Jokowi On Chinese New Year: The Pandemic Certainly Makes The Celebration A Little Difficult For Us

President Joko Widodo (Photo: Capture YouTube Screenshot of Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) admitted that people who are celebrating the 2572 Chinese New Year on this day experience limitations in carrying out traditions.

"The Chinese New Year during the pandemic certainly makes it difficult for us to celebrate it with joy with relatives and friends", Jokowi said on his Instagram account @jokowi, Friday, February 12.

A post of an illustration of the Chinese New Year celebration on Jokowi's Instagram depicts the two relatives who are in touch with a video call connection. In the caption of the post, Jokowi believes that the public can still celebrate Chinese New Year with joy.

"All of that does not reduce gratitude for the overflow of peace and love with the family. Hopefully, we all remain in the spirit of brotherhood and are kept away from disease and disaster", he said.

As is well known, the habits that are carried out every year when the Chinese New Year celebration will change this year due to the pandemic. As a reference, here are the Chinese New Year traditions that are carried out both with close family and relatives by following health protocols.

Some customs of the Chinese New Year celebrations in Indonesia may be different from those in China and in other countries, for example, Malaysia and Vietnam. In Indonesia, there are the following Chinese New Year traditions:

Gathering with family

Like Eid Al Fitr, celebrating Chinese New Year also has a tradition of gathering with family. People who live or work outside the city will consider Chinese New Year a special day and travel home to meet their extended family.

However, during a pandemic, it seems that this habit can be done conditionally, especially in Indonesia, namely by carrying a health certificate.

Eat milkfish

Fish symbolizes happiness and good luck. The Chinese New Year tradition in Indonesia is celebrated by eating milkfish called Nian Nian Yu Yi. The way to eat milkfish is also very symbolic because when one side is eaten you can't turn it over.

Usually, milkfish is not consumed right away. The fish will be saved for the next day. This symbolizes inexhaustible sustenance.

Prepare some other food

Foods that are always on the table during Chinese New Year include Chinese basket cakes, oranges, and layer cakes. Apart from that, there is the Yu Shang tradition. The Yu Shang tradition is that in one large plate containing several foods, including salmon, radish, oranges, nuts, lime leaves, pickled ginger, peppers, nuts, plums, and noodles.

Cleaning the house a few days before the celebration

According to tradition, a day before Chinese New Year the house must be clean. A clean house and open doors and windows symbolize openness in welcoming sustenance, luck, and positive energy.

Getting a haircut

A haircut symbolizes throwing away bad luck. Getting a haircut a few days before the Chinese New Year celebration is also considered to increase optimism in welcoming the new year.

Apart from hereditary habits that symbolize good luck, happiness, and well-being, there are 2 taboos that you shouldn't do during Chinese New Year celebrations or just before the new year.