From our sick bed

First there was one, but by the end of the week both of us had succumbed to the local flu. The staff at Kovan have been sorely depleted this week which means calling in relieving teachers. If they are unavailable, and you are lucky enough to be on deck, you pick-up double classes. Lucky indeed! Even the photocopier broke down in sympathy and can't be fixed until after the long weekend being celebrated here for Hari Raya Puasa. It's the most prominent Muslim festival in the Islamic calendar and celebrates the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. Fasting in Islam means abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking and indulging in any form of behaviour that serves to nullify the fast. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and perform religious duties, such as reading the Quran. In Singapore, like Chinese New Year, the whole community is encouraged to enjoy the festivities; a time of forgiveness and for strengthening the bonds amongst family and friends. For the past month we've noticed that the HDB across the road offers community breakfast on the void deck from 4:30am and after sunset some of the streets are brightly lit with stalls displaying of all sorts of Halal culinary specialties that go on sale for the breaking of fast. Hari Raya is Malay for "grand day of rejoicing" and, according to the reports we get from children in our classes, families come together and eat all day long. I'm sure plenty of other types of indulgences take place as well, but perhaps not in front of the children.

 the 'ketupat' or rice cake

Since it falls on a Monday we don't get an extra day off but its not all bad, there are only 2 weeks to go to the end of term. The upside of being sick now is that we should be fighting fit by the time we fly to Sri Lanka.
According to the Islamic Hijrah (lunar) calendar, Hari Raya Puasa falls on the first day of the 10th month of Syawal. and therefore the dates on which it falls varies each year.  According to the Chinese (lunisolar) calendar, the Hungry Ghost Festival is on the 15th night of the seventh lunar month, another changeable date. So this week we also saw the Chinese Taoist Community paying homage to the deceased who are believed to visit the living at this time, since the 'Gates of the Hell' are opened and the souls of the dead are freed to roam the earth. The Chinese people in Singapore celebrate the Hungry Ghosts Festival to seek blessings of the dead and ensure that the spirits do not disturb them. Food offerings are prolific and the skies are full of ash from the burning of incense, joss paper and papier-mâché replicas of material items like clothes, gold and other fine goods for the visiting spirits of the ancestors. These are burnt in the ubiquitous rusting 44 gallon drums I've seen used as incinerators from the farm in Dixon's Creek, to backyards in Ballarat (where they served the dual purpose of keeping you warm) and more recently in the remote communities of the Top End. We've been warned not to step on or tidy up the residue - it would bring you bad luck. Apparently in the homes elaborate meals are served with empty seats for each of the deceased in the family, treating the deceased as if they are still living. It is not the same as ancestor worship in that it includes paying respect to all deceased, including the same and younger generations, rather than just older ones. I can remember in Butterworth watching the locals release little paper boats into the Malacca Strait for this festival. Each boat carried a flickering candle which was a lovely sight. I've have now learnt it signifies giving directions to the lost ghosts and spirits of the ancestors and other deities.

 When Eric was home during the day on Sunday the colouful Lion and Dragon Dancers returned to the street and performed again. He was able to snap these from the bedroom window.

With both these festivals coinciding the whole place is awash with festivity. But no walking for us this week.  We were both in need of a good sleep-in and a very restful day. I did venture out in the evening just to walk to work and double check that I had locked a door, since I was the last to leave last night and I couldn't stop worrying about it today. Maybe the Hungry Ghost of Ron is paying me a visit!