In any case, as with previous years, Aidilfitri started off pretty much as a family affair with the obligatory seeking for forgiveness from the elders. Then my father and I went to the masjid for the Aidilfitri prayer.
After that, we came back home, and not long after, a childhood friend whom I have known since 1986 came visiting. It was indeed good to be able to see Chee Hong again after all this while. Chee Hong was based in Australia for a good seven years. Now he has just returned to Malaysia - perhaps for good he said.
Later in the afternoon, we went to my mother-in-law's house. This would be the first time most of my wife's relatives meet our newborn. We had a simple membelah mulut ceremony for the baby which was conducted by my brother-in-law. In the meantime, my eldest son had a good time there playing with his cousins, and chasing after the chickens.After that, I took my eldest son to the house of one of my teachers from secondary school who lives in the same village as my mother-in-law. It's almost customary for me to visit her on Hari Raya.
Then we came back to my parents' place. My eldest son was so tired that he fell asleep as soon as he entered the house.
Like I said, a rather quiet Aidilfitri, but a meaningful one nonetheless.
3 comments:
What is the purpose of a membelah mulut ceremony?
The "membelah mulut" ceremony is an old Malay tradition which is a part of a few ceremonies involving newborns. Essentially, the "membelah mulut" ceremony is conducted so that when the baby grows up, he/she would only say good and beneficial things, and would not curse, tell lies or things like that. The ceremony involves using Zamzam water (from the spring in Makkah) and sweet things like dates (buah kurma), and they are put on the baby's lips, followed by some prayers.
Thanks - I learned something new today!
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