2. Indonesia custom

28 April 2011

Custom is a tradition of a picture of human behavior and attitude that has stood in a long time and carried out by generations of ancestors. I am sure that all of countries in the world have their own custom. Usually each of the custom is very unique and it has different custom. Usually custom be affected by history, habit, location of the country and religion. So that usually each of the countries has their own custom. And usually the personality of a country can be seen from their custom.

Like other countries, Indonesia also has its own custom. I think that Indonesia has many custom. One of them is called “Halal bi Halal”. Halal bi Halal is a moment when Indonesian people mutually apologized to each other. Usually it held in Idul Fitri day. This custom is a tradition that has been entrenched in Indonesia. Hence, many Indonesian people who make it as an important momentum in the procession of life.

It is not known exactly when the tradition originated. However that clearly has become a typical tradition of Indonesia, well before Indonesia become more modern. Oddly enough even though now Indonesia has a modern society but this tradition seems to not be cracked by the heat and weathered by the rain. Want proof? Try to see how the Indonesian people who are overseas and away from the relatives are willing to coincide return home only for one thing “Halal bi Halal”.

It was touching scene that at the end Ramadhan especially in the third or fourth day ahead of Idul Fitri, they scramble to get home to their respective regions with the aim of shaking hand and saying forgive each other in that day. This is one of the beauty of local traditions based on religion, which is once a year they gather to forgive each other and meet with relatives near and far in order to enliven the feast of Idul Fitri is always missed.

In this modern era, actually we can just say sorry to each other via mobile phones, even through facebook, twitter and so on. However, the desire for physical meet each other and their longing for his homeland was more important than anything. Hence, before the feast of all public transportation packed. Buses, trains, ships, planes are full of passenggers. Even private vehicles like cars and motorcycles are on the way a lot. Even sometimes they have to risking their live. It is feast has incrediable celebration for Indonesian people.

Even sometimes not only moeslim who celebrate it but many people who have different religion also come to celebrate it. I think now a days “Halal bi Halal” not only be religion celebration again but also be social celebration. All of people come to celebrate it does not matter he/she is moeslim or not. If other people in other country try to adapt this custom, i think the world can be better. All of people can forgive each other even though it is only one day.