KOTA BARU: Chinese people in Kelantan are keeping their traditions alive for tomorrow’s Chinese New Year celebration by decorating their homes with paper lanterns and other items.
Among those who are excited to decorate their homes are Mary Owi Mek Eyat and her 13-year-old grandson, Edward Reno Haish.
Mary, 65, who works at a nearby foodstall, said they started decorating their rented home on Saturday.
“I brought back home the decorations after work on Saturday, as requested by my grandson.
“Like the previous years, he is the one who is so keen to decorate the home. He asked me to buy paper lanterns and the other items to decorate our home.
“Although l told him that our house is not so big and its condition is not good, he did not mind at all. He said he wanted to feel the festive spirit when we celebrate Chinese New Year,” said the mother of three.
When met at her home in Kampung Sungai Budor here, Mary said her family, however, would not celebrate the festival in Kelantan.
“As usual, we will return to our hometown in Jerteh, Terengganu this evening to celebrate Chinese New Year with my siblings and relatives there.
“We will only return to Kelantan on Friday as l have promised Edward to help him cook some delicacies for his friends who will come to the house on Saturday,” she said.
Mary said her family would celebrate this year’s festival in moderation due to their financial woes.
Her family is among 70 Chinese who live in Sungai Budor.
The Chinese in Malaysia will celebrate the Year of Snake tomorrow.
Apart from gathering with family members, they will also prepare traditional delicacies, wear traditional clothes, as well as perform ancestral worship rituals and tea ceremonies.
-NewStraitsTime