WHEN Yee Sang is served, the ritual is to mix and toss the ingredients high in the air with a shout of “Loh Hey” which means to ‘move upwards’. It is symbolic for Malaysian Chinese to wish for good fortunes to be on their side for the forthcoming year.
The ingredients all carry a specific meaning. Adding the fish means “nián nián you yú”, or ‘always have more than enough’. Carrots, ‘hóng yùn dang tóu’, meaning ‘may good fortune be upon you’. Green radish next, ‘qing chun cháng zhù’, meaning ‘may you be youthful and vital always’. White radish, ‘feng sheng shui qi’ — may your success roar like the wind and waves.
The pamelo/lime symbolises ‘dà jí dà lì’, or ‘wish you good luck and good profits’. The sprinkles of pepper ‘Zhao cái jìn bao’, symbolises attraction to wealth and receiving of treasures. Then sprinkles of Chinese 5-spice powder, ‘wu fú lín mén’, — may all good fortune be upon you and your family. Sesame seeds symbolises ‘dà xiao píng an’, peace and safety for all in your family.
Tossing of the ground peanut, ‘jin yù man táng’, — may your home be filled with wealth and treasure. Then the tossing of the fried crisps, ‘huáng jin man de’, — may wealth and prosperity be everywhere. Spreading of the peanut oil, ‘jia féi wu nèn’ means to bring prosperity and harmony at home. Alongside with the spreading of the sesame oil, ‘cái yuán guang jìn’, — to allow wealth pour in from all directions. Lastly, the plum sauce, ‘tián tián mì mì’, that means hoping life to be as sweet as honey!
Those are the meanings of the traditional yee sang tossing ingredients that symbolises the Chinese New Year. The New Year is also called ‘Spring Festivals’ and ‘Lunar New Year’ because it comes in the springtime and is dated according to Chinese lunar calendar.
And with the Chinese New Year around the corner, the Chinese are busily preparing for the festivity in advance. Houses are cleaned out thoroughly before the festivity arrive to ‘sweep out any bad luck’ but brooms are hidden away on New Year’s Day for fear of ‘sweeping away the good luck’ that the arrival of a new year brings.
Not only by cleaning houses, family members are also busy with new clothes to be worn, large stash of food for New Year’s Eve dinner are also bought in advance, making the shopping centres to be very busy this time of year.
The opportunity was taken well by Plaza Merdeka Shopping Centre, as they decorated the mall with auspicious red decor that symbolises the festivity, and not to forget their Chinese New Year bazaar with the theme of ‘Path to Prosperity’. On this occasion, there are a few items being sold at the bazaar such as festive cookies, accessories to be worn during the visiting and some other products.
With the launch of the Chinese New Year celebration, Plaza Merdeka Shopping Centre invites everyone to visit their Chinese New Year Bazaar located at their Main Atrium, that is operated daily from 10a.m to 10p.m.
The launching that took place on January 24 saw a performance from a lion dance troupe, and the presence of the guest-of-honour Professor Gao Chui Lian, the wife of the Right Honourable China Consul General, Cheng Guangzhau.
Another notable guest was Chai Sen Yeh (The God of Wealth). Also present were Plaza Merdeka Holdings Managing Director Dato Steve Ng, Plaza Merdeka Holdings Director Datin Anriza Wong Cordero, Kuching City North Commission (DBKU) commission member Dato Wee Hong Seng, Plaza Merdeka Shopping Centre General Manager Cheah Kheng Mun, Waterfront Hotel Group Deputy General Manager Richard Wong, The Waterfront Hotel General Manager Mason Tang, Kuching Old Market Community Association Sim Kiang Chiok, and Everise Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Sia.
