It’s the time of the year where the children gets to dress up in their traditional costume for school instead of the usual school uniform. It’s the time of the year where schools will reflect on and celebrate Singapore’s success as a racially harmonious nation and society built on a rich diversity of culture and heritage. It’s Racial Harmony Day!
Racial Harmony Day is being celebrated annually on the 21st of July in Singapore. The purpose of this is to commemorate the 1964 Race Riots that happened between 2 races and people got killed during the riots. The riots happened on the 21st of July 1964.
This year, mei mei’s get to dressed up for the very first time. Not sure if she knows what’s going on but I am excited for her as she gets to dressed in a hanbok instead of the traditional chinese costumes. She knows that during Chinese New Year, we dress up in Cheongsams but for hanbok, this is her very first time. This day also creates a chance for us to explain to them what racial harmony is about and how we have to treasure our bonds regardless of race, language or religion.
As for gor gor, his school didn’t request the students to wear their traditional costumes, hence he was dressed in his usual school attire to school for the celebration.
This week’s art lesson we also focused on the same subject too. The children were made to draw people of different races.
The children had a better understanding after the school’s celebration and having to draw the pictures representing different races of people standing together, holding hands. Although mei mei doesn’t really know how to draw people holding hands, at least she drew people of different races standing together.
“So what is the picture about?”, I asked.
“Harmony!”, shouted the children. ”
Not too bad, I thought… 🙂
