Malay culture:

Date
According to the Hijrah calendar, Hari Raya Puasa falls on the first day of the 10th month. 3 The
Hijrah is a lunar calendar and therefore the dates on which Hari Raya Puasa falls vary from year to
year.4 Hari Raya Puasa should not be mistaken for the first day of the Islamic New Year. 5
Fasting month
Ramadan falls on the ninth month of the Islamic year.6 Puasa is Malay for fasting.7 Fasting in Islam
means abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking and indulging in any form of behaviour that serves
to nullify the fast. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset and perform religious duties,
such as reading the Quran.8
All Muslims are required to fast, with the exception of children who have not reached puberty, the
feeble elderly, the sick whose health is likely to be severely affected by fasting, expectant mothers,
and women nursing their children. Women who are menstruating can take a maximum of 10 days off.
However, they must make up for each day taken off, at another time. 9 Travellers are also permitted to
eat during the fasting period provided they make up for the lost days later on. 10 Fast is broken after
sunset when it is time for the evening meal, which is known as Iftar.11
Hari Raya Puasa
Hari Raya Puasa marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. It is a time of forgiveness within the
Muslim community and a time for strengthening of bonds among relatives and friends. New clothes,
decorated houses and exchange of invitations between friends and relatives commemorate Hari Raya
Puasa.19
Hari Raya Aidiladha

Aidiladha is also commonly known as Hari Raya Korban or Hari Raya Haji in Malaysia.

Celebrated about two months after Hari Raya Aidilfitri, on the 10th day of Zulhijjah, the 12th (last)
month of the Muslim calendar, it marks the end of the haj pilgrimage period (about two weeks).

Every year, millions of Muslims make the journey to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform the haj, one of
the five basic tenets of Islam.

Aidiladha also commemorates the sacrifices made by the Prophet Ibrahim (hence the word 'korban,'
which means sacrifice in Arabic), who demonstrated immense faith when he was put to the test by
God.

Prophet Ibrahim was commanded to offer his son Ismail up for sacrifice, and though it grieved him
greatly, he made ready to perform the task. However, as he was about to strike his son, God stopped
him and revealed that it was a trial. Ismail's life was spared, and a ram was sacrificed in his place.

As such, during Aidiladha, the sacrifice of four-legged animals such as lambs, goats, cows, bulls and
camels is performed.

The slaughter of the animal is done after the congregational prayer in the morning of Aidiladha.

The animals are killed in accordance with the proper religious rites and the meat is then distributed.

One third of the meat is given to the individual who made the sacrifice, while the rest is given to the
poor and deserving people in the community.
Deepavali
Deepavai is celebrated on the Hindu month of Kartik in October / November. It is also called the
Festivals of Lights.
It's a day of festive joy and Malaysians visit their friends of Hindu faith to extend good wishes and to
partake in the feasting and jollity.
The word "Deepavali" is a combination of the words Dipa and Gavali, the former meaning light
and the latter meaning a row. Thus symbolizing the rows of lights that can be seen at the houses of
Hindu celebrants. As light dispels, this festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil.

Chinese
The event is celebrated on the first day of the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Each year is named after one
of the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Prior to celebrations, homes are cleaned and decorated by
members of the family.
Lucky Oranges
Cities are decorated with red lanterns and the omnipresent slogan "Gong Xi Fa Cai" - which roughly
means "may you be prosporous". There are stalls everywhere selling gifts, especially oranges are to be
very popular for this occasion. Mandarin oranges and tangerines are a symbol of prosperity and good
luck and their prices sore in the days leading up to Chinese New Year. The fruits are displayed as
decoration or given as gifts to friends, family and business partners.
Tossing of Yee Sang
A unique tradition for the Chinese community in Malaysia and Singapore is the tossing of Yee
Sang (or Yusheng or Spring Toss), a Teochew-style raw fish salad. The salad has unique sweet
and sour flavour and consists of strips of raw fish (usually salmon), shredded pickled vegetables and
other ingredients. All ingredients are positioned seperately on a big plate. The ritual is to gather
around the plate, each person holding chopsticks, and to mix and toss the salad together while
shouting "Loh Hei" (Cantonese for "toss up good fortune") and announcing auspicous wishes. The
higher you toss the better (and the messier the table). Traditionally, the dish has seven symbolic
ingredients and is served on the seventh day of Chinese New Year. But the ritual is common anytime
during the festive season with family, friends or at work.
Reunion Dinner
When people make it back home it's all about eating (like any festive occasion in Malaysia). The main
occasion during Chinese New Year is the reunion dinner where the whole family comes together to eat
and spend the evening together. The reunion dinner is held on the New Year's Eve of Chinese New
Year (the evening before CNY) and takes place around a table full of food. The majority will have the
reunion dinner at home. A common dish for this occasion is Steam Boat. A dish that can drag for
hours. Various types of seafood (prawn, abalone etc.) and meat, eggs, vegetables, tofu and noodles are
placed around hot bowl of soup. You take whatever you want to eat and put it in the soup. Once it is
cooked enough, you take it out and eat. And so on and on...
On new year's eve is it tradition to stay up unit midnight after the reunion dinner until your safe from
the evil spirit (so they legend goes) and visit the temple to welcome the new year.