Tag: singapore culture

Gone are the days when we would walk around the park with paper lanterns and sparklers in hand during Mid-Autumn Festival, only to set everything on fire at the end of the night. 

We’d throw our candles and candle boxes into a mound and burn everything, and that mini ‘campfire’ we created became a kind of tradition that wrapped up an awesome Mid-Autumn celebration back then. 

Good times.

We would look forward to Mid-Autumn Festival when we were kids because of all those simple activities we used to be so involved in. Not forgetting those fancy cellophane lanterns or the ultra-cool battery-operated ones that played that same polyphonic melody that we are all too familiar with. 

It was fun to be part of all the hubbub, and there was always this feeling of warmth and unity when you see everyone else around the neighbourhood park celebrating the same way.

These nostalgic activities are a part of an exciting childhood without the Internet, smartphones, and tablets. And, for a lot of us, it really is a pity to know that such innocence might just be lost in the next generation of children as they grow up in an entirely different, digital world. 

Back In The Day 

I still remember how we used to participate in Mid-Autumn celebrations every year. When we were in school, we would be given the opportunity to do so with performances and various activities that our school planned out for us. 

We were also taught about the Legend of Chang E’, which is actually a pretty fascinating tale about a lady on the moon. 

Image Credit: foodforlifetv

There are some variations to the tale and in one of them, it tells of the ‘Moon Goddess’, Chang E’, ascending to the moon after drinking an elixir to prevent that elixir from falling into the hands of her merciless husband, saving her people from his tyrannical rule.

To honour her sacrifice, the people would worship her by laying out ‘food offerings’ every full moon. The hallmark tradition of mooncakes came about partially due to the belief that it evolved from there. 

Growing up, it has also been a Mid-Autumn tradition for families to have a reunion on Mid-Autumn night, eating mooncakes and appreciating the moon together. If not for it being ‘auspicious’, it was a good reason for us to spend quality time with our loved ones. As we grew older and started having our own commitments, however, it seems that this festival has become less of a priority.

It is ultimately inevitable that, as we start maturing, we begin to form our own sets of beliefs. This changes the way we look at such festivals and the traditional practices we once followed. 

These Days, It’s All About Mooncakes 

For us, Mid-Autumn Festival is now all about the mooncakes—We even call it the Mooncake Festival sometimes.  

It may be a little sad that the traditions that made up such a fun and meaningful part of our childhood (and culture) are slowly disappearing from our lives. However, it's heartening to know that at least one of our Mid-Autumn traditions are still kept relevant to us—eating mooncakes!

In fact, more brands and bakers are coming up with modern twists to an otherwise dated tradition, keeping it alive for today's consumers

More fancy mooncakes are appearing in the market and some of these new flavours (like Truffle Carbonara) get us questioning if we are taking the whole fusion food trend a little too far. We also wonder if doing this destroys the tradition since, conventionally, it has always been the classic lotus paste and salted egg yolk mooncakes. 

Yet, despite us straying away from the conventional flavours, these 'crazy' new creations do get our generation excited for the festival every year.

Yes, there will always be those who prefer the classic mooncakes, and we have plenty of those around. But to keep them relevant to the younger audiences (and us), more brands and mooncake makers are concocting fresh flavours that blend the old and new. This is what helps to keep the mid-autumn festival relevant to us today and one way to preserve the tradition in modern-day Singapore.

But what will it take to create a mooncake that is widely loved and unlike anything in the market?

Grab your Mooncakes!

This is what Grab is seeking to achieve this Mid-Autumn Festival with its GrabMooncakes, dishing out a challenge to three groups of homebakers: To create a distinctly Singaporean mooncake loved by all.

The top four flavours were eventually selected, and you can now order these four exclusive pieces⁠—Mocha Salted Egg, Ondeh Ondeh, Baked Milk Tea with Pearl, and Sambal Shrimp - right on your Grab app.

(L-R) Baked Milk Tea with Pearl, Ondeh Ondeh, Sambal Shrimp, and Mocha Salted Egg mooncakes.
Available for pre-order from 17 August and mass sale on 26 August on the Grab app.
Three groups of bakers were selected to create a distinctly Singaporean mooncake for #GrabMooncakes

Each box of GrabMooncakes features all four flavours. But here's the exciting part: These delightful pieces will then be competing for the title of Singapore's Next Top Mooncake - and all of us will get a chance to vote for the winner!

What's more, it even comes in a specially-designed box that transforms into a lantern⁠—bringing you back to the good ol' days when you would walk around your block, lantern in hand.

Perhaps, it's time to re-live the Mid-Autumn traditions that we used to have so much fun with way back then. So get on your Grab app and grab those mooncakes, now going at a pre-sale price of $72. 

Find out more here!

(This post is written in collaboration with Grab.)

There’s a saying that you should never forget your roots. As millennials, we’re guilty of knowing more about pop culture than our own Singaporean heritage. But knowing our cultural heritage is important because it’s what makes Singapore distinctive in an increasingly globalised world. It also anchors us to our families, our communities and our shared values.

In our journey to go back to our roots, we caught up with 3 millennials who are pursuing their passion for traditional art forms. Here are their stories on disputing generation stereotypes, chasing their dreams, and preserving the invaluable cultural heritage passed down from our forefathers.

ISMAHAIRIE PUTRA ISHAK, 32 – VIOLINIST AND OUDIST

Image Credit: Ismahairie

EMBRACING TRADITIONAL MALAY MUSIC

I was first exposed to traditional Malay music when I was a member of the Singapore Malay Orchestra in 1996. I picked up the Oud then. Never expected to fall in love with it, but I did. People are surprised to see me play the Oud because they relate it to traditional music and assume that it’s only played by the older folks. I create original compositions by combining traditional and contemporary elements. It gives me a great sense of satisfaction to show people that music is for everyone, regardless of age, genre, or style.

MAKING A TOUGH DECISION

Image Credit: Ismahairie
It wasn’t an easy choice to pursue my passion in Malay music, especially in the early years after my national service. My mum wanted me to sign on to have a stable income with sufficient CPF. I had to assure her that I could do it and that there is a growing market for Malay music in Singapore. There were many sacrifices I had to make, and it’s really tough when I have to give up celebrating festive seasons or family gatherings because of rehearsals.

BELIEVING IN TRADITIONAL ARTS

But I’m glad that I didn’t give up on the dream. I chose to follow my passion for Malay music because I not only believe in my craft, I believe in doing what I love. To me, traditional arts is important because it teaches us important values. It keeps us grounded in our culture, which is rapidly losing its flavour among other influences. Being a traditional musician allows me to stand out.
Image Credit: Ismahairie
Today, I am a violinist and an Oudist. In the day, I teach little kids the violin, and by night, I’m a performing musician, promoting my own craft as well as traditional music. I’m in the midst of producing my own instrumental album now and am planning to write a music syllabus for the Oud one day. I want more people to know that playing the Oud is as easy as playing the guitar, and I hope my syllabus will help more people pick up the Oud.

ELIZABETH CHAN, 27 – CHINESE DANCE PRACTITIONER

Image Credit: Elizabeth Chan

IT STARTED WHEN SHE WAS THREE

I was three when I saw my mum taking dance classes. I pestered her into letting me join my own Chinese dance classes, which I eventually attended weekly. In secondary school, I joined the Chinese dance club and it was there that I decided I wanted to do Chinese dance professionally. I went on to do a degree in dance at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), majoring in Chinese Dance.

THE PURSUIT

Just like everything else that matters, pursuing dance is difficult. For me, the hardest part is having to overcome the constant self-doubt and discouraging sentiments from people who don’t understand the practicality of pursuing such an art form. As a growing dancer, you’ll doubt yourself over and over again, especially when there are better dancers out there with better technique and better bodies.
Image Credit: Elizabeth Chan
One significant milestone in my journey was when I received the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Arts and Cultural Scholarship in 2010 to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Chinese Dance at the HKAPA. I went into dance research and further discovered the beauty of Chinese Dance there. That experience really opened up a whole new world to me.

TRADITIONAL ARTS IS A PART OF US

The arts are about many things, but you can't take the human element out of it. And it’s the same for tradition. These are things that we create for ourselves and our fellow human beings to enjoy, experience, and appreciate life. In today's society where people are constantly scrambling to be the best and chasing after profits, the traditional arts promotes the warmth of our community, and the sensitivity that we need when trying to understand others.

SUSHMA SOMASEKHARAN, 30 – CARNATIC VOCALIST

Image Credit: Aalaap

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

I started learning Carnatic Music at the age of four. My parents were very fond of it and it was their way of rooting me back to my Indian heritage and culture. Today, I’m a Carnatic Vocalist (South Indian Classical Vocalist). Carnatic music is one of the oldest forms of music from India and is associated with the Southern part of India.

FINDING JOY IN TRADITIONAL ARTS

 

 

People tend to see Carnatic music as a niche art form and I can understand why. Even as a traditional arts practitioner myself, I’m not an aficionado in every other traditional art form out there. But when I listen or watch other art forms, I do it with an open mind and I am prepared to be inspired and pick up something new. And that is what I hope for the public – to see traditional arts with an open mind. Even if the art forms are different from pop culture, there are many beautiful moments which can be experienced if you are open to it.

IMPORTANCE OF THE ARTS

Traditional arts play a huge role in any heritage and culture. I think it is important to acknowledge that what we have today stemmed from the traditional arts. It is the same reason why schools teach History as a subject. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the happenings of the past.
Image Credit: Shankar Ramchandran
That said, I do wonder if it’s practical for me to pursue Carnatic music every now and then. The emphasis on material success is very apparent in Singapore and it can be daunting to an arts practitioner, especially if we are not getting enough concert opportunities to quantify the time and effort spent on it. Many times I have been asked: “Oh, you’re a singer but wait, what do you do for a full-time job?’’ Such questions can make us doubt ourselves in pursuing the art.
Image Credit: Shankar Ramchandran
There are moments when I compare myself to my peers and wonder if a full-time corporate life would be better, but I realise that there is truly nothing more satisfying than music for me. It was an important process for me to understand that this is not a fundamental pursuit of money or fame. It is the pursuit of art itself.

SUPPORT TRADITIONAL ARTS!

It’s not common to see the younger generation appreciating something we think only our parents and grandparents would enjoy. But these millennials took a path less travelled and persevered. More than that, they are striving to give our traditional arts scene a new lease of life, so show them some love and support! Find out more about the traditional arts scene in Singapore and check out their upcoming activities and performances <a href=" This article is written in partnership with the National Arts Council.