National Day is here again for 2022 and now is your chance to take advantage of this time to truly instil a patriotic spirit in your kids. The pandemic has locked us all indoors for more than 2 years. Any celebration had to be done indoors. But not anymore. With movement control orders lifted and businesses back up and running, it’s time to let those flags fly. And what’s better than celebrating National Day as a family, right? So, here are some great ways to do that.
Raise those Flags High
National Day celebrations are nothing without the iconic Malaysian flag, our glorious Jalur Gemilang. Some people may think it’s cheesy, but putting up those colourful flags during this time is a sign of remembrance and respect. To truly commemorate the sacrifices and struggles of our ancestors and elders in paving the way for Malaysia’s independence. It’s also a good time to teach your kids what each of the colours and symbols mean. At the same time, you don’t necessarily have to overdo it either. Some people put flags on their cars and all over the house. But just one flag erected on your front porch is enough to send the message. Sometimes, less is more.
Visit Historical Places
Something that not many people do during this time is going to historical places. If you happen to live near a historical site, like Malacca, there is no better time to go for a tour than on National Day. After all, historical field trips are not only for foreigners. We should educate ourselves as well on the important events, battles and triumphs of the past. Many of these landmarks and buildings have been preserved as historical sites and museums, and they still carry the spirit of sacrifice from the days of yore. And that is something that must truly be relished on a historical day like our National Day.
Plan a Gathering with Friends and Family
Make use of the holiday to reconnect with family members, friends, and even neighbours of different races. You can even host a little open house or potluck where everyone can share a little bit of their native cuisine with each other. National Day is a day for all ethnicities and it should be celebrated together. Patriotism shouldn’t just be about shallow displays, but also in the bonds we share with each other as citizens of a shared country. And it’s important to instil in your child a love for all mankind to ensure they are not accidentally raised to be a racist.
Cook a Traditional Dish
Just like the open house idea, you can also try your hand at cooking some traditional dishes. To really embrace the melting pot, multi-ethnic landscape of our country, try looking up some cuisines from other ethnic groups that you may not be familiar with. There are tons of them online—and not just the ones by Indians, Chinese and Malays. But by other smaller ethnic minorities in the country like the Kristang and Peranakan communities too. There’s more to our country than the three majority races, after all. And it’s time we explored that, even if through something as simple as food. You can try your hand at making this patriotic dessert.
Attend Events
If you know Malaysians, you know we enjoy a good time and will take any opportunity to have it. And National Day is no exception. We can assure you there will probably be tons of events, sales, funfairs, congregations and other exciting activities organised at your nearest mall or convention centre. With things slowly going back to normal, everyone’s finally going back out and enjoying themselves and you should too. Spend the day outside with your family, mummies. You deserve it.
Watch Fireworks
End the day with a bang by watching fireworks. Every National Day at parks and public sites, there will be a fireworks display, usually hosted by the state government. Congregators will sing national and state anthems. Some even organise special National Day fairs and sales to promote the traditional cuisine, artwork, handicrafts, history and other cultural artifacts. Then once midnight strikes, you can watch the sky fill with colour and lights.
Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka!
Our predecessors fought tooth and nail for us to get to this point in history. We have incredible freedoms, privileges, and comforts. While our country is far from perfect, we Malaysians enjoy great abundance and prosperity. And that is thanks to the sacrifices made in the past. So, while we’re celebrating this day, don’t forget to educate your kids too on the significance of this day. Hopefully they will carry out the same tradition of commemorating National Day when they have families and children of their own. So that future generations will always appreciate our country and all the things it stands for.
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