and a woman were also arrested for selling cans of artificial snow in Gurney Drive.

How Ipoh residents celebrate New Year

Another 66 Mat Rempits (illegal motorcycle racers who frequently show off their riding skills with stunts) 18 to 28 years of age celebrated New Year with police summons and getting their motorcycles sized by the police for illegal racing on a public road (Jalan Brash beside the Sultan Abdul Aziz Recreational Park in Ipoh). One of them celebrated 1st January, 2008 in jail after being tested positive for drug.

How Sabahans celebrate New Year

Some Sabahans celebrate New Year in a less conventional way. They go throw themselves into the rivers or the sea to "buang sial" or to get rid of bad luck. Alongside them may be others celebrating New Year by having barbecue parties on the beach.

How New Year is celebrated in Laos

How strange! The Lao people celebrate New Year in almost the same way. Wonder if it is for the same objectives

Photo of Lao people in Vientiane celebrating New Year
by Sompop S

San Petro festival at Portugese settlement in Malacca

It was April 1511 when Afonso de Albuquerque set sail from Goa to Malacca with a force of some 1200 men and seventeen or eighteen ships to make it a strategic base for Portuguese expansion in the East Indies. Lots of things have happened since that date, but some Portugese have chosen to stay behind in Malacca to set up a Portugese settlement which still exist today. Malaysia is a multi-racial country with 3 major races - Malay, Chinese and Indians, plus other races and tribes. The Malay holds the political power and has given itself Bumiputra (sons of the soil) status with special privilages. This had been extended to the Portugese (accuracy not verified yet) but not to the Babas and Nyonas (the Chinese who came with Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho) and settled in Malacca and Penang) for reasons only known to the authorities. The Portugese came to conquer, but the Chinese came in peace.

The majority of the Portugese occupants of the settlement back in the 1930's and 1940's wereb either directly or indirectly involoved in the fishing industry. Fishing is a hazadous occupation, thus the need for a patron saint for the fishermen - San Petro or St. Peter. From June 23 to June 30 (the period varies from year to year, but this year being Visit Malaysia Year, the dates have been extended), the settlers celebrate the birthday of San Petro with Fiesta San Petro. There will be dancing, singing and feasting amidst dim candlelights. There are also fun fairs, game stalls, best decorated boat contest and the procession of the statue of St. Peter.

On the actual feast day, there is the Eucharistic celebration followed by the blessing of the boats decorated with colourful flags, banners and paints, and candles were lighted. The blessings are for God’s grace for a bigger catch for fishermen who depend on the catch for their livelihood. The lit candles signify the Light of Christ who guides the fishermen through the storms of life whether at sea or on land. The fishing boats then join a procession which starts from A'Famosa Fort, winds through the historic streets of Malacca and ends at the Portuguese Settlement.

It is only the 25th of June today. You still have 5 more days and one night to catch the San Petro festival. Otherwise, plan your visit for the following years.

For more information, contact

Portuguese Settlement: Tel: 06-2847050
Phone: 606-2318200
Fax: 606-2311400
Email: ismail@melaka.gov.my
Website: www.melaka.gov.my

Chinese New Year Open Houses in Malaysia

In Malaysia, it is a tradition to open one's house to anyone on the major festivals - the Chinese Lunar New Year, Hari Raya and Deepavali. Chinese New Year is celebrated over a period of 15 days in ancient time, but now in Malaysia, the public holidays for the Chinese New Year is limited to 2 days. However, many Chinese companies are closed for more than 2 days - one week is the norm.

Here are the Chinese New Year open houses hosted by various Chinese ministers and others:

18th February 2007

9.30am
MCA (Malaysia Chinese Association) open house at Wisma MCA at Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

9.30am
Open house at Taman Gunung View hosted by Perak MCA chief Datuk Ong Ka Chuan.

10am to 1pm
Gerakan Open House at Dewan Wawasan, 4th Floor, Menara PGRM, Kuala Lumpur

10.30am to 12.30pm
Perak Gerakan Open House at SK Chung Tack hall at Kampung Simee.

8pm to 12pm
Open House hosted by Johore Tourism and Environmental Committee Chairman Freddie Long at No. 72 Jalan Aneka, Serene Park, Johor Baru.

19th February 2007

11am and 1pm.
Open House at Manjung Districk Kutien Association Hall hosted by Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik

7pm to 10pm
Open House at Dewan Jubli Intan, Batu Pahat hosted jointly by Johor MCA Chief Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek and Penggaram Assemblyman Koh Chee Chai.

20th February 2007

11am.
Open House at Balai Raya Bekok, Bekok, Johore, hosted jointly by Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek with State International Trade and Industry, Energy Water and Communication Committee Chairman Tan Kok Hong

28th February 2007

7.30pm
Open House at Restoran Guan Sin, Jalan Putri 1, Taman Putrimas, Simpang Renggam hosted by Johore MCA Youth

1st March 2007

12 noon
Open House at No. 106 Jalan Utama 3, Taman Utama, Pekan Nenas hosted jointly by MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting with Pekan Nenas Assemblyman Wee Jeck Seng.

8th March 2007

8pm.
Open House at SJKC Seg Hwa, Segamat, Johore hosted by Johore MCA Liaison Committee.