Goh Sui Noi, senior writer of Straits Times wrote a very interesting article in yesterday's paper. She tells of her neighbours - Stewart an Australian and his Singaporean wife. She describes Stewart's interest and enthusiasm in observing our Chinese customs. She adds, "It is an irony that Stewart is enthusiastic about traditions that Singaporeans are caring less about these days, discarding them like so much excess baggage." How true and I agree with her. I am saddened when I hear our own people speaking so disparagingly about our own customs and traditions.
True some customs are mere superstitions, but there are customs that have deep significance, for example the reunion dinner. The writer calls this 'the social glue that binds families."
As mentioned in my blog earlier, we had many visitors, friends and relatives, during the Chinese New Year period. And the most touching was to welcome the Central Corps youth. They are under no obligation to visit us, but they came to pay their respects just the same. We didn't invite them either for they know on CNY Chinese families maintain open house. They certainly have thoughtful leaders who still keep our Chinese customs alive.
One day an English lady remarked that she did not visit her Chinese friends during Chinese New Year because no invitation was ever given to her. She has been living in this country for donkey's years, sadly still do not know our culture of open house during this period.
The last seven years of our active service (1990-1997) were spent in Philippines and England. Of course, no public holidays during CNY in these countries. We could not celebrate in the same way as we do now. We had to work but we did invite some friends to have reunion dinner with us.
If you do not have a copy of the Straits Times (24th Febr) try and get one. It's worth reading.
No comments:
Post a Comment