Chinese New Year decor at IPC (Ikano Power Centre)

Our second stop for Chinese New Year mall decor is at IPC. Walking distance from The Curve, how can we NOT come here right? :P

Ethan enjoying walking on the trail of the dragon. He said we must NOT walk on the RED carpet for the dragon will EAT us then! :P

The stage.

One of the houses with one of the dragons.

Lanterns

What I love about IPC’s decor this year is the trail of the dragon. Walk around and spend some time reading on what Chinese New Year is all about…

Chinese New Year – The CNY is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. It is also known as the Spring Festival, marking the end of the winter season. The Chinese New Year celebration lasts for 15 days, with the final day being celebrated here in Malaysia as Chap Goh Mei.

God Of Prosperity – Also known as Cai Shen or Choy Sun, this deity is very popular during the Chinese New Year celebrations. He is believed to be able to bless one with luck, wealth and economic opportunities. He is often depicted riding a black tiger and holding a golden rod.

Red Packets (Ang Pow) – Ang Pow or red packets, are given out during the Chinese New Year celebrations from married couples or the elderly to children or unmarried juniors. Red packets almost always contains money and the amount of money given is of even numbers. It is believed to symbolize good luck and is supposed to ward off evil spirits.

The Zodiac Race – There are 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac, which originates from the fable that the Jade Emperor organised race so that people can remember each year by the animal. As the Rat outsmarted everyone else to win the race , it is named the 1st animal in the cycle, followed by the very strong Ox.

Yee Sang – Yee Sang or the Prosperity Toss, is a Teochew style raw fish salad which is popular in Malaysia and Singapore during the Chinese New Year celebrations. It consists of salmon (raw fish), shredded vegetables and an assortment of sauces and condiments. Yee Sang is considered a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigor.

Mandarin Oranges – Tangerines and oranges are passed out freely during Chinese New Year as the Chinese words for tangerine and orange sound like gold and wealth. When Chinese families visit each other, it is customary exchange Chinese New Year greetings and offer oranges and tangerines as gifts.

Nian Gao – Nian Gao or the Chinese New Year cake, is available during Chinese New Year as it is considered good luck to eat it during this time. You will always find Nian Gao at a Chinese home as this sticky sweet snack was believed to be an offering to the Kitchen God. The aim of this sweet is so that when he eats them, his mouth will be stuck with the sticky cake and he can’t bad-mouth the family behaviour to the God of all Gods, Yu Huang Da Di.

The Story of Nian

Long ago there was a horrifying monster that came out on the same day each year to eat people. This monster was named Nian, and the people marked the end of the year by his visits. That’s where the Chinese word for ‘year’ came from. Each time Nian comes around, people would huddle together in their homes and stay up all night, terrified of being eaten. This happened for many years until a wise man thought up a plan to scare the monster away. 

This man proposed that the people should light bamboo with fire. The bamboo would crack and make a lot of noise, possibly scaring the monster away. The villagers thought this was a very good idea and started to light the bamboo. The noise was tremendous. The monster was scared by the loud noise and ran back to its cave! The next morning, the villagers rejoice at the results of their efforts. So from then on, people stayed up late, lit firecrackers and congratulated each other when New Year came.

How well do you know all your Ah Longs?

Well, if you wanna find out more about the Ah Longs ie Ying Long, Sheng Long, Tian Long and Di Long, you’ve just GOT to drop by IPC for yourself! :D

One thing though, when they constructed this Cherry Blossom tree, they sure did not think of how fragile it is and how easily it can be damaged..

for hardly a day or two after it is put up, it is now gone for good…

I went to IPC hoping to take a pic or two of the CNY decor and came out like a champion after conquering the trail of the Dragon!

Click here for DIY Ang Bao decor guide with pictures.

Check out other Mall’s CNY decor:

1) The  Curve

2) One Utama

3) Giza Mall

4) Pavilion KL

5) Sunway Pyramid

6) Berjaya Time Square