KUCHING: Now that it’s that time of the year again, families and friends are planning festive get-togethers as Christmas trees are put up almost everywhere to add gaiety to the celebration.
It’s the season to be joyful! And, after not being able to celebrate Christmas together for two years, there is every reason to do so this season.
This year’s Christmas will be especially joyous as many people try to end the year on a high note.
Jonia Teo Hui Ing, 27, was excited to travel back to her hometown, Serian this Christmas.
Although she is eager to celebrate it after two years without one due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her family will only have a small celebration.
This year, despite the small celebration, she said there will be an open house.
“We have been hosting an open house for the festive season since Gawai this year. And we will do the same on Christmas Day.
“A future in-law will be celebrating Christmas with us this year, though our small family will keep it modest.
“And of course, our close friends and family members are coming over. It is something to look forward to,” she told New Sarawak Tribune.
The proud Chinese-Bidayuh lass is bringing her boyfriend, an Indian-Bidayuh home.
She added that she missed a lot of things after the two-year hiatus and needed to catch up.
As such, she anticipates hearing about the latest events in the lives of her hometown’s friends and family members.
Along with her family and her future husband, Jonia will also attend Christmas mass at the neighbourhood church.
Jasica Tatat, a student at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), is celebrating Christmas while also needing to focus on her studies.
Despite being in the middle of her semester and having only a one-day holiday, she is still in the mood to celebrate Christmas.
She said that her family had always celebrated the holiday season on a grand scale, inviting a large portion of their extended family over for several dinners.
“We are a very close-knit family. Typically, we would host a barbecue at one of our father’s siblings’ home on the night before the festival.
“Usually, we’ll play some fireworks as well. We joyfully celebrate the festival together, young and old alike.
“Not only for Christmas, I’m also looking forward to the forthcoming New Year’s Eve celebration,” she said.
Even though their family does not often host open houses, there are always a variety of dishes available to keep visitors contented.
Usually, their mother will prepare a variety of dishes, including fried noodles, chicken rendang, chicken curry, and so forth.
Her family served food that could be enjoyed by all of the visitors, who came from different backgrounds while her older sister had converted to Islam.
“Our family is very close, as I’ve already mentioned. And my older sister’s family would always be home to share in these occasions with us.
“We would also be having our family, friends, and relatives from far and near come over. Especially this time, as we celebrate Christmas in the endemic phase, it will be more special,” said Jasica.
Similar to Jonia, she will go to church and attend Christmas mass to usher in the Yuletide.
