Malaysian-Chinese vs. Indonesian-Chinese: CNY

When people ask what we did for CNY, I always want to say something exciting like "We went to China and found our long lost relatives!" But no. It's the same answer every year: reunion dinner, family gatherings, and eat ‘til you feel disgusted with yourself. The real entertainment comes from watching how differently K's family and mine approach this whole thing.

Growing up in Jakarta, Chinese New Year was basically just a really good excuse to skip school and play dress-up (Between the 1960's - 2003, Chinese New Year public celebrations were banned) We were the kind of Chinese family that couldn't tell you the difference between lo hei and low-fat - mainly because we were too busy eating bakso ayam.

 

Nobody in my family knows how to play Mahjong

 

Now, after six years of marriage to K, I've realized that despite both being Southeast Asian, our "Chinese-ness" levels are about as similar as spaghetti and bee hoon. This became painfully obvious during our first married CNY.

K: What do you want to cook for the family for Chinese New Year?"

Me: Um...Jamie Oliver One Pan Roast Chicken? Minestrone Soup?

Let me break down our cultural differences with what I like to call "The Great Chinese New Year Divide”

The Great Chinese New Year Divide

 

So, what's your family's level of Chinese-ness during CNY? Are you more "traditional Chinese ceremony" or "Whatever, as long as there's food"? Because I've learned there's no right way to celebrate - unless you suggest serving Jamie Oliver. Then you're definitely doing it wrong.