Lucky bamboos in pots have grown in popularity.
THE Chinese community in Malaysia is abuzz with preparations to usher in the Year of the Dragon.
At Petaling Street or Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur, stalls and shops offering festive snacks such as kuih kapit (crispy love letters), golden-brown fried arrowhead chips and the ever-popular pineapple tarts abound.
Also in abundance are ingredients used for cooking auspicious meals like abalone, bird’s nest, fish maw and mushrooms that symbolise affluence and well-being.
Dried sausages and waxed duck meat also take centre stage during Chinese New Year (CNY).
Decorations play an integral part in setting the tone for a new year.
Bright colours, especially red and yellow, accentuate the mood.
Plants like flowers and lucky bamboo in pots are also popular as they symbolise springtime, which is fitting as the Lunar New Year marks the end of winter.
Lucky bamboos in pots have grown in popularity.
Lucky bamboos in pots have grown in popularity over time and can be had in various arrangements. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
Dried mushrooms are a common ingredient for Chinese New Year dishes.
Dried mushrooms are a staple ingredient in cooked dishes during Chinese New Year— YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
An assortment of snacks displayed prominently outside a bakery drawing passers-by. — Photos: YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
Assortment of snacks displayed prominently outside a bakery draw the eyes of passersby. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
A customer picking through a bunch of neatly packed plum blossom branches. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
A customer picking through a bunch of neatly packed plum blossom branches. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
Madam Yap, 74, (second from left) has been making kuih kapit for more than 30 years.
Madam Yap, 74, (second from left) has been making traditional kuih kapit for more than 30 years.— YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
A man shopping for dried goods such as sea cucumber, bird’s nest and fish maw.
A man shopping for dried good such as sea cucumbers, birds nest and fish maw.— YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
A trader selling flowers and decorative items in Petaling Street.
A traders tending to flowers outside her shop which also sells various decorative items in Petaling Street, Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
