News.Life

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 George Town, April 6 – In the past, the Chingay Parade in Penang would attract massive crowds with throngs of spectators lining the streets, eagerly stretching their necks to witness the incredible stunts performed by the artists who effortlessly balanced and passed 10-metre-long poles adorned with flags between them.
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 The Penang Chingay Parade, which wound its way through the streets of George Town, beginning at Padang Brown in Datuk Keramat and concluding at the Esplanade, frequently attracted both residents and tourists due to more than just its acrobatic displays featuring large flags. The parade also showcased stilt walkers, unicycle riders, lion dances, and dragon dances.
 silamban
 ,
 silat
 and
 boria
 .
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 In recent times, however, enthusiasm for the parade has diminished, with mainly tourists and barely any locals turning up as viewers. This downturn has led to a reduction in sponsorships for the Chingay participants as well.
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 Kayden Ang, who chairs Persatuan Chingay Malaysia Utara, mentioned that previously, the funding for the event came from private firms, temples, and organizations. Their logos and names were incorporated into large banners through embroidery.
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 He mentioned, “Currently, attracting sponsors has become difficult as not many individuals show interest in Chingay.”
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 The expenses involved in constructing the large banners, which consist of lengthy bamboo stalks and chiffon fabric, might amount to several hundred ringgits solely for the poles. This is because they needed to obtain perfectly straight bamboo stalks with precise measurements and dimensions.
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 “He mentioned that even the fabric comes with a hefty price tag since we use chiffon for its lightness, which might run into a few thousand dollars.”
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   On February 23, 2018, people watched the Chingay performance at the Chew Jetty in Penang. Creating the large banners, constructed from lengthy bamboo sticks and silk fabric, came with significant expenses—potentially reaching several hundred ringgits solely for the poles. This was due to the necessity of finding perfectly straight bamboo stalks of precise dimensions and thicknesses.—Picture by Sayuti Zainudin
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 He mentioned that in recent times, the association’s expenditures have been covered by both its members and several private enterprises.
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 "We undertake these efforts due to our enthusiasm for the game," he stated.
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 Apart from the expenses involved, he mentioned that most of the current participants are blue-collar employees who can’t afford to miss work for training sessions. Although there are younger members joining, few stay actively engaged for extended periods.
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 The society boasts around 300 members; however, merely 80 of them actively participate and contribute their skills.
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 From that group, merely around 40 can execute acrobatic maneuvers with the large banners, and very few among them are youngsters.
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 "They mentioned that many of the acrobatic performers are over 40 years old, with hardly anyone under 30," he stated.
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 He mentioned that the organization includes young participants as early as eight or nine years old; however, these children will initially master handling small banners. Eventually, though, they tend to cease their involvement altogether.
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 "This is precisely why we believe that this collaborative nomination to UNESCO for Chingay holds significant importance," he stated, pointing towards the effort aimed at getting Chingay listed in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
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 He mentioned it might generate greater local engagement and potentially encourage more kids to take an interest in the sport.
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   Chingay coach Lee Kok Keong was seen balancing a flag during the early 2000s. — Picture courtesy of Lee Kok Keong
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 As per Chingay coach Lee Kok Keong, mastering the acrobatic aspect of the sport requires genuine interest and enthusiasm from individuals.
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 He mentioned that training is rigorous and frequently leads to injuries, including cracked teeth, as they learn to grasp the bamboo poles using only their mouths.
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 He mentioned that one of the most effective methods to generate awareness and enthusiasm is by incorporating the sport into school curriculums.
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 "It’s an excellent activity for enhancing balance, strength, and agility," Lee mentioned.
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 In the meantime, Andrew Lai, the secretary of the Penang Chingay Association, voiced similar concerns as Ang, noting that fewer youngsters are showing interest in learning about Chingay.
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 He mentioned that parents are more overprotective towards their kids due to safety worries, and apart from that, they fail to recognize the advantages of having them learn Chingay.
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 Lai mentioned that wushu and lion dance are more popular compared to Chingay due to their status as recognized sports with many competitions available.
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   The Chingay parade moves past the grandstand at the 2024 National Day Parade in Putrajaya on August 31, 2024. — Bernama photo
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 “Therefore, we anticipate that this Unesco bid will elevate Chingay as a cultural event and generate greater enthusiasm for the activity,” he stated.
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 He mentioned that one of the suggestions put forward for the nomination was to establish standardized regulations for Chingay competitions since presently, there are no specific guidelines or scoring systems in place.
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 "This will establish a benchmark for Chingay, and as a result, more events can be organized. With these events, additional individuals will likely want to participate and learn about it," he stated.
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 Ang further mentioned that it’s essential to have standardized competition regulations for Chingay to avoid biased scoring and, concurrently, develop an internationally competitive event where other nations can join in.
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 "Once we secure the Unesco listing, I am confident it will lead to greater economic advantages for Penang and also highlight Chingay," Lai stated.
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 Associations from Penang and Johor Bahru are collaborating with Singapore on a shared Unesco application for Chingay.
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 Lai mentioned that they have participated in workshops and meetings alongside representatives from Johor Baru and Singapore to deliberate on the collective nomination. This included choosing which videos and photographs should be submitted to UNESCO for consideration.
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 Upon being reached for comment, George Town World Heritage Incorporated General Manager Ang Ming Chee stated that although the Chingay parades in Penang, Johor Bahru, and Singapore each possess distinct features, they all share a single defining characteristic: these processions serve as a celebration of the community.
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   A Chingay performance during the Chinese New Year festivities in Penang on February 28, 2015. — Image courtesy of K.E. Ooi
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 "In Penang, it has transformed into a multiculturally rich parade featuring performances like
 silamban, silat
 and
 boria
 While in Johor, this event celebrates the five deities and highlights the significant dedication to volunteering within the local community," she stated.
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 In contrast, Singapore’s Chingay celebration is nearly like a carnival, featuring international components incorporated into the event.
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 "As Chingay events in various locations celebrate the local identity, they also unite individuals from all backgrounds in a single festivity," she stated.
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 She mentioned that this is a cultural occasion which has transformed over time to embrace diversity and foster better ethnic relations within society.
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 By the end of March, both Malaysia and Singapore will jointly nominate Chingay for inclusion in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
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As Young Interest Fades, UNESCO Bid Reignites Hope for Penang’s Chingay Parade Future

Unknown culture, history, parades, singapore, traditions

George Town, April 6 – In the past, the Chingay Parade in Penang would attract massive crowds with throngs of spectators lining the streets, eagerly stretching their necks to witness the incredibl…

<p>
 This week saw St Patrick’s Day celebrations kick off across the world as swathes of people celebrated Irish culture through song, dance and of course, craic.
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 With the popularity of Irish culture on the rise, it’s no surprise that one of the country’s most iconic symbols has been given a boost as well.
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<p>
 The Claddagh ring’s three main elements represent love (heart), friendship (hands), and loyalty (crown). Together, they mean to symbolise a powerful message of commitment and enduring affection.
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<p>
 Patricia Connolly, manager at Claddagh Jewellers in Galway city centre, said the uptick in custom has been clear – but it has coincided with one of their busiest times of the year.
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 She told the
 <span>
  Irish Independent
 </span>
 : “The young people seem to love it. I mean, we’re always busy, but especially now after St Patrick’s Day. This is when it starts – and it stays busy until It’s such a popular ring.”
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<p>
 The ring has always been popular, however recently
 <span>
  Bridgerton
 </span>
 star and Galway native Nicola Coughlan brought it back into the pop culture conversation when she wore hers at the
 <span>
  Bridgerton
 </span>
 series three premiere in Dublin.
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 The Claddagh ring’s fashion resurgence has been exemplified on social media platforms such as Tiktok, showing how the next generation is discovering the jewellery’s special significance.
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 About why more young people are gravitating towards the symbol, Patricia said: “I think they just love the idea of it. For the last three days all the young Americans are coming in. A lot of them seem to be looking for the big Claddagh earrings, but we don’t sell those.”
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 It’s not just tourists who are coming into their shop, however: “Irish people are always coming in to look at rings for their partner, and a lot of them come at Christmas too for that kind of gift. Friends buy them for each other as well.
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 “I don’t know where that started, it’s just hugely popular its all over the world.”
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 For Patricia herself, she has her own connection to the symbol: “I have my mother’s Claddagh ring that she passed on to me. Most of our staff have one as well. I think it’s because of that special story behind it.”
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<p>
 Get ahead of the day with the morning headlines at 7.30am and Fionnán Sheahan's exclusive take on the day's news every afternoon, with our free daily newsletter.
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‘The young people love it’ – Galway jewellers weigh in on rise in popularity of iconic Claddagh ring

Unknown culture, culture & history, engagement rings, popular culture, society, traditions

This week saw St Patrick’s Day celebrations kick off across the world as swathes of people celebrated Irish culture through song, dance and of course, craic. With the popularity of Irish culture on…