Hari Raya

Hari Raya Aidilfitri of 2009 fell last Sunday, the 20th of September. This is the 4th Raya in a row that I am away from my Malaysian family.

A typical Raya day in Malaysia would start with the women busy preparing the Raya spread beginning almost right after the last break-fasting session, or else, soon after midnight. Although most of the dry food would have been prepared much earlier - like cookies and long-preserving fruit cakes, the night before Raya, mothers and their daughters would run around the kitchen making sure tomorrow's table layout would be filled with delicious dishes. The morning of Raya itself, the men in the family would head to the nearest mosque to make their Raya prayers, returning home to a family, all dressed up from head to toe with new clothing and shoes. Those days, my mother would even change all the curtains and all the cushion covers with new fabrics. The excitement would continue with the entire family being seated at the dining table to gobble up all those long-awaited festive plates. Although it is just breakfast, we would eat as though it is a full lunch or dinner! Soon after, the more senior of the family would sit themselves on a chair or sofa, awaiting the younger ones to come on their knees to ask for forgiveness for any previous year's wrong-doing directly involving that person! The best bit would be the cash money, in the form of Ang-Pow, which would be handed out to the young children of the family. The day would then continue with visits from friends, relatives and even neighbours of various background and religion where the food would continuely be served, with upbeat festive music blasting in the background!

Hari Raya for me in France for the last 4 years have just been ordinary days. One day when I have the courage and better kitchen skills, I will brave myself to prepare edible Raya dishes to my French family and friends.