‘Panjang panjang umur’, the greeting that shows respect for the elders, is paramount during the Peranakan New Year, writes ninotaziz
Inilah tahun bahru China
Biarlah slamat dengan samporna
Mendapat hati yang bijaksana
Skalian Baba Nyonya dan Nona
This is the Chinese New Year
May it be perfect this year
For all the Baba and Nyonya
May there be wisdom forever
Shaer Slamat Tahun Baru China
by Kalam Langit
Bintang Timor 26 January 1895
My former boss, Gina Yeo, was very proud of her Peranakan heritage and gave me my first introduction to this rich cultural heritage. She once showed me her bridal gown. It was an elegant white kebaya, styled in the “empress cut” and decorated with pearls.
Gina was from Malacca, a Peranakan stronghold together with Penang and Singapore. Yet even then, I did not quite understand the traditions of the people, also known as the Baba Nyonya.
The Peranakan are unique to this part of the world. Legend has it that their ancestors arrived from China to our shores more than 500 years ago with the beautiful Hang Li Po, who married Sultan Mansur Syah of Malacca. They came to stay, and therefore assimilation with local culture was natural and immersive, resulting in a genteel and beautiful tradition, which fused the Malay and Chinese seamlessly.
With Chinese New Year just around the corner, we find out how this charming community ushers in and celebrates this joyous occasion.
SHARED HERITAGE
Translated simply, Peranakan means “those born local”, and is the collective name used by the Baba Nyonya. Actually, as early as the Srivijaya kingdoms, then followed by the Malacca era, small Chinese communities have lived peacefully in the Malay world for centuries.
During the late 19th-century, the Chinese who had settled in the Straits Settlements for centuries adopted the term Peranakan to set themselves apart from the Sinkeh or new Chinese. Although the Baba and Nyonya retained their Chinese beliefs, by and large they adopted local lifestyles i.e. the Malay culture, thus giving birth to the unique way of life, as well as the language called Baba Malay.
The most distinctive Baba Nyonya traits are imbued with Malay influence, such as the Baba Nyonya pantun. Not only that, the Peranakan have their own dondang sayang and syaer. At the end of the 19th century, the literary traditions of the Peranakan flourished; one celebrated Peranakan writer using the pseudo-name Kalam Langit wrote the Shaer Slamat Tahun Baru China which opened with the stanza,
Sahya datang memberi slamat
Sembah sujud dengan hormat
Biar umur panjang amat
Bikin abis dendam kesumat
I come with well wishes my dear
Bow in respect to my elder
May long life be yours forever
May we live in peace ever after
NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
Chinese New Year or Taon Baru is anticipated joyously a month ahead of the actual celebration. A full spectrum of pantang-
larang (taboos) is adhered to. Houses would have to be spotless and decorated to ensure abundance for the coming year.
Some traditions are more familiar. For example, there will be new curtains, and red cloth or ang chai would be hung at the door. A Peranakan from Penang, Teoh Choon Ean, reminisces: “I love the red cloths draped over doorways, the spruced-up homes after the spring cleaning, normally carried out on an auspicious day before the New Year. We would sometimes have new curtains and new cushion covers for the rattan chairs but the colour would be predominantly red, the colour of good luck and prosperity.”
On the eve of the New Year, adds Teoh, the children would be told to stay up late, past midnight, so that their parents could have long lives! Sometimes it was difficult to remain awake, but everyone would try very hard to ensure this.
Another taboo is to never sweep the floor with a broom on the first day of Chinese New Year; otherwise one risks good luck being swept away too.
Continues Teoh: “Traditionally we serve tea to our parents in the morning, kneeling on our knees or bowing with respect whilst wishing them “Keong Hee Huat Chye,” and receiving ang pow from them in return.”
Family is all-important with the Peranakan. On New Year’s Day, the matriarch, the oldest in the family, would sit on a grand chair dressed in her most beautiful kebaya sarong. Then, the youngsters would stand in line according to seniority. The matriarch would say, “Panday-panday surat” (‘be knowledgeable’) or “Cepat-cepat kawin” , the matriach’s advice to young adults to get married. In return, the young ones would respond, “Panjang-panjang umur,” wishing longevity for their elders.
PERANAKAN FARE
The saying “you are what you eat” is so true, especially with the Peranakan. While the Chinese New Year celebration is generally similar, what sets them apart is the Nyonya culinary spread, which combines both traditional Chinese and Malay cooking. This unusual marriage of flavours, herbs and spices results in a spicier array of delicacies.
Typically at a Malacca Peranakan New Year table, there will be acar, the famous Nyonya pickle made from sliced carrots and cucumber, buah keluak, curry fish, kueh Belanda and many others. Wajik, the sweet sticky cake made from glutinous rice, and dodol, both familiar to the Malays, are a must.
Meanwhile, for the Penang Peranakan, the New Year would see plenty of titbits and cookies being served, says Teoh, recalling her childhood. “These were traditional unlike the fancy fusion cookies that we get today. There was the eggy smell and crispy bite of kuih kapit, melt-in-the-mouth creaminess of kuih bangkit and the pretty, puffed up-looking kuih bahulu.”
Smiling, she adds: “The Kitchen God is believed to visit during Chinese New Year. My mother would put out the kuih bakul, a sticky sugary pulut flour and santan concoction made into a basket-like shape with banana leaves. It’s said that the Kitchen God would get his teeth stuck in the sticky cake and wouldn’t be able to say bad things about the family!”
BLESS THE PERANAKAN
As mentioned earlier, my former boss and mentor Gina Yeo, who was a great influence, introduced me to the working life and the ethics to follow. Without me realising it, my life has been blessed and touched by the influence of the Peranakan. Perhaps this is because even though the Baba Nyonya are traditionalists, they’re open to modern ways and assimilation.
In school, my English teacher and prolific writer Teoh Choon Ean encouraged my creative writing. And my love for the Malay Hikayat was encouraged by Professor Ding Choo Ming, who introduced me to Peranakan pantun!
Sadly, today, the Peranakan way of life is under threat of vanishing altogether. Says Teoh: “I see it (the Peranakan culture) slowly disappearing. People nowadays don’t seem to want to bother with traditions and follow the tedious requirements of culture. Reunion dinners, angpows, new clothes for Chinese New Year, and serving New Year cookies will probably be around for a while yet but it seems a lot of the pantang larang are dying.”
The Peranakan is unique to Malaysia, Singapore and in some parts of Indonesia. It would be a great loss to lose this genteel and rich culture which promotes assimilation, acceptance and appreciation of each other. Perhaps awareness is half the battle won in ensuring the survival of this beautiful heritage.
Kalu ada jarom pata
Simpan jangan dalam peti
Kalau ada silap sapata
Simpan jangan di dalam hati
A broken needle in a pouch
Should not be left inside
If there is wrong doing on my part
Do not let it in the heart, reside.