Chinese new year celebrations is to welcome the chinese new year is always celebrated in the grandest tradition of all the layer singkawang every year. For them the celebration of chinese new year is not different than any other indonesian people when celebrating Eid or Christmas.
Lunar new year tradition emerged from the chinese community which is considered as an expression of gratitude to god for the harvest and the next season and hope to obtain better result. Lunar new year is always celebrated for is consecutive days and peak to 15 today called Cap Go Meh. In chinese tradition means the night of the 15th which is the top celebration of chinese new year and Cap Go Meh is celebrated in particular.
The top of the event of imlek is Cap Go Meh. Cap Go Meh means to ward off bad luck or problems in the future. Expulsion of evil spirits and bad luck, Cap Go Meh rescission Tatung symbolized in the show. Tatung is a mayor median in Cap Go Meh. Pull Tatung filled with mystical and thrilling, because many people possessed, and the people who called Tatung.
The Tatung has been required by the pastor for fast for 3 days before the celebration , which means that they are in a state of purity before the celebration.
In Tatung attractions which already has a spirit that died acting weird, there is a sword or knife, there is also a plug wire, steel wire tapering to the right cheek to penetrate the left cheek. Tetung strangely not the slightest scratch or injured. Some of the Tatung eat other animals or eat live chickens and drinking their blood was still fresh and raw.
In Singkawang many dayaknese who also participated in Tatung, they are encouraged to participan because Tatung ritual ceremonies such as dayak. Since first coming to singkawang chinese community have formed a close friendship with the native, especially the dayak tribe. Therefore there is no awkwardness between the two ethnic groups.
In celebration of the Lunar new orde era, especially the ritual Tatung prohibited paraded in public. But in the reform era of former president Abdurahman wahid allowed to return, even the next government of Megewati sukarno putri passed in the form of legislation.
