Cantonese folk celebrating Yuan Xiao on a moderate scale

For prosperity and health: Mak (left) and Ng showing pinwheels which will be used during the celebration tonight.

IPOH: The Cantonese folk here will celebrate Yuan Xiao today, the equivalent to the Hokkien’s Chap Goh Meh.

This lesser-known festival, known as the Night of the First Full Moon, is held on a grand scale in China.

Perak Nam Hoi Association’s steering committee member Prof Richard Ng said the Yuan Xiao was celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar calendar, similar to the Chap Goh Meh.

Ng, an Ipoh City councillor, said legend had it that because the people on Earth had angered the gods, the God of Fire decided to burn villages on the 15th day of the lunar year.

“The people advised the king to manipulate the situation by lighting red lanterns, making tang yuan (glutinous balls) and setting off firecrackers so that Earth would look brighter than Heaven.

“This would show that the king has taken action against the people for hurting the gods’ feelings.

“However, over time, to commemorate the first lunar moon, the Cantonese would inscribe the names of their newborns and write riddles on the lanterns to welcome these babies into the family.

“It is also an event to bring in good luck, prosperity and good health. In the celebration, special pinwheels with the God of Prosperity and God of Health images are carried during a procession,” he said.

Today, the Yuan Xiao celebration will be held at SMJK (C) Yuk Choy at 8pm. Three main Cantonese associations – the Perak Nam Hoi, Perak Pun Yue and Perak Shun Tak – will participate.

The association’s secretary, Mak Chen Choong, said this year’s event would be celebrated on a moderate scale.