December Feast

Salam , Hello and Greetings to all.

It has been quite a while since I last wrote. It’s now in the month of December, and when I think about December, there are few things that come to my thoughts…. School holidays, Exams, Heavy rain, Flood, Shopping, Sightseeing and of course Kenduri (it’s a Malay word meaning Feast)

It’s a custom in Malay culture to have a kenduri (Feast) as a form of celebration, thanksgiving or gratitude for certain occasion or ceremony. In the month of December, feasts are for either wedding ceremony or circumcision ceremony.

Circumcision….what is that? Never mention that word to a 6 - 12 year old boy. It’s a nasty thought that has been in the back of their mind through their childhood. It’s due to the ignorance and naivety of circumcision. The notion of having their precious body part to be cut off really frightens them.

Let me try to write a bit on that. I’ve search through the net on some of the facts about circumcision and I want to share it with you. Here goes… This word has two parts; circum which means around and cision which is short for incision, meaning to cut. Circumcision is a surgical procedure that involves partial or complete removal of the foreskin of the penis. The first evidence of circumcision comes from early Egyptian wall paintings that are more than 5000 years old. All boys are born with a sleeve of skin called the foreskin covering the head of their penis which is an acorn shaped part named the glans. The foreskin hides the glans for most of the time so it can't be seen. When a penis is circumcised, the foreskin is cut off, so the glans is always seen. Normally the foreskin can be pulled back for a few moments for washing and urination

Worldwide, people circumcise their boys to show they belong to a particular religion, race or tribe. Boys in the modern countries, circumcise because it's cleaner and prevents or cures health problems. It's neat and tidy without loose skin over the end and it helps you to pee better. Reasons for circumcision fall into three broad groups:  for an immediate medical indication, to prevent future disease and as an act of religious dedication.

In the teaching of Muslims, circumcision is exercised because the cleanliness and purity is very important as part of the ritual for prayers.  The space under the foreskin around the glans is naturally a bit wet because after peeing with the foreskin forward, some pee creeps back there and become trapped under the foreskin. All this soon makes it smell and if it is left unwashed, it can start an infection.

Circumcision for a Muslim is done before the boy reaches puberty. It is common in Malaysia for boys in the age of 8 – 12 to be circumcised in December. This is because of the long school holiday which is about 6-7 weeks. The wound due to the circumcision can heal between 3-4 weeks.

In an effort to persuade the kids, the parents would promise gifts and make a feast. People who come will contribute to these boys.  The trend now is that, circumcision ceremony is held in a group.  The more, the merrier. This is to make the boys feel less frighten and have more confident. Such gatherings help create a cheerful atmosphere.

As for me, I have 2 boys, an 8 year old and a 2 month old. I’ve started to slowly preparing my 8 year old son for it. I always take him to the circumcision ceremony feast and trying to persuade him in doing it. I don’t know yet what to get (bribe) him but by the age of 10 I hope I can get him circumcised.

That’s it for now………..thank you for spending your time reading.

Have a pleasant day.