This post is not to investigate the abuse of the term 1Malaysia,but rather a experience I had that I think the closest to reflect the concept.
Last night, apparently, from the sight of lantern hanging everywhere and with people walking with beautifully decorated lantern, was a (1Malaysia) Mooncake Festival for Chinese.
Lantern 1Malaysia
Arriving home last night, as I parked my car, my daughter's eyes shined with excitement looking at the colorful lantern hanging in Mr Lim's house, our neighbour. We were watching the family hanging the lanterns all over their front yard from afar. Then my wife suggested that I bring the kids nearer so that they can get a better view.
Daaniya and Imaad were excited as we walked to Mr Lim's house. Seeing we approaching, Auntie Lim opened the gate straight away and invited us in. There were having traditional mooncake snack (I assume) outside in the car porch. They had various type of (1Malaysia) mooncakes, (1Malaysia) boiled baby yam, (1Malaysia) Pomelo, and there were some strange nut that look like bull horn called (1Malaysia) Water Caltrop which has very hard shell that you need to break it open to eat it. And of course (1Malaysia) Jasmine Chinese tea.
Mooncake 1Malaysia
Water Caltrop 1Malaysia
Baby Yam 1Malaysia
The whole family were there, except for their son in (1Malaysia) Singapore. All children already grown up and working. Their daughter were excited lighting up lanterns, sadly there were few casualties I saw few lanterns burned down accidentally. The son was there serving food with his girlfriend. I sat down with them, enjoying their meal (halal) with Chinese Tea with auntie and uncle Lim. Daaniya was just clinging to me (as usual) and just looked at the lanterns. She loved the Chinese tea. Imaad was kinda addicted to mooncake that I need to keep on feeding him the entire time.
So I asked them, what do they do on (1Malaysia) Mooncake festival?
They said what I see is pretty much what they do for mooncake festival, since they are Christians, they don't go for temple, but since mooncake is more of cultural celebration rather than a religious one, they celebrate it anyway. Its just family gathering, lighting up lanterns, and if you have kids, bringing them walking around at night with lanterns, enjoying mooncake traditional foods.Thats pretty much wrap up Mooncake Festival for Mr Lim's family!
If I had stayed home last night, I would not learnt or experienced anything about mooncake festival. I am glad I brought my children out. So celebrating 1Malaysia mooncake festival will be imprinted in thier memory and perhaps they might see people of all races as just human, beyond the skin color and social prejudices.
