Do Indonesians Celebrate Chinese New Year?

The Spring Festival is a traditional festival of ours with a history of thousands of years. During this period, no matter how far we are from home—even thousands of miles away—we will all return home to reunite with our families and celebrate the New Year together.​

But did you know? Beyond China, there are many countries around the world that also celebrate the Spring Festival just like us. For instance, in Indonesia, this festival is equally lively and bustling!

As early as 2002, the Spring Festival was listed as an official public holiday in Indonesia. There is a special term for the Spring Festival in Indonesia called "Imlek", which originates from the Minnan dialect and means "lunar calendar", referring specifically to the Lunar New Year—the Spring Festival.​

As the Spring Festival approaches each year, a strong festive atmosphere permeates local Indonesia. Shopping malls and supermarkets in many cities are decorated with large red lanterns and Chinese knots, and a full range of Spring Festival supplies are available, such as red candles, red rice cakes and red accessories for celebration. People can even enjoy traditional performances like dragon dances , lion dances, martial arts and folk song-and-dance shows.​

On Chinese New Year's Eve and the first day of the Lunar New Year, Indonesian Chinese usually have a family dinner at home, where they enjoy the New Year's Eve feast, chat about daily life and give out red envelopes . In terms of food, Indonesian Chinese eat rice cakes during the Spring Festival. Additionally, they also have "longevity noodles" on the first day of the New Year, which symbolizes "longevity year after year". To pray for good luck throughout the year, the noodles must not be broken while eating.​

In general, the Spring Festival in Indonesia is not only a celebration for the local Chinese community, but also incorporates elements of Indonesian local culture. So, do you know what interesting New Year greeting customs exist when celebrating the Spring Festival in Indonesia?