Holiday Hullabaloos

I used to believe that Philippines has one of the most number of holidays in the world. Being a Christian country full of Catholic traditions, a calendar would be filled with dates in red letter declaring holidays for almost all reasons: birthdays and deaths of heroes, birthday and death of Jesus Christ, freedom and fall in the revolution, independence and dependence of the country and things alike. If you were enrolled in a Catholic school, you would expect more holidays based on birthdays and canonizations of saints that are part of the Order by which your school is under. It's a real treat for students.

That view still stands until today but was a little weakened when I learned of Malaysian holidays. Being a multicultural country, one expects traditions and beliefs to be honored by holidays, lots of them actually. And these holidays come in all forms and nature: religious, national, state-level, birthdays, anniversaries and others.

In this entry, I hope to explore the reasons behind the good number of holidays and how it reflects Malaysian society in general. These of course are mere perceptions from a third person/ visitor/ temporary dweller in Malaysia. So here they go:

Multiculturalism
Generally it's multiculturalism that makes it all possible. There would be no reason to celebrate all forms of festivals if there aren't as many different cultures that happened to coexist in this Peninsula.

Malaysia is composed of three major races: Malays, Chinese and Indian, in order of size of population. Aside from them, there are migrant workers and expats who have found their home in Malaysia.

The source of multiculturalism can be traced back to trades among the Asian nations and colonization of nothing less than three European superpowers during 15th to 20th century: the Dutch, Portuguese, British; and one Asian superpower: Japan.

sculptures of colonizers in a museum in Melaka

Migration Patterns
Indians were brought to Malaya by the British to work as plantation workers in the vast rubber plantations. The local Malay population did not suffice the workforce needed for the plantation, an endeavor to support the British economy as it conquered lands and territories and involve in war. But prior to that, Indians were already trading with Southeast Asia, and Malaya (Melaka) is especially one identified trade route. I know this because I work with Indians and this is part of the hisotry of the co-operative I'm posted in.

Chinese migrants were mostly merchants and traders who had interactions with Malaya and the greater Southeast Asia prior to European colonization. Arab migration was a result of the Islamic missions made to spread Islamism from the Middle East to the rest of the Asian region.

At present migration patterns are mostly due to its thriving and open economy with migrant workers from neighboring countries Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar (refugees), Indonesia (mostly domestic workers) and the Philippines.

Arab migration is currently taking a new wave with Iranians coming in the country for investments. There is also a noticeable migration of Nigerians to the country for employment purposes.

So you can just imagine the cultural convergence that may occur when all these people celebrate their own "things".

Just this month for example, I experienced three major holidays. One is New Year; another is Chinese New Year (which officially just two days but most Chinese shops were closed the whole week); and Pongal (the Tamil harvest festival dedicated to Suria or the Goddess of Sun). Fireworks, food and prayer. A pretty good combination for the holidays.

Pongal celebration infront of the office

History
It's been mentioned above that Malaysia has undergone long periods of colonization and whenever there is colonization, there will always be introduction of not just physical changes to the country but cultural changes. Colonization has always brought upon struggle, and blood, and death, and freedom later on. But along with it are colorful traditions that make the already rich culture even richer.

My visit to Melaka Heritage City confirmed this. Just imagine, the small plaza has 24 museums as if dividing cultural pieces into 24 establishments that altogether make a tapestry of Melaka history. And it's just Melaka, a small state among the 14 states of Malaysia.

church ruins in Melaka

I even spent my Christmas there because of the pretty famous Portuguese Settlement where houses are fully decorated with Santa Clauses, Christmas bells, Christmas lights and lanterns. Pretty awesome really.

If you go to Penang, Georgetown will surely show the same fragments and remnants of history that will take you back time.

During weekends and holidays, I would always take time visiting art galleries and museums around Kuala Lumpur, and they never fail me. Everytime, something exciting comes up and adds up to my knowledge of the wonderful country I'm in. It might be all buildings and concretes from afar, but going around alleys make you realize the history it has experienced throughout the years and such history can never go unnoticed. It has to be celebrated thus, the holidays.

at Merdeka Square

Federated Territories
Malaysia is composed of 14 states, each having their own Sultan or Governor. After the Independence, the original 9 kingdoms of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak come to an agreement of forming a federal government and the constitution. Singapore left the federation in 1965. Essentially, the basis for the federation was the states originally ruled by Sultans and to make it work, they come up with an idea of rotating the Kingship amongst the Sultans of the 9 original kingdoms. Of course it's just honorary but it holds value.

These states, from North to South have their own state day. The federal territories too have its state day, it's called Hari Wilayah Persekutuan or the Federal Territories day just celebrated last 1 February. Also, the birthday of the Sultan of the States are celebrated thus another reason for a holiday.

Reflections
It might seem a little too much but I think I get the point. A nation is built both by its traditions and decisions. And the decision to celebrate its different traditions contributes to the national consciousness of respect and tolerance both to religious and national views. Malaysia has a long way to go in making sure that everyone is given the right opportunities he/she deserves but the current administration's campaign called 1Malaysia seems to target such concern. On the grassroots, you can still find people who call other races "monkeys" or "I don't get them" remarks, but such is inevitable and should I say isolated cases.

These holidays make it possible for other races to understand the values of others and understanding their collective values, one way or another, leads to understanding their identity as a people. Sort of unity in diversity or cultural relativism, something which democracy, like Malaysia, should celebrate and be proud of.

Malaysia Holidays 2012