Giving and receiving cards on Hari Raya was once considered a tradition. The cards were available in a variety of designs, sizes, and wordings at that time. It is now rarely practiced and only remembered as a lovely memory.
Embracing Digital Hari Raya Wishes
Do you recall when we, kids born in the 1990s and earlier, used to exchange greeting cards with our classmates, neighbours, or even pen pals?
We would undoubtedly bounce off the walls every time the festive season rolled around since we were so excited to see what cards our friends would give us.
We were thrilled, too, of course, because we couldn’t wait to make or buy cards to give to our buddies.
I still remember that, as a child who lived and grew up in a Malay village, exchanging Hari Raya cards was a must among me, my classmates, and my neighbours.
At that time, most of the small children, including me, preferred to make our own cards because the main market was located fairly far from my village.
Manila cards were among the primary products that kids wanted to acquire to make Raya cards; therefore, the grocery stores in my village were definitely bustling a few days before the festival.
The manila card will be selected in a variety of colours, cut into the desired form, coloured, and decorated, and lastly, a message will be written on it.
My favourite patterns are heart and ketupat shapes because I am inartistic. I’ll add some body powder or body mist to the cards to give them a nice scent and make them even more memorable. You must have done this as well, right?
Raya cards in the past
Muhani Missnan said that she can still clearly recall the Raya cards of that era, which were primarily rectangular in form and came in a variety of patterns.
“For those who could afford it, including a card that played music and flashed lights on your list was common.
“Usually, I would receive and also respond to cards given by my school friends.
“Since I would be busy helping my mother and siblings clean the house as Hari Raya approached, to make my work easier, I would buy the greeting cards,” she said.
Nazatul Shima Octivia Jairin, who concurred with Muhani, said that she typically purchases cards to give to her friends.
“Since most cards need to be sent via mail, I decided to purchase them. Buying is the best option because sending cards through the postal service takes time,” she said.
The Sabahan woman noted that she prefers to go to stationery stores to buy cards because they offer plenty of choices.
“There are a variety of cards available: ones with wishes in the form of a pantun, ones with humorous and cartoonish writing, ones with music, as well as formal ones with Hari Raya-themed images such as mosques, oil lamps, and ketupat.
“Cards were often more expensive the larger they were.
“One more thing: Raya cards in the past were all eye-catching; it was hard to make a choice,” she said, adding that it was the height of printed goods at the time since there were no digital items yet.
Meanwhile, Zah Idris said that she typically selects scented cards to give the impression that the cards she purchases are particularly unique to the receivers.
“Those cards were very easy to find at any store, and they were also available in various shapes, sizes, wordings, and more,” said the Kampung Santubong native.
Towards digitalisation
Giving and exchanging traditional cards is becoming less and less common these days due to time constraints and technological advancements.
Since it’s quicker and simpler, the majority of celebrants choose to express their Raya wishes to family, friends, or even colleagues through social media, instant messaging apps, or other digital platforms.
Thirty-seven-year-old Nazatul said that she had not received any Raya cards since she was 18 years old, which was about two decades ago.
She said that at the time, the trend of sending greeting cards had already started to decline, and she no longer sent or received physical Raya cards.
“Everything is easily accessible these days. For me, sending a quick message of well wishes is sufficient; seeing each other in person, saying hello, and smiling at each other is more important,” she said.
Thirty-eight-year-old Muhani also acknowledged that she no longer sends greeting cards to her friends, but she does send them messages via messaging apps.
She also said that she would download a free Raya card maker application and create digital cards to send to her family, friends, and all of her contacts.
“The last time I received Raya cards was when I was in high school.
“When I entered university and the workforce, those activities disappeared because everyone prefers to use technology, which is faster and easier,” she said.
Zah, 37, agreed, saying that exchanging Raya cards with friends is now only a memory.
“I can’t deny my longing to spend time in this kind of activity. But as time went on, I also made the decision to simplify things for myself.
“As I will be very busy cleaning the house, cooking, and making various preparations to celebrate the month of Syawal, I prefer sending Raya greetings through instant messaging platforms,” she said.
In the meantime, I found through a quick survey that many online retailers are still selling Raya cards on e-commerce platforms like Shopee and TikTok. However, none of those platforms offer cards with music.
So, guys, start surveying the cards you’re interested in for Hari Raya next year early, alright?
To the readers: Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri! May this month of Syawal bring deep gratitude for all the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon us.
Make the most of this precious time spent with your family and friends, and drive safely when you visit them.
