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https://youtube.com/shorts/1mmaXAlph6s?si=ZvnHxrtaFuFAlbW1 (Second shorter video)

Back-To-School Haul Custom

As the name suggests, it is a custom where students purchase new school supplies and apparel for the new school year. Yet overtime, this custom has become too commercial as seen in the two video we attached above.

Instead of purchasing essential items like stationeries, they instead buy hundreds of dollars worth of new clothes and make-up items they do not need— because well, it’s wiser to keep using your old stuff as long as they’re still wearable, and even if they have outgrown their clothes, it’s still unnecessary to purchase as much as the videos are showing.

What we should do instead of wasting our money on sales during back to school, is to save our money for emergencies that can randomly happen or appear in the future that we may not know will happen yet in advance.

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Tiktok "Back to School" Hauls Are Simply OUT OF CONTROL

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BARONGSAI 🐉

Barongsai/lion dance is a Chinese tradition that use a lion custom with many of colors like yellow means a mighty and powerful empire, red means happiness & lucky, green means growth and new beginnings and etc, The lion also is considered as a symbol of courage, strength, wisdom and superiority.

The lion dance is a traditional Chinese performance that started over 1,000 years ago. Originating in China's Tang dynasty, the barongsai (lion dance) is a traditional dance performance that has long been part of Chinese New Year celebrations. In Indonesia, several Chinese communities have established barongsai groups to introduce this traditional art to local communities. Over time, the lion dance spread to many Asian countries and became a symbol of courage, strength, and good fortune.

The barongsai dance mainly performed during the New Year to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits.

During the barongsai dance, they are usually accompanied with drummers to add the necessary ambience to the dance. Over time, it has also evolved to serve as a form of entertainment for communities and a recognized cultural event.

Reason commercial

1. Increase Foot Traffic

Barongsai will attract crowds which means more people enter the mall, creating opportunities for shops to make sales.

2. Boost Sales During Festivals

When visitors come to watch barongsai, they often stay to shop or join promotions, so overall spending in the mall rises.

3. Marketing & Branding

Barongsai creates a festive Chinese New Year atmosphere that malls use as a marketing tool and draw attention on social media.

To summarize, the barongsai dance is a traditional act done by a group of dancers which symbolize courage and strength. Other than that, it also has spiritual fucntions such as bringing good luck and driving away evil spirits. Now, it is enjoyed both as a tradition and entertainment to the people.

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Group 6: Rachel, Nabil, Santana, Juan

Christmas is Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ (a central figure in Christianity), an annual celebration on December 25th. It is both a religious and cultural holiday, featuring traditions like decorating Christmas trees and homes, exchanging gifts, sharing special meals, singing carols, and attending church services.

Everybody here recognize Christmas as national holiday as stated by Indonesian government, but it was rarely to celebrate it in religious way. Because there is not much of Christians here. For instance, Christmas in Bali exist mainly for marketing purpose along with new year holiday. You would see shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, and other businesses offer special deal for Christmas and New Year. They would also sometimes put Christmas-cliche decoration and songs. However, that's just it. Other than these places, you will barely see any differences. But there are exceptions, of course. If you go to church or are active in Christian communities, you will feel the non-transactional vibe, because people there really celebrate it in religious way.

Based on the blog that we found, In Indonesia, the most common way to celebrate Christmas is by giving gifts to people. Commonly for close relative, we celebrate the day also by eating foods and exchanging gifts for our beloved.

However, this tradition since then have become an almost necessity due to socail expectation. Upon celebrating, people have become used to expect something in return given to them. Naturally this wouldn't be so bad but this is only if the gift nature is not expected but rather a form of care from us. When it become something like a must, it turn into consumerism and commercial for many people as they found it not sincere and only drains money.

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Group 2: michelle, Ayunda, Patricia

What we find too commercial in new years celebration is the Overemphasis on fireworks because the majority of people usually lights up fireworks near their house it can be overwhelming and expensive if we purchase a large amount of it especially because we usually light them up in the middle of the night when some people are sleeping or they are scared of them, some fireworks can malfunction and explode when it’s not time so it will become very dangerous.

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Group 1 Valerie, Audrey, Beverly

Easter Day is one of the most important celebrations for Christians because it reminds us of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is a symbol of hope and new life. For many families, it’s a time to go to church, pray, and spend quality time together. But in today’s world, Easter is not only about religion anymore.

It is said that the easter bunny originated from the german goddess of spring and fertility. With a bunny’s high fertility rate, they were associated with this spring goddess. This german tradition would then be connected to a religious tradition when Jesus resurrects from the dead.

The stores and companies have turned it into a holiday filled with chocolate eggs, Easter bunnies, toys, and colorful decorations. These things can be fun and make the day exciting, especially for kids, but they sometimes take the focus away from what Easter really means.

Easter should be a day where people reflect on faith, love, and togetherness. Instead, with all the advertisements and products being sold, it can sometimes feel more about shopping and spending than about spiritual meaning. That’s why many say Easter has become “too commercial.”

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Group 7 : Al ~ Chelsie~ Eden

‘A tradition that have become too commercial‘

Our group choose birthday celebrations as a a tradition that have become too commercial

Why did we choose ‘Birthday Celebration’?

We as a group agreed that Big And Complicated Event such as Birthday celebration is a tradition that have become too Commercial

Not that we think its a bad thing we all have our own right to celebrate however we want cause at the end of the day its ‘our’ day to begin with

But if we need an event planner or organizer just to celebrate it ,its another discussion for another day ,

Eden :

because for me (personally) birthday should be more intimate and more about reflecting about the person that i was,am ,and will be .again its not a bad thing to treat your ‘special’ day special ! Its just that Birthday celebration has become too commercial .

For me personally(Chelsie) :

Birthday celebrations are too much, especially for those whom wanted gifts. I also wanted someone to give me something but why do we actually have to send gifts? Gifts could be send as an apology for those who couldn't attend. Maybe by treating them something it could also considered as a gift.

honestly speaking right now (Al) :

but I think birthday celebrations are kinda dope. it’s not just about cake and gifts yah, it’s that one day where people slow down and actually celebrate you. for me, its less about the big parties and more about the vibe being with yaa you know.. friends, family, maybe some food, and just feeling grateful that youve made it past to another year

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Group 5 : Khanti, Valdy, Gita

Valentine’s Day is a holiday that is celebrated on February 14, it is celebrated to dedicate love, affection, and appreciation usually between intimate partners, by giving gifts such as roses/flowers, chocolate, or even to go out on dates. But nowadays many people celebrate it between friends and even family by gifting them chocolates and candies or flowers or exchanging Valentine Cards. Why we think it has become too commercial is because most people think that during Valentine’s Day, it is mandatory to exchange and give chocolates and gifts not only to partners but also between close friends and family while in reality there are no rules that you have to buy them something during this holiday. Some people may even feel pressured that they have to spend money to buy gifts and extravagant things for their loved ones in fear that if they didn’t they would upset them, when in reality we could just spend our time with them and create memories together.