Festive season
I came back to Malaysia in the middle of the festive season. Deepavali, which is the Hindu festival of lights, is followed by Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which marks the end of Ramadan. It reminded me of how much Malaysians love holidays. Yet, like with anything good, if you have too much of it, it loses its beauty. The same way, I have never really enjoyed the eternal tropical summer.
The best part is that DeepaRaya (as they call it here) is not the last festive season this year! Like the rest of the world, Malaysia will be celebrating (by not working as long as there is anything to celebrate) Christmas and New Year. And then, the next year will start with Chinese New Year, which will be another week of holidays and firecrackers. I remember since my working days in KL that nearly every other week was marked by some event important enough to give people a free day – it may be a royal birthday, or a city day, or whatever else to make a week just a little shorter. No surprise that most companies here have a 6-day working week (although, it is actually due to the long Friday prayer, not the abundance of festivals to celebrate).
To be caught in the midst of DeepaRaya is a little overwhelming, even with my tough Scottish party experience. The last few days, I have spent going with my in-laws from one dinner reception or open house to another. Last night we managed to attend 4, plus a dinner at home.
Yet, the festivals are only starting. This dinner madness will go on for 3 weeks. As much as I love food in Malaysia, having to eat at least something in every house is a little hard for a girl with a small stomach. They say that Romans were having their dinners for hours. What made them last was a long peacock feather, which they used once in a while to create space in their stomachs for the next dish. I’m afraid I need to catch and pluck a peacock so that I can spend nights dreaming of something good, rather than digesting my 5 dinners.
The best part is that DeepaRaya (as they call it here) is not the last festive season this year! Like the rest of the world, Malaysia will be celebrating (by not working as long as there is anything to celebrate) Christmas and New Year. And then, the next year will start with Chinese New Year, which will be another week of holidays and firecrackers. I remember since my working days in KL that nearly every other week was marked by some event important enough to give people a free day – it may be a royal birthday, or a city day, or whatever else to make a week just a little shorter. No surprise that most companies here have a 6-day working week (although, it is actually due to the long Friday prayer, not the abundance of festivals to celebrate).
To be caught in the midst of DeepaRaya is a little overwhelming, even with my tough Scottish party experience. The last few days, I have spent going with my in-laws from one dinner reception or open house to another. Last night we managed to attend 4, plus a dinner at home.
Yet, the festivals are only starting. This dinner madness will go on for 3 weeks. As much as I love food in Malaysia, having to eat at least something in every house is a little hard for a girl with a small stomach. They say that Romans were having their dinners for hours. What made them last was a long peacock feather, which they used once in a while to create space in their stomachs for the next dish. I’m afraid I need to catch and pluck a peacock so that I can spend nights dreaming of something good, rather than digesting my 5 dinners.
posted by Kristina at 10:56 AM
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