元宵节 Chap Goh Meh Celebration

Date: 22 February 2016
Time: 7PM to 11PM
Venue: Esplanade

Fireworks display at 11pm!

Chap Goh Meh Celebration

Every year, the Penang State Government organizes a Chap Goh Meh celebration for the public with cultural performances and games. The Chap Goh Meh celebration will begin with a customary mandarin tossing ceremony officiated by the Penang Chief Minister, His Honourable Mr Lim Guan Eng. This will be followed by multi cultural dance performances by schools, Lion Dance on Stilts , traditional games and riddles.

At 11pm sharp, visitors will be wowed by an extravagant fireworks display sponsored by Penang Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Visitors can also enjoy Penang’s local delicacies as there will be hawkers stalls selling Char Koay Teow, Satay, Traditional Cakes and Snacks and many more!

In Hokkien, Chap Goh Meh means the fifteenth night of Chinese New Year and marks the end of the festive season. Also known as Chinese Valentine’s Day, Chap Goh Meh signifies the first full moon of the lunar new year and the act of mandarin tossing is traditionally practiced by single maidens to wish for a good husband and with hope that her true love will pick up the orange. In the past, it was one of the few days when young and unmarried women were allowed out of their homes for the mandarin tossing ceremony. This is also a time when eager suitors and young gentlemen would gather to admire these passing beauties. Although times have changed, the tradition of mandarin tossing has carried on every year without fail and in recent years, young singletons would also write their name and contact details on the mandarin oranges before tossing them into the sea.

In Peranakan or Baba Nyonya households, ‘pengat’, a dessert with a sweet broth and bananas is distributed to family and friends, and at night, ‘Dondang Sayang’, a kind of nyonya love ballad is performed to accompany the romantic atmosphere.

For more information please call 04-650 5136.

Source: http://www.visitpenang.gov.my/portal3/penang-tourism-news/2192-penang-chap-goh-meh-celebration-2016.html

Post Author: pgeadmin