From Suppression to Celebration: Chinese New Year in Indonesia

Chinese New Year in Indonesia evolved from quiet home celebrations to a vibrant national holiday.

Chinese New Year celebration in Indonesia: a lively moment with a ‘Barongsai’ (lion dance) and children. Photo by Donny Haryadi on Unsplash

I just fried some kue keranjang or basket cake, a traditional Chinese New Year delicacy. In Mandarin, it is called nián gāo (年糕), and in Hokkien, it is referred to as tiⁿ-kóe (甜棵).

In Indonesia, people typically slice these cakes thinly, dip them in egg batter, and fry them until they turn golden brown. They’re best enjoyed hot, especially on a rainy afternoon, paired with a cup of steaming tea.

Kue Keranjang: in its classic and fried forms. Credit: fimela.com

The familiar sweetness takes me back to my childhood in Solo or Surakarta. Our house stood by the main road, but behind it lay a quieter kampung (urban village) lane.

Just across that small road lived a Chinese-Indonesian family, and their daughter, Yenny, was my age. I don’t remember her mother’s name, but I do remember calling her Auntie.

A typical narrow street in “Kampung Baru”, Solo, similar to the one behind my parents’ house. Credit: Solo Pos.