How about celebrating the birthday of our
nation with a little party of your own, suggestsKerry-Ann Augustin
THIS year has been a hard one for Malaysians. We’ve donned the colours of grief twice this year, a heavy number for any country.
Strangely enough, the tragedy showed a different side of Malaysians: Political, racial and religious issues took a backseat for a more pressing matter - the need to stand united in the face of total heartbreak.
That we did, with dignity and grace, as the whole world watched.
As we prepare to celebrate Merdeka and Malaysia Day this year, let us keep that sentiment in mind. Celebrate Malaysia for who she is - her heritage, natural beauty, people and most of all, her story. Put a party together to honour this land we call home.
DECOR
Paper lanterns: For a more Malaysian feel, swap balloons for paper lanterns, a feature that has been part of Malaysian homes for decades. String them, hang or set them as a centrepiece, these light weight, versatile and affordable pieces come in all shapes, sizes and colours. If you’re a little more adventurous, try paper umbrellas as an alternative!
Retro love: Retro designs are on the rise! More and more young Malaysians look for parts of their past in designs. Revive the nostalgia of your Malaysian childhood and look out for old glass bottles or old tin cans as centrepieces for your party. You don’t have to spruce anything up - leave the cans or bottles as they are; the old charm adds character to the occasion.
FOOD
Through the years, our melting pot of cultures has found a unifying factor in food. The diversity of our cuisine ranges from across Asian and as far as Europe, so it is no surprise that eating has become a certified pastime for Malaysians.
Potluck : Potlucks are the best: You get to cook less, eat more and clean less. Get friends from different ethnic backgrounds to bring a dish each and give it a little twist - get your friends to explain the heritage of their dishes and if they fail, you all get to decide on a funny forfeit.
Old favourites, Malaysian flavours: If you want to skip traditional fare, give local artisanal foods a try. For dessert, you have an array of options including fruit jams from Michelle’s Artisanal Fruit Spread, ice creams from places like Forty Licks, The Last Polka, Fat Baby, Inside Scoop and Cielo Dolce. All are proud of their local flavours including durian, salted gula Melaka, bandung, Horlicks and nasi lemak. Yes, nasi lemak.
GAMES
Games are always a great way to get the party going - here are a few Malaysian-centric ideas you can pull off to break the ice and reacquaint yourself with your country.
Food fun: If Malaysians really know their food, then they should be able to tell what they are eating with blindfolds on! Divide your guests into two groups and bring out the blindfolds - the team with the most correct guesses wins. You can make your friends guess what kind of food, fruit or spices they are tasting.
Go traditional: Not many city kids are exposed to traditional games. Learn more about what our internet-less forefathers did to entertain themselves. Try your hand at congkak, batu Seremban and if you have enough muscle, arm wrestling.
Brain Teasers
If you have a bunch of friends who love quiz nights, this one is perfect for you. Divide teams and set up a list of questions about Malaysia. Questions can range from the subjects of history to geography, entertainment to culture. You can even include more fun topics like a round of politicians saying the darnest things!
MOVIES
Films have long been a part of Malaysian culture, and continue to be an art form we love. Watching movies in a group is always fun! But it can also bring back memories, spark debates and in this case, remember what we love about our country. Art, after all, imitates life.
Black & white: If you are a fan of classic comedy, Tan Sri P. Ramlee’s movies are always a hit. A mix of slapstick, wit and songs, his movies always bring back the charm of Old Malaya.
Cool new school: No one tells a story like the late Yasmin Ahmad. Her films tell the true Malaysian story, one we can all identify with. Films like Sepet, Gubra, Mukhsin, Muallaf and Talentime cut across all cultures and make us realise how unique we really are.
Short & sweet: Malaysia is abundant with talent when it comes to film. Every year, we see a multitude of short-film competitions or filmmaker festivals in the country. Open that treasure chest and find a Malaysian-made shortfilm online - the work produced by these young auteurs will leave you in awe and beaming with pride.