Sack Race, The Icon of Indonesia Independence Celebration
What is the symbol of Indonesia Independence Day celebration?
A flag ceremony? No, it is not.
A flag ceremony is held only in specific place. Only formal institutions stage the ceremony. Majority of Indonesians whine whenever they are asked to attend it.
However, there is an activity during the Indonesia Independence Day that make people willingly voluntarily participate, even many will feel disappointed if they are not asked, a s
SACK RACE.
It is a custom in Indonesia on August the 17th, to arrange several games inside a community and one of the favorite is a simple jumping race using sacks originally used for transporting rice.
A person will wear a sack like he or she wears saroong but with no hole at the bottom. They must race with some other participants and compete to be the first to reach a finish line stipulated by a referee.
For there is no bottom hole, the racer must jump until they reach finish line.
The place of the sack race can be anywhere. For it is arranged inside a community, it doesn't need special racing ground. A park, a beach, a street are often used.
Tumbling down, rolling on the ground often occur during a race. It is not easy to jumpi while holding the edge of the sack.
However, nobody will get angry if they tumble. In fact, the tumbled participants often join a laugh with crowd laughing seeing his or her tumbling.
Even, actually crowds expect some participants to tumble down that they can laugh at.
A small game arranged by few people but it provides laughter to many.
There is no uniform. No formal posture is needed. Everything is just as usual. The only uniformity is the sacks.
However, it brings lots of joy to many people. Not like a boring flag ceremony that full of formality.
Everybody can join. It doesn't matter if you are old, young, male or female, Indonesians or foreigners. Everyone is invited.
Don't you think it is what independece means for? Happiness, freedom, and joy.
No, it is not a flag ceremony that is an icon of Indonesia Independence Day Celebration. It should be a sack race. Do you agree with me?
A flag ceremony? No, it is not.
A flag ceremony is held only in specific place. Only formal institutions stage the ceremony. Majority of Indonesians whine whenever they are asked to attend it.
However, there is an activity during the Indonesia Independence Day that make people willingly voluntarily participate, even many will feel disappointed if they are not asked, a s
SACK RACE.
It is a custom in Indonesia on August the 17th, to arrange several games inside a community and one of the favorite is a simple jumping race using sacks originally used for transporting rice.
A person will wear a sack like he or she wears saroong but with no hole at the bottom. They must race with some other participants and compete to be the first to reach a finish line stipulated by a referee.
For there is no bottom hole, the racer must jump until they reach finish line.
The place of the sack race can be anywhere. For it is arranged inside a community, it doesn't need special racing ground. A park, a beach, a street are often used.
Tumbling down, rolling on the ground often occur during a race. It is not easy to jumpi while holding the edge of the sack.
However, nobody will get angry if they tumble. In fact, the tumbled participants often join a laugh with crowd laughing seeing his or her tumbling.
A small game arranged by few people but it provides laughter to many.
There is no uniform. No formal posture is needed. Everything is just as usual. The only uniformity is the sacks.
However, it brings lots of joy to many people. Not like a boring flag ceremony that full of formality.
Everybody can join. It doesn't matter if you are old, young, male or female, Indonesians or foreigners. Everyone is invited.
Don't you think it is what independece means for? Happiness, freedom, and joy.
No, it is not a flag ceremony that is an icon of Indonesia Independence Day Celebration. It should be a sack race. Do you agree with me?