Chinese New Year is coming to an end when it comes to the last week of the 15-days Chinese New Year celebration. To mark the last day of the Chinese New Year celebration, the Chinese follow an old tradition of hurling mandarin oranges into lakes to celebrate Chap Goh Meh, a festival that started in Penang.
Chap Goh Meh, also dubbed as the Chinese Valentine’s Day, takes place on the fifteenth night of Chinese New Year, and it is a day where young Chinese singletons gather up at a location in town to celebrate this special day. They celebrate this day in high hopes of finding their true love by writing their name and contact details on the mandarin oranges before throwing them into the pool of water.
There are many different legends surrounding the festival’s origins, but most people believe it’s an old tradition to carry lanterns around on the street and set-off firecrackers on this day. Legend has it that because the Jade Emperor was angered by the death of his favourite crane when it was sent down from heaven but was killed by some villagers. The Jade Emperor then sent a troop to incinerate the village only to find that the village was already burnt to the ground. The villagers were able to escape death as the Jade Emperor’s daughter took pity on the villagers and warned the villagers beforehand. A wise man from another village also suggested hanging red lanterns around their house and set-off firecrackers on the 14th, 15th and 16th lunar days.
Chap Goh Meh was also believed that it is the only day where young maidens were allowed to stroll on street and pray in temples in hopes to find the suitable match. That way, potential suitors would catch a glimpse of the young maidens who have dressed up to find their love. It is also believed that the maidens who threw oranges into lakes will find her future match when her ‘suitor’ picks up her orange. This story is possibly the reason why the tradition continues to be preserved until today.
Although the origin of the festival is quite superstitious, it is still a celebration that Chinese singletons look forward to each year. Apart from throwing oranges, cultural performances will also take place during the festival as well.
The Chap Goh Meh festival will be held in several places in Malaysia including Penang, Petaling Jaya, Cheras, Klang, and Kuala Lumpur. The festival famously takes place at Esplanade in Penang and Taman Jaya in Petaling Jaya.
In 2013, Chap Goh Meh will take place on the 24th of February. If you are looking forward to find your true love, or simply want to enjoy the festivity as it marks the end of Chinese New Year celebration, here are the list of places to celebrate Chap Goh Meh this year!
1. Esplanade, Penang
Event: Chap Goh Meh Penang State Open House
Date: 24 February 2013
Time: 8.00pm – 9.30pm
2. Rabu Car Park, Kuah, Langkawi
Event: Chap Goh Meh 2013 Celebration
Date: 23 February 2013
Time: 6.00pm – 11.00pm
3. i-City, Shah Alam
Event: Pesta Chap Goh Mei Sayangi Selangor
Date: 23 February 2013
Time: 6.00pm – 11.00pm
4. Streets of Harmony, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling
Event: Penang Chinese Town Hall (PCTH) Chap Goh Meh Celebration
Date: 24 February 2013
Time: 9pm – 12.00am
5. Jalan Pasar
Event: Chap Goh Meh Celebration
Date: 24 February 2013
Time: 8pm to 11pm.
6. Pulau Ketam 7AJetty
Event: Chap Goh Meh Celebration
Date: 24 February 2013
Time: 7pm to 11pm.
