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It is the time of year when many Muslims around the world are fasting this weekend. They will start to celebrate the end of fast the following weekend, 20th and 21st September 2009.

I have always looked forward the end of the fasting period because that is the time when the house will be filled with the aroma of cookies being baked and even on the eve, lots of food will be prepared to serve the guests who will be coming to visit the next day.

It is a common tradition to visit the eldest in the family first: grandparents, parents, eldest siblings before visiting the other members of the families. This tradition is not only practised by Asians, it is being taught in the Holy Muslim scriptures and many other religious teachings which most Asians Practice.  Many Asians who have learned many foreign languages that originate from Europe are often reminded to remain steadfast with their traditional values and religious practices. One of these has often been referred to as the Asian etiquette or personal conduct.

Respect For The Elders

Teaching kids to show or develop respect for their elders, begin at a very early age.  The children learn to conduct themselves through a process of character development: humility and steadfastness. Humility because they are taught to respect elders for the wisdom, knowledge and age. In the quest for higher learning, they can always seek advice and direction from the older and wiser members of their families. Steadfastness is derived from learning to overcome problems in life through patience and preserverence. The child’s duty is only to grow up to become the man; and this cannot be achieved without help and direction from the elder members of the family. It is therefore not uncommon to see that even after death, the living ones still offer prayers for their parents who have passed away.

Nowadays, this simple etiquette can be seen being practiced in other non-Asian countries as more and more Asians work or settle down there.  They bring along with them their Asian values and way of life. Sometimes it is very difficult for Asians to assimilate in foreign lands, and the same can be said about their non-Asian counterparts when they come to live in Asia.

Celebrating Youth

The Asian youths are now beginning to have less and less need to depend on their elders to survive in the fast paced developing environment that they are brought up in. Most major cities in Asia, like Japan, Jakarta, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Bangkok, to name a few have created a modern world for international commerce and trade exchanges. The city buildings are bland compared to the ones in the surburban areas; the people are losing grip of the progressiveness of holding on to traditional values. The opportunities to keep the youths grounded on this Asian etiquette are practiced at home: at the dinner table (eating with hands and chopsticks, instead of fork and spoon), saying prayers before eating or doing a certain task, kissing the elder’s hand when paying respect as they leave or meet the elder’s homes (Muslims), visiting the cemetary of loved ones who have passed away and offer prayers etc.

References On Asian Ettiquette :

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