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Festivals are not only held to only have enjoyable experiences, but they also act as a means to preserve one's cultures. Take Malaysia as an example, festivals are held every once in a while, due to the variety of cultures in the country, making it so that no one is left out alone on a special day. As for myself, my school always holds celebrations for the Lunar New Year annually to celebrate our roots as a Chinese orientated school.

On this particular day, students are allowed to wear traditional clothes to school. Thus, you will have the opportunity to not only witness traditional Chinese clothing but also (wear???) traditional clothing from other cultures. The day starts with students gathering in the school hall to enjoy the unique performances prepared by the school staff and students. Afterwards, students were allowed to wander around the school grounds to participate in station games to broaden their knowledge about the Chinese culture.

That being said, is it really imperative to preserve one's cultural identity? Arguably, one of the reasons of doing so is to ensure that new generations would understand about their own roots and ancestors. Through celebrations, not just younger generations but also foreign people would have the chance to delve deeper into one's cultures. It would assure that one's roots would not be lost to the ages.

At the same time, preserving one's cultural identity also play a part in addressing issues related to inequality, discrimination, and exclusion in society. Although discrimination between races has not been as detrimental as before in recent years, it is still a problem yet solved. That being said, preserving one's cultural identity helps in creating fair representation of all races. For example, cultural identities help ethnic minorities have a voice in government and have an impact on decision makings to help dismantle any practices that contribute to inequality. As a result, equity in many areas, such as healthcare, education and politics can be guaranteed.

Having considered all this, to my way of thinking festivals can be used as a means to be educated about one's culture and a way to racial equality. As the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru once said, "Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit".

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Festivals and traditions are a core part of what makes us human. Festivals are where we get to socialize and form bonds with one another. Traditions can take many forms, either as melodies and stories being passed down throughout generations, or dance and rituals performed after a harvest. (Lead in to what festival you're going to discuss and say how important it is - would be a conventional thesis statement)

My family never misses out on celebrating Christmas every year. When I was still a child, Christmas has been nothing but a day where I get gifts and get to eat out. But now that I have grown older, i realized that Christmas is actually about embracing the spirit of giving and appreciating the people around you. During Christmas, we would gather around the Christmas tree and exchange gifts.

(Give some contradiction, having said that, some of my peers do not give much importance to traditions....) Personally speaking, i think it is of the upmost importance that we preserve our cultural identity. Having a cultural identity gives us a sense of community and cohesion. It may be said that preserving cultural identity also helps to ensure history is not forgotten. (Give examples)

CONCLUSION???

(teacher plz leave notes as to how to improve and elaborate im actually bawling rn HELP) LOL

Give a variation on sentences eg. passive and inversions

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Wesak day is a tradition that has been passed down in every Buddhist family. Wesak day is the day of the full moon in the lunar month of Vaisakha, it is normally celebrated in the month of April or May. Wesak day is also when Siddharta Gautama, the Buddha was born in Lumbini Gardens, reaching enlightenment and the reaching of Nirvana and leaving from this world. This day is considered a sacred day to all Buddhists.

The essence of Wesak day lies in the celebration for his search to enlightenment. Buddhists would gather around him and would offer their food, clothing and daily essentials in exchange for his blessings. Nowadays, it is still celebrated the same way as before to gain blessings from the monks. This day serves as a reminder of the path to overcome the suffering through the practice of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

Preserving Wesak Day is vital for several reasons. Firstly, it provides an opportunity for Buddhists to renew their commitment to the core values of Buddhism, which would be compassion, mindfulness and wisdom. This is to remind us the importance of inner peace and harmony in this world that is driven by materialism. It also strengthens the sense of community among Buddhists as they come together to celebrate their shared heritage and beliefs.

Furthermore, it is the important to preserve this tradition that has been passed down for over 2500 years from now. The reason behind is, it connects all Buddhists around the world through spiritual roots, introducing the understandings to everyone no matter if they're Buddhists or not. This day is to be shared within people's heart and mind. Preserving this tradition ensures that the value of peace, kindness and mindfulness may continue to resonate with people everywhere no matter how far and wide.

Second part of the essay states in general not specifically wesak day, should be preserved)

Conclusion?

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Culture, Our Roots

Festivals offers a pathway for people from all walks of life to immerse themselves in their respective cultures. My family and I will participate in the Mid Autumn Festival on the 15th day of the 8th month in the lunar calendar. It is festivals like this that demonstrate the paramount importance of preserving the culture for future generations.

Every year on this special day, all my relatives, scattered across the country, gather at my grandparents' house for a reunion dinner. The full moon in the sky, which is a symbol of togetherness, brings us closer as a family. Adding to the joy, we create our own traditional paper lanterns, illuminated by candles, and walk excitedly around the neighborhood. Of course, no celebration is complete without enjoying the delectable mooncakes which have a taste that contains the essence of the festival.

(all of these are fake) LOL

In fact, it is essential to preserve cultural identity. It helps us to stay connected to our roots and lifestyles that has been inherited from our ancestors since decades ago time immemorial. Consequently, we would offer more appreciation to our origin. Moreover, cultural practices serve as an important platform to embody us with moral values and lessons. An example of this is tea serving ceremony, which represents the acknowledgement of appreciation of guidance from them. It emphasise respect for elders as a younger generation.

Having considered all this, in this fast-paced era, although we are often caught up in the hustle and bustle lifestyle, it is crucial to note that our cultural identities should not be sacrificed merely to meet societal demands. They are the roots that defines us and provide us a sense of belonging.

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Throughout the centuries, people all around the world have forged their own unique habits and traditions that differ them from one another, the identity of the culture that they follow. These traditions have been preserved by our ancestors for generations, and I have recently been given a chance to experience how it feels like to celebrate Gion Matsuri, which is a Festival that originates from Japan.

The Gion Matsuri is a festival held annually all over the nation, and originally began as a way to appease the Gods during an epidemic, when the people pleaded to them in hopes of a healtheir and happier life. There isn't a set date for when the festival starts or ends, but it is usually held throughout the month of July. I personally attended during the 17th of July, when the procession of portable shrines which are also called Mikoshi-Togyo and are said to house the spirits of Gods and deities. These portable shrines are carried by people called the parishioners, whose jobs are to parade the shrine around local areas and is said to signify the warding off of misfortune while also praying for the happiness of the people.

In all honesty, the sheer scale and how so many people take the festival so seriously has already made my jaw drop. Moreover, the floats and shrines were all decorated with intricate details, which really lets the parades live up to it's name as "mobile art museums". Experiencing this festival from a first person perspective as a foreigner allows me to understand the significance of preserving culture as a whole. Wherever may our origins lie, if it weren't for the pure perseverance of the people, these traditions and festivals would only dissolve and fade away in time. And it is precisely because of that reason why different cultures today can be differentiated via their own, unique identities. If not, many of us would agree that life would only become duller as with the uniqueness of one's culture, most of nations around the world use it to their advantage such as promoting these festivals in order to gain attraction from foreigners like myself and increase their yearly income via the tourism section.

Having considered everything that has been mentioned above, every culture around the world have their own habits and traditions that separate them from others. Hence, we should preserve these traditions so that the future generations will be able to experience the joy of having a cultural identity that belongs to them and the people around them.

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Title: (Honoring traditions, preserving cultures)
Name: Gladys Ong

Traditions hold a special place in every culture, carrying unique stories and significance. From my perspective, preserving these traditions is both meaningful and important.

In my family, one tradition we uphold occurs during the seventh month of the lunar calendar, a time when we honor the "Good Brothers." This practice involves preparing offerings, which begins with a trip to purchase specific items, including seven different types of beverages, various snacks, a bag of rice, and packets of noodles. On the appointed day, we set up a table with these tributes and begin our prayers, always ensuring the ritual is completed before noon. After the prayers, we burn joss papers as part of the tradition.

This process reminds us of the importance of paying respect to unseen spirits and maintaining a sense of harmony with our surroundings. It also serves as a moment for our family to come together, strengthening our bond as we participate in the tradition. (You can discuss the contraction where the new generation have stopped this practice due to environmental concerns and whether you agree with it)

Preserving such customs is important because they carry deep cultural significance and meaning. Without passing them down, many beautiful traditions risk being forgotten over time. These practices are not just rituals but also reminds us of where we come from and provide a sense of continuity in our lives. Traditions like these symbolize the uniqueness of a culture and serve as a bridge connecting generations.

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Preserving Culture: Mid-Autumn Festival

The traditional Chinese occasion, called Mid-Autumn Festival, takes place annually on the fifteenth day of the eighth Lunar month, where a full moon appears at night. Growing up in a Chinese household, our family has been participating in this festival every year without fail.

According to the legend, there were ten suns in the sky simultaneously, causing drought and misery for people on earth in the past. A hero shot nine of the ten suns down and in return, was rewarded an elixir by the emperor that could grant him immortality, which he wanted to share with his wife. Due to unfortunate events, his wife drank all of the elixir and became immortal, hence she ascended to the moon as they were not allowed to mingle in the mortal realm. People started eating mooncakes on that night while admiring the moon to pay tribute to her. Thus, this was how the tradition came about.

Today, it is the second most important festival in the Chinese culture after the Lunar New Year Festival, symbolising reunion. In my family, we prepare fruits, mooncakes and other desserts on a round table outside our house facing the moon as part of the tradition. Mooncakes come in a cornucopia of flavours: traditional ones being red bean, salted egg yolk and the more modern alternatives are matcha, durian or chocolate.

The question is, why is this festival so important to the Chinese? Like how other festivals matter to other cultures, these events help us preserve our cultural identity and bond with members of our own culture, and even with people from other cultures. Knowing the traditions of our ancestors strengthens our roots and personal identity through the values conveyed, such as reunion with loved ones and respect for the elderly. These events connect us with our community and even beyond. Sharing one’s culture to the world allows people to bond and understand each other's heritage, increasing global interconnection with depth in a day of modernisation.

All in all, Mid-Autumn Festival, along with other traditions of different cultures, should be maintained to keep our heritage alive. It is a way of allowing a positive contribution to society and enriching global diversity. Let us not forget where we come from, as in the wise words of Marcus Garvey, “people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without its roots”.