Narasi.net – Today 19 years ago, or to be precise on February 1, 2003, the government formally declared Chinese New Year a national holiday.
The moment coincides with the Chinese New Year 2554 (Shio of the goat). The 4th President of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) played an important role in the repeal of Presidential Instruction No. 14/1967 on restrictions on religion, belief and custom China on December 6, 1967. After Gus Dur lifted the embargo, the Chinese could happily celebrate Chinese New Year again.
Chinese New Year in the Suharto era was limited
As reported by kompas.com, January 3, 2022, President Suharto issued Presidential Instruction No. 14/1967 concerning restrictions on Chinese Religion, Belief and Customs on December 6, 1967.
It states that all Chinese Religious, Belief and Customary Ceremonies may only be celebrated in a family environment and in a closed room.
This of course marks the decline of Chinese New Year ceremonies in Indonesia, as well as the emergence of different treatment for ethnic Chinese, not only that Confucianism is not recognized as a religion in Indonesia.
The pressure on ethnic Chinese during the New Order era resulted in the excitement of the Lunar New Year ceremony disappearing in Indonesia.
Chinese New Year can finally be celebrated
Only then, during the administration of President Abdurrahman Wahid, was issued Presidential Decree No. 6/2000 concerning the revocation of Presidential Instruction No. 14/1967 on January 17, 2000.
Not only can they celebrate Chinese New Year openly, but the ethnic Chinese population is also given the freedom to follow their religion, beliefs, and customs. For this policy, President Abdurrahman Wahid, who is often called Gus Dur, was given the title “Father of Chinese Indonesians”.
Following the provisions taken by President Abdurrahman Wahid, the following year the Minister of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia also issued Provision No. 13 of 2001 concerning the stipulation of Chinese New Year as a Facultative National Holiday.
However, the Lunar New Year ceremony as a National Holiday was only carried out two years after that under President Megawati Soekarnoputri after the stipulation of Presidential Decree No. 19
of 2002.
Still from the news from Kompas.com, February 8, 2016, the Chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (Pdi-P) DPP Megawati Soekarnoputri said that the Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year ceremonies in Indonesia are a reflection of the penetration of the principle of nationality in the minds of the population.
Gus Dur’s Hope
He considers Chinese New Year as a bridge of brotherhood of all citizens. “The Lunar New Year commemoration is part of the bridge of brotherhood and also a solid foundation for the unity of Indonesia with all its diversity,” Megawati said in a written statement from the Pdi-P DPP, Monday (8/2/2016).
Megawati is the fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia to declare the Lunar New Year a national holiday in 2003. Megawati’s decree is a continuation of President Abdurrahman Wahid’s regulation which issued Presidential Decree No. 6 of 2000 concerning the revocation of President Suharto’s instructions in 1967 which limited the mobility of the Chinese group.
However, in 2004, Gus Gur also admitted that there were still thousands of discriminatory regulations that had not been repealed. Gus Dur also hoped that all elements of the nation would provide opportunities for the Chinese people in social life.
“They are Indonesians, they should not be isolated just given one area. If someone criticizes them for not being active in the people, it is because they are not given the opportunity,” said Gus Dur. “The best way, our nation must access all the doors of life for the Chinese so that they can be fully demanded to be Indonesian,” said Gus Dur, (30/1/2017).
Chinese New Year 2022 Lion Dance Show at Living World Mall by World Champion Kong Ha Hong Indonesia
40 Happy Chinese New Year Greetings 2022
Check out a collection of Chinese New Year’s 2022 greetings, complete in Indonesian, English, and Mandarin. Chinese residents will celebrate Chinese New Year today, Tuesday (1/2/2022). Not only gathering with family and relatives, Chinese New Year is also a moment to pray for each other. Similar to other New Year’s ceremonies, more than one large group of us celebrating will also offer Chinese New Year greetings.
Here are Chinese New Year greetings from more than one source:
1. xīn nián kuài lè
新年快乐!
Happy Chinese New Year!
Selamat Tahun Baru Cina!
2. xīn xiǎng shì chéng
心想事成
Semoga semua keinginan Anda menjadi kenyataan.
May all your wishes come true.
3. zhù nǐ xīn de yì nián wàn shì rú yì
祝你新的一年万事如意!
Semoga hal-hal berubah seperti yang Anda inginkan di tahun mendatang!
May things turn out the way you want them to in the coming year!
4. hé jiā huān lè
阖家欢乐!
Wishing you happy family life!
Semoga Anda bahagia dalam kehidupan keluarga!
5. shē tǐ jiàn kāng
身体健康!
Wishing you good health!
Semoga kesehatan Anda baik!
6. nián nián yǒu yú
年年有余!
May you always have more than you wish for!
Semoga Anda selalu memiliki lebih dari yang Anda harapkan!
7. suì suì píng ān
岁岁平安!
May you have peace year after year!
Semoga Anda memiliki tahun demi tahun kedamaian!
8. gōng xǐ fā cái
恭喜发财!
May you be happy and prosperous!
Semoga Anda bahagia dan sejahtera!
9. cái yuán guǎng jìn
财源广进!
Wishing you plenty of money!
Semoga Anda punya banyak uang!
10. gōng zuò shùn lì
工作顺利!
Wishing you a good time at work!
Semoga Anda mendapat waktu yang menyenangkan di tempat kerja!
11. gōng hè xīn xǐ
祝你新年快乐!
Wish you a happy New Year!
Semoga Tahun Baru Anda bahagia!
12. xin nián kuài lè, hé jiā xìng fú
新年快乐,有一个幸福的家庭。
Happy New Year and have a happy family.
Selamat Tahun Baru dan semoga keluarga bahagia.
13. xin nián kuài lè, wàn shì rú yì
新年快乐,希望一切顺利。
Happy New Year and hope all goes well.
Selamat Tahun Baru dan semoga semuanya berjalan dengan baik.
14. 事业有成
Shì yè yǒu chéng
Success in your career.
Semoga pekerjaanmu selalu sukses.
15. 阖家幸福
Héjiā xìngfú
Happiness for the whole family
Semoga kebahagiaan selalu menyertai keluargamu.
Final Word
gōng hè xīn xǐ