However, the Chinese-medium school children returned to their classrooms much earlier, the rationale being that they are non-Muslims so they do not need so many days off.
The practice of having "open-houses" is a good one and is not anything new. Years and years ago, more than fifty years ago, in fact, this concept of "open-house" was already in practice. You could always pop-in to your friends' homes when it is festival time, no invitations needed. However it is slightly different today. You usually don't pop-in anymore, not without an invitation.
"Open-house" is usually a very happy occasion, whatever festival you are celebrating, be it Hari Raya Puasa, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Christmas, etc. and guests are always welcome. Even your children's guests and their friends, whom you may not know - all are welcome. There is usually a free flow of food and drinks, lots of tidbits and of course a lot of laughter as folks catch up with the latest updates, tell jokes, play cards, fireworks, etc. etc.
I'm looking forward to celebrating Hari Raya with one of my dear friends who went away to Perth to visit her relative. She will be back at the end of the month and both Tina and myself are looking forward to her delicious dishes that she always produces for the Raya. Mmmmm..... thinking of it already makes me drool...
Another friend just left today for her Mediterranean cruise and will be away for about two weeks. Yet another is back in KL with her grandchildren. This is the beauty of having grandmas. Whenever the son or daughter is in need, all they have to do is to send an SOS and grandma goes running! Such are our family ties, especially in Asian societies. The extended family can always be relied on to lend a hand.
Mind you, grandpas are also very handy. They make good chauffers, chaperones, and their somewhat bent shoulders still provide a good place to have a good cry. My grandchildren have their usual spats and the grandparents have to step in to end those sessions, which sometimes turn into crying and shouting bouts. Children will be children, quarrelling and screaming at each other, too stubborn to give in to the other..... I don't remember my children having such tantrums and fights, but then they were a few years apart whereas these two grandkids are very close, just a year apart. Thank goodness, their memories are short and very soon they are good friends again.
So Hari Raya was quiet this year, with many people going away for the holidays, and the roads were so pleasantly clear of traffic. It was a breeze to drive. Now that school will reopen on Monday, the madness will begin all over again. Sometimes, it is a necessity to get away, far from the madding crowd! Many people have already begun to go away during the festive season. No more hosting open houses as it is too much of a hassle and these days when you do not have the help of a housemaid, it is very difficult to have an open house, even if you have the food catered. It is the aftermath that discourages you. The cleaning up after everyone has left. The floor has to be mopped, things have to be put back in place, the garden has to be cleaned up, etc.
I myself stopped hosting the Chinese New Year open house in my home in the Land below the Wind, the year after my mother fell ill. The year she visited me was the last year I celebrated, having the complete "do" with the lion troupe etc etc. The lion dance troupe was from my school, raising funds and the boys gave a great performance, imitating the movements of the great cat, tearing open the oranges and eating them, then portraying a satisfied creature, lying down and scratching its hind quarters, etc... etc. The climax was when the lion scaled the thick bamboo pole to "catch" the red packet tied together with the lettuce leaves dangling from the upper floor of my house. The cymbals clashing and the huge drum beating out its stirring tempo added to the merriment of the guests. This was one of the loveliest rainbow moments of my life, having my parents, my friends and students together, celebrating the Chinese New Year.
The following year, my mum passed away, during the Chinese New Year period. From then on, I always returned to the family home in KL for the Chinese New Year festivities as it was her wish that all the family celebrate the reunion dinner together at the family home. I don't host open-house anymore at my own residence. On the other hand, I may just do it once more, for my grandchildren, so that they can see at close hand, what the lion dance is like. In KL, one hardly sees the lion dance except in shopping malls but the atmosphere is different.
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