How to Teach Kids About Malaysia’s Cultural Festivals

Malaysia is a melting pot of cultures, and its festivals—Hari Raya, Deepavali, and Chinese New Year, are rich in traditions, history, and values. Teaching kids about these celebrations helps them appreciate diversity and embrace cultural harmony. Here’s how to do it:

 

1. Use Storytelling & Books

 

Children love stories! Share age-appropriate books or tell simple stories about each festival’s origins and significance:

Hari Raya Aidilfitri – The celebration after Ramadan, symbolizing gratitude and forgiveness.

Deepavali – The Festival of Lights, celebrating the victory of good over evil.

Chinese New Year – Welcoming a new year with family reunions, lion dances, and lucky traditions.

 

Activity Idea: Create your own simple storytelling session with puppets or drawings to make it more interactive.

 

2. Engage in Arts & Crafts

 

Creative activities make learning fun!

Hari Raya: Make ketupat (woven palm leaf decorations) using colored paper.

Deepavali: Let kids design their own kolam (colorful floor art) using colored rice or chalk.

Chinese New Year: Create red paper lanterns or ang pow (red packet) crafts.

 

Activity Idea: Organize a mini "Cultural Festival Day" where kids make crafts for all three celebrations.

 

3. Explore Traditional Clothing

 

Let kids dress up in traditional attire for each festival:

Hari Raya: Baju Melayu (for boys) & Baju Kurung (for girls).

Deepavali: Saree or Punjabi suit.

Chinese New Year: Cheongsam or Tang suit.

 

Activity Idea: Have a “Cultural Dress-Up Day” and let them show off their outfits.

 

4. Try Traditional Foods

 

Food is a great way to connect with culture! Let kids help in simple cooking or tasting sessions:

Hari Raya: Ketupat, rendang, dodol.

Deepavali: Murukku, laddu, banana leaf rice.

Chinese New Year: Yee sang, pineapple tarts, mandarin oranges.

 

Activity Idea: Host a mini "Food Tasting Day" and let kids guess which festival each dish belongs to!

 

5. Watch Festival Celebrations & Performances

 

Show kids videos of cultural performances like:

• Hari Raya dikir barat or traditional Malay dance.
• Deepavali Bharatanatyam dance or Indian drumming.
• Chinese New Year lion dance or dragon dance.

 

Activity Idea: If possible, take kids to real-life events like open houses, night markets, or temple celebrations.

 

6. Teach Simple Greetings & Customs

 

Help kids learn common greetings for each festival:

Hari Raya: "Selamat Hari Raya! Maaf Zahir dan Batin."

Deepavali: "Happy Deepavali!" or "Diwali Valthukkal!"

Chinese New Year: "Gong Xi Fa Cai!" (Wishing you prosperity!)

 

Activity Idea: Create greeting cards using these phrases and let kids decorate them!

 

7. Encourage Cultural Sharing & Respect

 

The best way to learn is through experience! Encourage kids to:

✅ Visit a friend’s open house during a festival.

✅ Share what they learned with classmates.

✅ Ask respectful questions about different traditions.

 

By making cultural learning interactive and enjoyable, kids will grow up appreciating the beauty of Malaysia’s diverse traditions. Would you like more detailed activity guides for any festival?