Merry Christmas, You
In Malaysia, we celebrate four major holidays (among other smaller festivals and days of note): Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which is the Muslim holiday to celebrate the end of Ramadhan; Deepavali, the Festival of Lights celebrated by Hindus; Chinese New Year, aka the Lunar New Year and Christmas.
While each festival has its religious and ethnic origins, Malaysians celebrate every holiday together. Everyone goes on holiday. Most of us make the exodus back to our hometowns from the city of Kuala Lumpur amid gentle reminders of safe driving on TV and in the papers (the festivities are when road accident numbers are the highest because of the long road trips). And we greet each other with the appropriate greeting for the holiday: Selamat Hari Raya, which literally means "Safe Celebration Day", "Happy Deepavali"; Gung Hei Fatt Choy, which is Cantonese for "Wish You Wealth and Prosperity" (I know, it’s all about the money with us) and Merry Christmas.
Oddly enough (Malaysia being a Muslim country), Christmas is probably the only holiday out of the four where all Malaysians, whatever our racial backgrounds and religious beliefs, celebrate culturally (and commercially) together. This is to say that whether or not we’re Christians, Malaysians buy and decorate Christmas trees, give presents, and have Christmas dinners or lunches. It does not matter if one is Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist, I’ve received presents from people of all faiths during Christmas, without ever giving the custom another thought. After all, Christmas isn’t just about Christ anymore. It’s about pretty fake fir trees, Santa, presents, turkey and to the rest of us, simply a holiday for giving and sharing. And regardless of ethnicity or faith, we will greet each other "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"
Without getting our panties all in a bunch.
In recent years, there has been some furor over the words used in the greetings used when the dates of these holidays coincided. When Hari Raya and Chinese New Year became a whole week of festivities, the clever advertising industry came up with "Gong Xi Raya". When Deepavali and Hari Raya became days apart, it became "Happy Deepa Raya". Quite a few people were riled up. These uptight Purists of Holidays and Holiday Greetings opined that these coined greetings were ‘blasphemous’ and ‘disrespectful’.
My honest opinion? There are more important things in the world to worry about than the words one uses in holiday greetings. Do these people have so much time in their hands to give such matters so much thought? Such is the bane of people who, as the Chinese like to say, "sik pau mou yeh chou" (translation: the idleness that comes after one’s stomach is full). Truly, I have never met a purist who is struggling to feed his kids or lives on the streets.
Here’s the thing: My family is agnostic. And yet, we buy a Christmas tree, wrap presents and will be throwing a Christmas Day lunch for our friends and family members. On Christmas eve, we will read our girls The Night Before Christmas and Raeven, especially, will be waiting for Santa, to whom she’s written a letter and posted it (they have a little red mailbox at the post office marked "Letters to Santa") to bring her all her presents. As non-believers, we still play along and help perpetuate that feel-good, warm and fuzzy Christmas myth that is more popularly known as the Christmas spirit. It makes us feel good, our children shining examples of Good Little Girls (for all of two days) and most of all, we do it because it’s FUN.
And if someone wishes me Merry Christmas or a Blessed New Year even though I know that Santa isn’t real or that God has nothing to do with the 365th day of 2007 turning into the 1st day of 2008, will I demand an apology, insisting that people be more careful when they’re trying to be nice and extend their good wishes? When did we become so full of ourselves that we have lost room in our hearts to accept well wishes, just to be courteous? When did we become so conceited in our need to be identified correctly that we cannot make ourselves accept kindness, in whatever package it come ins?
When did wanting to be wished (and making sure to wish people) in a politically correct manner become so crucial that we would risk forgetting what this holiday stands for? What EACH holiday represents?
Giving and receiving.
Generosity.
Good over evil.
Gratitude.
Forgiveness.
Renewal.
With that in mind, I wish all of you a Very Merry Christmas – whoever, and whatever, you are.
Mer
Bleh. And I thought only americans were obnoxious enough to take that garbage seriously.
Here’s to the world getting it’s sense of humor back. Merry Happy Soulful Everything, I’mPerfect Mom, from the Solstice/Yule observant atheist.
Here’s a belated response but Happy New Year to you and yours Mer!
Dec 24, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
kl_gal
Amen, sister ! I live in LA now and its such a damn headache thinking about what to wish whom.Hubby’s family has various Christian faiths ( Jehovah Witnesses, 7th day Adventists, etc etc). Takut to say anything to these people..will get an earfull of how Xmas is a pagan holiday, blah blah..so what???
I celebrate Xmas though I’m not Christian.I celebaret everything else too..why the heck not?
I must say fussy Americans anytime better than ignorant Malaysians.
Dec 26, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
Janice
Merry Christmas to all of you…Raeven, Skyler, Nis and George who are visiting, Loke Uei and last, but not least, you Jenn…
miss the Xmas of exchanging gifts and wishes, those spaghettis, food glorious food..and most of all, all of you guys….
Dec 27, 2007 @ 1:35 am
Tammy Dickinson
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Dec 27, 2007 @ 9:36 am
Someone Who Cares
I am quite upset on certain parts of the post
1. Selamat Hari Raya, which literally means “Safe Celebration Day”, it does not mean that!!!!! You made a direct translation without thinking…. Selamat Hari Raya is just a greeting. Hari Raya is a Celebration Day after the muslims has completed their 1 mth of fast during the month Ramadan. In celebration of this the muslims celebrate Aidil Fitri in the month of Syawal. So it is Hari Raya Aidil Fitri
2. Oddly enough (Malaysia being a Muslim country) – Malaysia is not a muslim country it only acknowledges Islam as the national religion in the country’s constitution!
You are imperfect as your disclaimer says I agree no one is pefect but leaving Malaysia does not change your nationality and I hope you think before you write. As a Malaysian overseas you have a certain obligation in getting your facts straight when commenting something abt the country that you left!
I’m sure I made it clear that “Selamat Hari Raya” is a greeting, and with Badawi’s recent acknowledgment that Malaysia is indeed a Muslim country, I beg to differ (albeit the fact that he is wrong, but he IS the PM of our country and he represents somewhat). IF anything, I think my post indicates I am still a proud Malaysian and says nothing about my changing my nationality. And I have no more obligation than you, neither do you have less than me, to get our facts straight wherever and WHOEVER we are. You have some issues you need to deal with, MsPuzzles. And quick.
Jan 02, 2008 @ 9:25 pm
Someone Who Cares
Thank you for your feedback. I much appreciate it. I have no issues so whatever but it saddens me to where our country is heading (no wonder you migrated! hehehhe…). What you wrote is true after much research.
However still, many do not perceive Malaysia as a muslim country though the majority population are muslims (despite whatever the PM says…). The younger generation sees Malaysia as a multi-cultural country and we see ourselves as MALAYSIANS not as Malay, Chinese and Indians as our forefathers. We see ourselves as equals.
With all the political scandals going round you can imagine what the younger generation is up against… we need a change for the better… Many Malaysian sees that now… Lets hope we get through the elections without a glitch!
If I have offended you in a way… then I appologize but I wrote what seems right to me… that is the freedom of speech…. even though there is no such thing…
Keep up writing cos I read your blog!!!
Hey we all make mistakes, noone knows that more than me. Cheers and Happy New Year, lady.
Jan 03, 2008 @ 4:01 pm