Sunday, October 16, 2005
Traditions
Good morning to all,
Does Tradition Need to Adapt to the Times?
The movie Fiddler on the Roof is a masterpiece, a great musical
story, nominated for 8 Academy Awards and won some. It is the
story of a poor milkman, Tevye, who lived in a Jewish community
at the turn of the century in Czarist Russia. It is a poignant story
where Tevye had to let loose his traditional values and adherence
in face of the changing times for the needs and welfare of his four
daughters. It is a moving and touching story, one full of compassion
for Tevye who held on to his love, pride and faith, sacrificing tradition.
Yes, traditions! How does a community stick together without
traditions? Without traditions there is no bond, no value, no culture.
Yet, a community that sticks on by tradition can get so stuck that
it cannot progress; some traditions do that.
Long ago, women in China had their feet broken or constricted and
bound, to make them dainty, housebound and whatever; they ended
up wobbling. The men had their forehead shaved while the rest of
their hair got pleated into one long pigtail. Did that serve a useful
purpose?; to swivel it about in a Kunfu fight as in the Wong Fei
Hong movies? Traditions are always with us, old or new, good or bad.
On special occasions, certain foodstuffs are a must; like sharksfins,
abalone, birdsnests and scallops. And although the supply of these
things have failed to meet the demand, people still must have them;
never mind if they are fakes. How do fake things stand in to save
face, ostentatiously?
Chinese wedding dinners. Almost all, without fail, the invitation cards
say that cocktail starts at 7pm and dinner at 7.30pm sharp. Dinner
usually began near to 9pm and ended after 11pm; in between which
there would be the photo taking, the toasts, the speeches and a
screen show of the wedding couple's courting days that led up to their
wedding. That's the tradition on the wedding dinner itself! Over four
hours of fine food and wine, pleasant speeches and toasts, and filmed
events of the day, all these to contribute to a great show and a very
memorable day. That's fine!
But for the many guests, especially the elderly, the occasion often
turned out to be an ordeal. They would have come from 7pm and they
would wait; some drank the cocktails while most wouldn't; some met
old friends and chatted, while most stood about and looked around.
Most of them would not be hungry though, they would have eaten
before they came knowing that dinner would be well past their usual
dinner time. They had to come early without choice, to be punctual
and to avoid contending with the heavy traffic and the car park hassle.
If they were late that would be discourtesy; and there would be more
problems.They would adjust alright and accommodate; it's an
auspicious and happy occasion. What a tradition!?
Nowadays, they are some daring young couples who are venturing
into a new tradition. They hold the wedding and the reception in the
day, one following the other, at the same venue. How convenient it is!
The wedding time is fixed and it starts on schedule; there is no waiting
for important guests. All the guests are witnesses, including the VIPs;
they all know when to arrive for the wedding and not to embarrass
themselves by being late. The reception follows immediately; there is
a free selection of food from the buffet. Each guest eats what he fancies,
sits with whom he prefers, and stays as he chooses. An event that can
start on time and end on schedule. Not a tiring whole day for the couple
and for others. This should turn out to be a better tradition. And look
on the financial side; no extra burden to begin a wedded life with!
I salute these young people!
Traditions are good, they keep the community alive and vibrant.
But traditions which are sticky get us all stuck!
Do keep traditions alive and with the times.
Have a nice day.
Ronald
Does Tradition Need to Adapt to the Times?
The movie Fiddler on the Roof is a masterpiece, a great musical
story, nominated for 8 Academy Awards and won some. It is the
story of a poor milkman, Tevye, who lived in a Jewish community
at the turn of the century in Czarist Russia. It is a poignant story
where Tevye had to let loose his traditional values and adherence
in face of the changing times for the needs and welfare of his four
daughters. It is a moving and touching story, one full of compassion
for Tevye who held on to his love, pride and faith, sacrificing tradition.
Yes, traditions! How does a community stick together without
traditions? Without traditions there is no bond, no value, no culture.
Yet, a community that sticks on by tradition can get so stuck that
it cannot progress; some traditions do that.
Long ago, women in China had their feet broken or constricted and
bound, to make them dainty, housebound and whatever; they ended
up wobbling. The men had their forehead shaved while the rest of
their hair got pleated into one long pigtail. Did that serve a useful
purpose?; to swivel it about in a Kunfu fight as in the Wong Fei
Hong movies? Traditions are always with us, old or new, good or bad.
On special occasions, certain foodstuffs are a must; like sharksfins,
abalone, birdsnests and scallops. And although the supply of these
things have failed to meet the demand, people still must have them;
never mind if they are fakes. How do fake things stand in to save
face, ostentatiously?
Chinese wedding dinners. Almost all, without fail, the invitation cards
say that cocktail starts at 7pm and dinner at 7.30pm sharp. Dinner
usually began near to 9pm and ended after 11pm; in between which
there would be the photo taking, the toasts, the speeches and a
screen show of the wedding couple's courting days that led up to their
wedding. That's the tradition on the wedding dinner itself! Over four
hours of fine food and wine, pleasant speeches and toasts, and filmed
events of the day, all these to contribute to a great show and a very
memorable day. That's fine!
But for the many guests, especially the elderly, the occasion often
turned out to be an ordeal. They would have come from 7pm and they
would wait; some drank the cocktails while most wouldn't; some met
old friends and chatted, while most stood about and looked around.
Most of them would not be hungry though, they would have eaten
before they came knowing that dinner would be well past their usual
dinner time. They had to come early without choice, to be punctual
and to avoid contending with the heavy traffic and the car park hassle.
If they were late that would be discourtesy; and there would be more
problems.They would adjust alright and accommodate; it's an
auspicious and happy occasion. What a tradition!?
Nowadays, they are some daring young couples who are venturing
into a new tradition. They hold the wedding and the reception in the
day, one following the other, at the same venue. How convenient it is!
The wedding time is fixed and it starts on schedule; there is no waiting
for important guests. All the guests are witnesses, including the VIPs;
they all know when to arrive for the wedding and not to embarrass
themselves by being late. The reception follows immediately; there is
a free selection of food from the buffet. Each guest eats what he fancies,
sits with whom he prefers, and stays as he chooses. An event that can
start on time and end on schedule. Not a tiring whole day for the couple
and for others. This should turn out to be a better tradition. And look
on the financial side; no extra burden to begin a wedded life with!
I salute these young people!
Traditions are good, they keep the community alive and vibrant.
But traditions which are sticky get us all stuck!
Do keep traditions alive and with the times.
Have a nice day.
Ronald
# posted by chunmu @ 7:02 PM 
