Why Parents Spend So Much For Hari Raya

Traditionally, it makes perfect common sense to spend as wildly as possible where Hari Raya is concerned. Now to make the tables turn, I AM CONCERNED at how my family and my fellow Muslim counterparts celebrate their Hari Raya by lavishing on wears that they do not really need and buy everything new just because it is the festive season. BUT kuih or no kuih is not the question here. 

It is so silly when I put my Strategic Spending Only! helmet on whenever I am out with my parents for shopping (which only count to 2 times this entire Ramadhan which is shockingly bad but relatively understandable due to work obligations).

The other time, my parents come back sniggering like small kids and made a proud announcement saying that they have "settled all kuih-muih (Raya cookies)". It was a relieve because it means I do not have to go for kuih testing with them - imagine the calories cupped in just 1 tiny chocolate almond biscuit?? Well actually I had about 10 of them already, but that is not the point!!!

The entire kuih-muih variety totalled up to 200 dollars, excluding of 2 tins of Rempeyek, which I dutifully had to pay for as part of the Family's Gotong-Royong (Togetherness) Policy and 2 kick-ass kuih lapis which looks identical TO ME ALTHOUGH Mum insists one is different from the other.

I want to beg from mercy from God because in so many ways, my family shouldn't be subjected to punishment because of Gluttony (1 of the 7 deadly sins). 

The best thing about all this mad spending spree and which is also ironic: We don't really have a convoy of relatives who actually *bothered* to visit us. Hence this always leaves me scratching my head why my lao bu spends so much money on kuih-muih!!?

I will tell you why...

10.45 am Hari Raya Morning

The family was prepping for our first visit. But prior to stepping out of the house, no matter how much of a glamour-puss you look like, you have to seek for forgiveness from your elders. The only day where we put out ego wagon aside and hope that the elder infront of you actually sincerely forgive you.

I cannot recall if I had this experience before... 

It was MY turn to approach my parents. I know what to say because it is much pre-scripted in my head. Basically planning to follow what my elder brother said just like 5 seconds ago. What can possibly go wrong right?

But I realised the trick to my brother's seeking forgiveness was to hold his hands in my parents and bow down. SO SNEAKY!!!. But I did something different : I looked into their eyes as I was seeking my forgiveness and within 1 sentence I had  million of things running in my head like a cyclone of memories just jamming up my head from the day I started kindergarten up till moment I was infront of them. It felt so surreal. I looked back my 23 years of life within 1 sentence, and through the eyes of my parents. What was funny was I wasn't thinking about the bad things I have done, but I thought about their sacrifices and their hardships just to have me grown up in 23 years. Hence, quite untraditionally, I ruined my glamourous make up with my sobs and the younger brother announced Half Time before his turn.

I then realised all the Hari Raya preparations are not for themselves and neither are they for the relatives, let alone our ad hoc visitors. The preparations are for us, their kids. They wanted us to have the Raya that every household should have, regardless if it means buying 10 different cookies and 2 different cakes which does sound a bit excessive. I am still so touched by this and till today, my mouth is having a food party right at home!

May this Syawal brings you closer to your family and your loved ones, and not forgetting those who have passed on.

:)