what do we celebrate?

The other day, I tumpangkan my vendor to town, after she worked with me on some documents at my office. We were talking about holidays. She's christian, filipino, who has just been in singapore for a few months. We talked about her hoping to go back for Christmas break, and we talked about how Muslims celebrate Hari Raya.

Then she said. "The other day, at another of my customer's place, I saw something very strange. There were these 2 MUSLIM ladies decorating a Christmas tree at their office! So I asked them, 'hey, why are you doing this?? you shouldn't be doing this. Go ask a christian colleague to decorate the christmas tree!' "

The way she said it, I think she felt like the Muslims were being forced to decorate a Christmas tree. Then she said, her friend, another filipino who have stayed longer here, explained to her that it's quite normal in singapore. She said, that kind of thing never happen in the philippines. The Muslims dont' get involved in the Christian's celebration.

Actually, I ni malu la jugak. I mean, yeah.. this IS a christian's big day, so why on earth are Muslims all so excited in the preparation to celebrate this day?

I told her, hmm...Christmas has become quite a commercialised thing in singapore. (yes, the americans have succeeded in making these people follow whatever they throw at us). I agree that Muslims should not be mainly involved in the preparations.

Wish your Christian friends if you want to, go to their parties if invited, but don't need to be all excited, as if it's a day of YOUR big celebration too.

In the office ni pun, I get email about Christmas parties and gift exchanges. The truth is I'm reluctant to join. It's good that for almost every year now, I'm always away from Singapore during that week. So one very good excuse for not attending.

I feel that singaporeans ni, have become quite a funny bunch of people.
Like some colleagues of mine - who is also ALL EXCITED about christmas, even preparing a poster where they change the numbers every day to count down the days to Christmas. And they are not even a Christians, they are Taoist or Buddhist, or some are half Taoist half Buddhist - don't ask me.

And some others pulak, don't know how to judge when it's appropriate and when it's not, to invite people of other religion to celebrate something. Like during Hungry Ghost Festival - they invited me, and all the other Indian colleagues to join in the hungry ghost festival celebration. Like.. huh?

Ok lah, perhaps they meant well. They want to arrange a get together, and therefore use some festival as an excuse. BUT...so far, belum pulak ada Hari Raya Party or Deepavali get-together.

The whole point I'm trying to make here is : Muslims, be more aware of what u're doing. I think it's ok for us to go to their parties if invited, but BE clear about who you are. It's a thin line.... susah nak explain what exactly is ok and what's over the line. But if you think, you'll know it.

Say: O disbelievers!
I worship not that which ye worship;
Nor worship ye that which I worship.
And I shall not worship that which ye worship.
Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion.
~ Al Quran, Kafirun 109:1-6