Raya Ritual

When I was small, bersalam hari raya with my parents were such dreaded chore. Don't know why but it was very hard. Unnatural. And the timing was never right. This person would not be here, another one not ready yet .... 1001 reasons. There was no special *salam raya*. My brothers and sister would just salam raya with our parents anytime anywhere. Sapa siap dulu, dia gi dulu salam raya. Usually I would be so busy in the kicthen sometimes I even missed the salam raya. I never hug or kiss my parents (count out zaman hingus ler).
When I have my own children I make sure this particular raya ritual is observed faithfully and continue even after I became single again. I believe that kissing and hugging my grown up children even in public is nothing shameful. The ritual I started with my own children are being observed by other family members and their children. And I am very proud to declare here that I have no more inhibition about salam raya and even kiss and hug my old father and mother.