Tatana's Chinese New Year tradition

I would like to share the near extinct Tatana's custom on Chinese New Year celebration.

Dusun Tatana Chinese New Year custom

This is the things that needed to begin the celebration. This must be done before the CNY. Prayer will be held at noon, evening at 7 and lastly the next day at 3am. Before the prayer, we have to shape or roll the money paper for dead. After the prayer, we will burn the money and light up the fireworks. For those who had shotgun will fire it at the same time. This custom is held to call to ancestor to eat with us. After all the procedure, we will eat the food. This mean we eat with them. From what i study, most of the Tatana had forget this including me but i learned this customs when i have time. We Tatana have different custom and tradition than the normal Dusun. Don't be shame to join this custom. Religion is what you believe but custom is what you are.

Welcome

What a shame that we as Tatana are getting small and lost. Saya memang berasa malu atas apa kaum saya sendiri telah lakukan pada kaum mereka sendiri. Tatana is from the district of Kuala Penyu and we are the main ethnic there. Recently i just realize something. Something that change my mind forever. When my grandfather died just in this year 2012, i realize that not only my grandfather passed on and died forever but the custom and tradition that passed on to my family follow to died and disappear with him. Moreover my grandfather was a pagan. I felt sad because that time was the last time i heard the tradition of screaming cry. 

When my grandma time come to her, the tradition will completely wipe out. Back to my life, many of friends that was Tatana said that they were Tatana and their can speak the mother tongue but one thing they don't know is their own tradition and customs. What a shame. I can't speak the language but i can understand it well. I'm also know very well about the tradition. So my point here are if you declared yourself as Tatana belongs to same hometown as me but you dont know nothing about the language, traditions and customs, you not a Tatana at all. Although you know to speak the mother tongue but you dont know the custom and tradition, you still not a Tatana. I have read many about tribe and races. They been called as their tribe because of their traditions and customs. We know other people's races by their custom. Why we have to follow people's religion? They are belongs to other nation. That their custom. Why do we need to convert into a religion which is not belonging from this land. They even not our customs and traditions. From my experience, many of the Tatanas that lived in the city said that they were Kadazan. Open your head if you said that. We are not them. We are Dusun Tatana.  Our cultures if difference from them. They never celebrate Tahun Baru as we are. We felt the same because of our language and cloth but we not. I think that some religion is contrary to our customs but dont feel shame. Our customs and traditions are the first priority.   

I had to said that one more time. Tatana will be wipe out completely. Here some examples of other countries that still preserve their customs and traditions, Japan. Japan is a Shinto country. Many of traditional festivals are still being celebrated. They do it together. They care for their cultures. That why their are called Japanese not because of their language but their culture.