Something old yet new

Traditions . That's old and handed down from generations to generations. And unique for each own ' s race. Culture. also part and parcel of one's own race. Traditions and culture. Where do one draw the line to differentiate these two. Culture and traditions. They do come hand in hand .So, of the two, which one undergoes evolution, in the sense that it changes as time passes on. The essence of the thing is the same but how it is being interpreted changes with new ideas, new approaches, new innovations.

Take for instance in my Malay culture. During wedding, it is the tradition of the bride's and bridegroom's family to hand out gifts to their guests who come to celebrate their children's big day. Malay weddings are a big and lavish affair. From the hantarans (wedding gifts) to the food served and door gifts , everything must be done to perfection.

Collection of doorgifts from 3 weddings I attended last saturday and sunday

Matching paper bags and doorgifts - a muffin, a porcelain cup and boiled egg in pink basket

Doorgifts or bunga telur ( Egg flower - direct translation) are given to guest. Why boiled eggs? If I am not mistaken it is symbolic of fertility with hope that the newly weds will be blessed with child the soonest possible.

But times has changed. Boiled eggs are seldom given to guests. So it is no longer a traditional must. Instead alternatives like cupcakes, sweets, traditional cakes , crafts are placed in paper bags to be given to all guests.

The essence of giving is there but the must give bunga telur is slowly being replaced with other gifts.

Is it good to do so . Shouldn't we be holding on to what is traditional ? The die hards are trying hard to hold on to the past but old traditions are slowly evolving into new ways of doing things, modernisation of culture , i.e modernisation of the way we do things.

I suppose its ok, as long as the tradition of celebration is still upheld.

Wonder what sort of doorgifts will be the trend come 2010.