Moving on to the Year of the Rat

Today's a public holiday here in Malaysia, maybe not for all states. This holiday is known as Awal Muharram which is in English, the beginning of the Muslim calendar or basically, the Muslim New Year. Other than it being a public holiday, there is no real celebration attached to it, unlike Hari Raya Aidil Fitri or Hari Raya Aidil Adha.

Talk about the new year, Chinese New Year is just around the corner. By now, Chinatown would be bustling with activity and items synonymous with this festival would now be on sale. I can imagine shoppers lugging crates of mandarin oranges, potted lime or kumquat plants, bundles of peach blossom stalks with buds, bags of cookies, sausages, waxed ducks, clothes and shoes and accessories, etc., etc., etc. I think for most, the fun is in the shopping, at the same time lamenting about the price increases.

The traffic jams downtown, especially at night, are temporarily forgotten as people make that traditional trip to Chinatown for new year goodies....I am reminded of that butt-pinch I got many years ago. Ouch!!

However, these days, Chinatown has lost its lure of shoppers as the same items can be found in supermarkets and hypermarkets and even in wet markets, whose prices are more attractive.

Chinese or Lunar New Year is on Feb 7. Technically, Feb 7 is the first day of the lunar calendar, Chinese New Year, if you will. In Malaysia, we get two days of holiday, the first and the second day of Chinese New Year.

The new year means a new animal ruling for the duration of the entire lunar year. It is the Rat's turn, the Wooden Rate, I believe. He will begin his duties on Feb 7. Well, what's in store for the Rat and for other animals in the year of the Wooden Rat? Wanna know? Let's keep it for another post, shall we?