Chinese New Year Celebrated in Malaysia 2024/2025

Falls on the first day of the lunar month, the Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, is celebrated in different ways in Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, and other Asian countries. Among these countries, Malaysia shows its distinctive celebrations that attract many festival lovers to come out. Today we will show you a vivid introduction to how Chinese New Year is celebrated in Malaysia if you are really taken with Chinese-Malaysian culture.

What Is the Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year, also renowned as the Spring Festival, with more than 4000 years of history, marks the beginning of the Chinese year. It is common that the festival lasts for more than one day and ends at the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

There are various vibrant forms of festivals based on different local traditions and customs in Malaysia. But the common practices include having the New Year's Eve dinner, exchanging Hongbao (the money-filled red envelopes), pasting couplets and the "福" (fú) character, and setting off fireworks and firecrackers.

Street View in Malaka

Chinese New Year Calendar

According to the lunar calendar, the date of Chinese New Year falls on a different day. The following form shows the dates of the Chinese New Year for about five years:

How Is the Chinese New Year Celebrated in Malaysia?

Before Eve: Spring Cleaning and Home Decoration

Before Eve, the Malaysian family will make a thorough cleaning of the house, or "spring cleaning." It is considered that the dirt and bad luck would be swept away by such cleaning. After that, the entire house will be decorated with auspicious items like couplets, paper cuttings, New Year pictures, and red lanterns.

On Eve: New Year's Eve Family Dinner

Having a great New Year's Eve dinner is a very important moment for most Malaysian families. On Eve night, all family members are reunited for a substantial dinner with traditional dishes like noodles, fish, whole chicken, and duck. Furthermore, there is a Lunar New Year dish, Yee Sang, a distinct Malaysian salad made of tossed-up raw fish and pickled and raw vegetables with sauces and condiments. It is a symbol of abundance and fortune.

Making Offerings

On the morning of the first day, Malaysian families will prepare to offer sacrifices, including rice, meat, vegetables, wine, and joss paper. Offerings are placed at the home altars, and all family members should burn incense and worship ancestors and gods. Some Malaysian Buddhists will also go to the temples, following the same practice.

Worship Ancestors and Gods

Wearing New Clothes

These days, new clothes will be worn, especially in red or bright colors, which are symbolic of good luck and prosperity.

Visit Family Members and Relatives

On the second day, married daughters will go back to their own families to visit their parents, relatives, and close friends. For parents, they will take their children to visit close relatives. It is customary to greet with "恭喜发财" Gong Xi Fa Cai (wish you prosperity) and "新春快乐" Xin Chun Kuai Le (Happy New Year), whenever.

Giving out Hongbao (Ang Pows)

During CNY, Malaysian parents and married individuals will give out Ang Pows (red envelopes with money inside) to children and unmarried relatives. Married couples will also gift Ang Pows to their parents and elderly relatives. Such a tradition expresses a common wish to be happy and prosperous.

Hongbao (Ang Pows), Also Can be Decoration

Letting off Fireworks and Firecrackers

From the evening to the fifteenth day, many people in Malaysia celebrate the Lunar New Year by lighting up firecrackers and fireworks to drive away evil spirits from the loud cracking noises and as a sign to welcome the arrival of the New Year. Many cities, especially Kuala Lumpur and Georgetown, will hold more than a huge display of fireworks to celebrate the festival.

The Last Day: Chap Go Mei

Chap Go Mei is the last tradition marking the end of the New Year celebration. It means the 15th night in Hokkein, falling at the Lantern Festival. On this day, Malaysian people will adorn their houses with colorful lights and red lanterns and light them up at night. In some regions, like Penang, Chap Go Mei has a romantic courtship tradition: single females throw oranges into the sea, hoping for a single man boating to seek out and be a good husband.

Top Things to Do During the Chinese New Year in Malaysia

Visit China Town

Malaysian Chinatown is one of the best places to experience the authentic aura of the New Year festival. Destinations like Petaling Street in Kuala Lumpur and Jonker Street in Melaka are decorated with a sea of fascinating red lanterns and lined by various vendors. You can try a wide variety of snacks and shop for New Year souvenirs in any one of the Chinatowns.

Street View in Malaka

Engage in Festivities and Shopping in Kuala Lumpur's Malls

Most shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur are still open during CNY. Some shopping malls are regular scenes of festivities. There are many vibrant activities to join, such as photo spots, acrobatics, chic displays, and games for special gifts. You will enjoy the CNY sales by shopping for what you like at a lower price.

Watch the Lion Dance and the Dragon Dance

Lion Dance and Dragon Dance are indispensable New Year's themes to see when experiencing the Spring Festival in Malaysia. You can see this form of celebration showcased in shopping malls and on Chinatown streets. The dance usually starts on the second day, displayed with a beautifully designed and vivid image of a lion and dragon. It provides great chances to witness such an auspicious performance during CNY.

Enjoy the Sea of Lights and Red Lanterns

You can't overlook New Year's red lanterns hanging up anywhere. Taking in the spectacular brilliance is a must during CNY. Many temples and street areas in Malaysia will be illuminated by gorgeous lights and lanterns. You can head to the temples, like Kek Lok Si Temple in Penang Island or Thean Hou Temple in Kuala Lumpur, to get the best light-filled view.

Kek Lok Si Temple in Penang

The Best Places to Celebrate the Chinese New Year in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur

As the metropolis of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur offers colorful New Year's joy. You can come to Thean Hou Temple, adorned with over 10,000 red or yellow lanterns, to shoot a magnificent picture and place prayers with locals. Petaling Street area in Chinatown becomes active during the festival with fireworks and parades, and lots of stalls selling items and foods line along. The malls in the city remain open for shopping and lion and dragon dance performances.

Penang

Penang gives off a full atmosphere of festivities during CNY. You must visit the Kek Lok Si temple, which offers a superb sight to photograph on CNY eve. More than 2,000 lights and 10,000 varied lanterns shade the old monastery, turning it into a dreamland of lights. Kek Lok Si Temple has all the lights in it, which has over 200,000 light bulbs. If you're enthusiastic about shopping, Queensbay Mall is a paradise for shopping, from designer brands to mid-level clothes. The shopping center will not close during the festival. There are restaurants, stores, and cinemas to meet your different expectations.

Melaka

The reason to celebrate Chinese New Year in Melaka is the vigor of Jonker Walk. The stall-lined street is entirely lit by red lanterns, with some shops and markets open as usual. During the festival, the street comes to life with fireworks, lion dances, and Chinese traditional song singing. The stalls have everything to sell, including clothing, crafts, and many flavors of Chinese-Malaysian snacks. You can take some New Year's souvenirs or origami postcards for gifting. To get a different view of the walk, it's recommended to take the Melaka River cruise at night.

Malaka

Tips for Traveling in Malaysia During the Chinese New Year

1. Book Your Malaysia Tour as Far in Advance as Possible.

Around Chinese New Year, Malaysia can enter Balik Kampung (many Malaysians return home at the same time). As such, a heavy jam across the country would be expected. If you want to experience a laidback new-year festival, book your Malaysia tour as far in advance as possible.

2. Shops and Restaurants Shut Down in the First 3 Days.

Usually, from the first day to the third day of the first lunar month during the spring festival, shops and restaurants are closed, and locals are enjoying the festivity at home or visiting temples.

3. Prepare for the Weather

The weather in Malaysia is generally hot and dry. The popular cities and regions on the western side of Peninsular Malaysia, like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Langkawi, are ideally dry in January (if CNY falls). But you should expect certain rain during CNY 2025 (it falls on February 10th) and take an umbrella.

4. Festival Dress Code

A suit of new clothes, not purposefully torn or worn out, is required when you're experiencing CNY in Malaysia. It is also preferable to wear red clothes during the festival, which represents luck and prosperity. Golden clothes are also a good choice because they symbolize luxury and wealth, which also tally with the morals of the New Year.

Celebrate the Chinese New Year in Malaysia with Odynovo

Chinese New Year is approaching. Whether you experience the grand festival in China or Malaysia, a great air of festivities is matching. The festival in Malaysia will provide you with distinctive experiences of celebrations and activities in Malaysian culture. For more recommendations and the latest news, contact us. You can choose a personal trip, or nicely as well, go with Odynovo to have great fun during the coming festival.