Yesterday, the Oulu Thai Community, had their version of Mother's Day.
Many braved the cold weather to attend, but it was nowhere near the attendance there was last year on a clear sunny day.
The Buddhist Monk started the days proceedings early with communion with his flock. At noon visitors arrived to partake in a great Thai buffet as well as see the dancing and music as performed by Thai children, young boys and girls. Several CHAFF participants were present.
What is the importance of such celebrations. Some people frown at all this dancing and prancing, saying it is not meant for them.
It is my humble opinion that they are wrong and this sort of festival performs several important functions.
In a foreign country, the youngsters from oher countries tend to lose their links to their traditional customs and culture as they "integrate" with the host country. It is quite impossible for every parent to instill on their own the best cultural values to their children in isolation, as the pressures of the host society, which is everywhere, overshadow all else.
A festival such as this acts in different ways. The youngsters who come forward to perform, learn some of their culture from what they learn from their peers. Although they may not understand the meanings of the hand movements as they perform a dance, once they learn a movement, they later can understand its significance.
By learning the songs that they sing, they learn some of the traditional values contained in them, rather than those values that they find in the pop television from their parents country that they may watch.
Additionally, they learn about the foods that they can eat in their country and learn much of the rich traditions of this at such festivals.
And if they are lucky to have an artist displaying his/her work, then they get a bonus to see their culture in its true glory.
So do not prejudge a festival based on the superficial, but look a little deeper and see how much good was achieved by holding of such festivals.
We are lucky to have so many talented Thais in our midst, and especially those interested to instill some of the important values to their children.
Thank you dear Thai people for allowing us to take part in your festival yesterday.
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