Let's get this straight...

Is Chinese New Year a cultural celebration or religious celebration?

If you are still unsure, let someone who actually celebrates it suggest an answer now: Its plain cultural.

I read something one thestar.com.my today, about an issue that shouldn't be an issue to begin with....it was something about Pesta Ang Pows organized in some uni in malaysia to celebrate chinese new year being (i quote) misconstrued as 'religious' festivals...

Anyway, lets see...chinese new year is just a celebration to usher in the new year of the chinese lunar calendar...its to celebrate another 'safe year'...people gather and celebrate when, as legend has it, a man-eating beast called 'Nian' that comes out every new year's eve is scared and driven away by the sounds of firecrackers people light and the red colour everywhere (it fears red)...

so...thats just some background info on d origins of the celebration...but, how is it usually celebrated?

for any simple normal chinese family...chinese new year is about gathering...meeting up for the grand dinner on new year's eve...visiting relatives and friends...then its the firecrackers to spice up the nights and let the younger ones have some fun...ang pows given by the married to the unmarried ones as a gesture to wish good luck (the angpows are actually important for the colour - red, and not the money...money inside is just as a lil something to add happiness)...

maybe chinese new year involves prayers in many chinese families, but its just thanking God for a blessed year and praying for a good year ahead...its nothing about chinese new year being a religious celebration, its just like how muslims have end of year doa and beginning of year doa...and praying on chinese new year can really be suited to your belief...

like the article on the star online said, chinese people of different faith celebrates it without qualms (lets keep in mind that chinese people don't by default belief in any single religion just because they are chinese)...and muslim chinese is one HUGE community, which celebrates it too...

so, if you are not chinese but your chinese friends invite you to join in and care enough to make available halal food etc, if you could, do join in...if you are muslim, please dont let religion be a reason why you can't join...join to foster better friendship and greater understanding...

but then i sense that sometimes, its not that people dont know that it's okay...its probably people just couldnt be bothered or dont care...and in the process of subconcious denial, subconciously makes excuses for themselves saying its not okay...what a pity...