It is likely not to be another Chinese New Year to Indonesia. And for some youth, it is not always about new clothes, gift and fireworks. Whileas waiting for his New Year Eve dinner, Ferry Setiawan (20, IG: ferryxferry) is at his best mood to welcome the year of monkey. "So far it's really cool. I'd still got my hong bao/ ang pao this year", as he shared. He hasn't married yet. Thus makes him eligible to collect his hong bao from elders.
[caption caption="Ferry (20), welcomes Chinese New Year with his family"][/caption]
To celebrate Imlek is the way Indonesia embraces its diversity. Today, about seven to ten million of Indonesian are identified as Chinese. And only in past years it is more likely that Chinese Indonesian are engaging merrier on its heritage since the late President Abdurrahman Wahid declared Imlek as national holiday along with putting Confucianism as one of national official religions. Most of Chinese Indonesian lives in urban and plays important role in economics. Youth like Ferry, sees Imlek as a day that means a lot to unite his family. "Imlek means we can gather with our family and relatives. We always feasts, dine out, karaoke." When it comes to Hong Bao, he is the lucky one. "I can make IDR1.5 Million at least".
Hong Bao and family are also on top of the wishlist of Floretta Gautama (22, IG: florettagautama). "I am super excited for this. I can make a lot of hong bao, but family comes first. It is really rare to meet my relatives so Imlek is an important moment".Â
[caption caption="Floretta Gautama (22), Feels Imlek as the moment of togetherness"]
During Imlek, Floretta will be going to her grandfather's house where she can meet all her family member. "This is going to be less crowded, sadly. I've lost my Kung Kung and Po Po".
Indonesia's Imlek celebration also unreveal a lot of unlikely story. Meet Monica Rachman (21, IG: monica.rach.), Â who lives in Bekasi. She got her Chinese root from her daddy's line. "It is Called 'Seh' (clan) And my Seh is Tjio". Monica is part of community commonly known as the Peranakan, half Chinese and Natives Indonesian. She is no longer celebrate Imlek as she is a muslim. But her family still do so.
"They always gather and pray for our ancestry at my granma's house. At Imlek eve, they goes to Tepekong (temple) where there is fulled of lights, burst of flare and fireworks, gifts.
[caption caption="Monica (21), Points the loyalty and hard work of Peranakan community to Indonesia."]
As in Indonesia, there is one similarity between Imlek and muslim's Lebaran day. "My family pays visit each one and addresses gong xi fa cai, to everyone. Forgiveness and good wishes are the main ideas of the day. They wish for each other a good year ahead, prosperity".Â
On the other hand, to Alvincent (24), Imlek means just another day to pass by. He doesn't celebrate Imlek. "It feels like it is just exactly the same as other festivals, be it in Indonesia or anywhere else". Vincent who is currently in Sapporo, points that Imlek is a moment of thankful and gratitude for those who is quite religious. To him, Imlek is just a new year celebration based on Chinese calendar. So it is more cultural.