Traditional New Year
Like in many other Asian nations, Malaysia's traditional New Year provides an occasion for family members to come together to reunite in harmony and love. People can dine, dress up, and enjoy the spring celebration at this time. Malaysian New Year's Day begins on January 1 (according to the Islamic calendar). The streets are covered with a variety of brilliant hues, and the houses are cleaned and decorated. However, around ten days before New Year's Day, Malaysian Muslims begin fasting (eating only small meals before sundown), believing that this is the proper way to demonstrate compassion for the suffering of the impoverished on earth as taught by Allah's scripture.
The traditional dish on New Year's Day in Malaysia is called Otak, also known as Otah. Tourists will easily find this dish anywhere, in the city's food centers, restaurants, or in family meals. When meeting on New Year's Eve, Malaysians have the custom of gently touching their hand to the palm of the other person, then retracting their hand and holding it close to the heart for a few seconds. New Year's Eve in Malaysia is very interesting with the peacock feather competition. Two people standing about three or four meters apart, each holding a beautiful peacock feather, and then rushing in to pick up the other's nose and ears, whoever laughs first loses.
