June 3, 2009
I AM in my late teens and am upset that many youth these days take various customs and festivals lightly.
Festivals under the lunar calendar, such as the Hungry Ghost Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, go unnoticed by youth. Some do not even know their history.
In the past, people would pray to the deceased throughout the month during the Hungry Ghost Festival. There would also be getai performances.
But times have changed and youth do not bother to carry on the tradition. They also do not support getai performances.
During the Mid-Autumn and Dragon Boat Festivals, they know only that it is time to eat mooncakes and dumplings. A few days before the Dragon Boat Festival, I overheard a group of secondary school students saying: "There's no need to celebrate such things. We are not in China. Just eat dumplings."
With such a mindset, I fear that Singapore's youth will not only lose their traditional beliefs, but also forget the history and significance of such festivals.
My suggestion is to have exhibitions at various locations in Singapore where youth hang out.
The Education Ministry should promote such traditions in schools. If not, in a decade's time, such activities and traditions will be wiped out from the lives of Singaporeans.
Tan Shao Ken
[I just wanted to comment that Singapore and "nan yang" Chinese probably have a better grasp of traditions and customs, especially those with religious or semi-religious overtones. The Communist cultural revolution and a disdain for religion under the communist regime meant that many of these traditions were suppressed.
As with all traditions, the importance and the meaning will evolve with the times.]
I AM in my late teens and am upset that many youth these days take various customs and festivals lightly.
Festivals under the lunar calendar, such as the Hungry Ghost Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, go unnoticed by youth. Some do not even know their history.
In the past, people would pray to the deceased throughout the month during the Hungry Ghost Festival. There would also be getai performances.
But times have changed and youth do not bother to carry on the tradition. They also do not support getai performances.
During the Mid-Autumn and Dragon Boat Festivals, they know only that it is time to eat mooncakes and dumplings. A few days before the Dragon Boat Festival, I overheard a group of secondary school students saying: "There's no need to celebrate such things. We are not in China. Just eat dumplings."
With such a mindset, I fear that Singapore's youth will not only lose their traditional beliefs, but also forget the history and significance of such festivals.
My suggestion is to have exhibitions at various locations in Singapore where youth hang out.
The Education Ministry should promote such traditions in schools. If not, in a decade's time, such activities and traditions will be wiped out from the lives of Singaporeans.
Tan Shao Ken
[I just wanted to comment that Singapore and "nan yang" Chinese probably have a better grasp of traditions and customs, especially those with religious or semi-religious overtones. The Communist cultural revolution and a disdain for religion under the communist regime meant that many of these traditions were suppressed.
As with all traditions, the importance and the meaning will evolve with the times.]
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