母親節剛過，父親節又接踵而至。子女們為媽媽忙了一陣子之後，跟着又要為爸爸買禮物，安排飯聚或其他慶祝活動，以表達孝心。從這個角度來看，兩個節日都有它存在的意義，值得提倡。
對父親節的來歴從沒作過什麼研究，只知它是西方文化的一部分。居住在越南偏遠的小鎮時似乎未聽過這個節日，直至移居華洋混集的香港之後才知道每年六月的第三個星期日被選定作為父親節，讓子女們為老爸好好地慶祝一番，感謝他養育之恩。
來到加拿大之後，當然要入鄉隨俗，對中國傳统之節日如新春、端午、中秋、冬至……等等逐漸淡忘，而開始留意這個國家之節禮文化，跟隨本地人的習慣和他們一齊慶祝新年、復活節、聖誕節……等等。對於一年一度的父親節也不會走漏了眼，因為有覆天蓋地之商業廣告在提示你這個日子的來臨。
商人為了做生意而無孔不入：開車時扭開電台，立即就聽到推廣父親節暢銷的商品廣告；回到家裡把電視機一按，熒光幕上也即時出現林林總總的商業品牌向你推薦；報章及雜誌不約如同地以圖文重複這些廣告和影像，商店的櫉窗更顯明地把商品陳列在你眼前，直至你的購買意欲被啟動而止。
商業社會一切唯利是圖，無論新年或聖誕節都被徹底利用去促銷。父親節也不例外，商人對準顧客的心裡需要而鼓動其如簧之舌，說服你以物資代表愛心。用錢就可解決的事最符合繁忙都市人之口味，所以商人便能輕而易舉地讓花花綠綠的鈔票向着他們的腰包滚滚而來。
現實擺在眼前，為何我們仍會盲目地墮入商人之圈套呢？對父母感恩示愛不是隨時隨地可為嗎？為何要在某一個特定的日子才付之行動呢？
一些年紀老邁的朋友對我說：子女來看他的那一天心情最佳，縱使有病也可不藥而癒。說來雖有點誇張，但老人家渴望見到子女的心情又何嘗不是如此深切的呢？如因事務纏身不便親自前往，可掛個電話送上一句親切的問候。這份關愛勝過任何物資的贈予！
一年365天之中只有一天是父親節。如果為人子女的只在這天才想及父親，縱使大灑金錢亦無補於事！
黄啟樟 2011/6/13
www.davidkcwong.blogspot.com
2011/6/23 加拿大商報
David
ReplyDeleteA good article that you have written.
Allow me to add some supplementary thoughts. I don't remember the Birthdays and the Death-days of my parents. I don't have to because I spend brief moments in their remembrance everyday. This principle apply too to parents who feel lovingly of their children who live by themselves. Love should be mutual between the generations. Accordingly there is no absolute need to observe the Mother's Day or Father's Day or the Children Day.
However, people can be so easily carried away by other things, such as by the demands by their careers, by their joy and sorrow in watching the roller-coaster of the Dow Jones, by their hobbies and so forth that they forget about their parents or children. Therefore, the publicity in the media of the advent of the Mother's Day, the Father's Day and the Children Day is a useful reminder to these people to refresh their love. The expression of love in materialistic form or by its quiet feeling in the heart or by a combination of both is up to the individuals. Merchants too have to make a living. The maxim remains that one does not spend beyond his means.
PF
David:
ReplyDelete商業社會一切唯利是圖，無論新年或聖誕節都被徹底利用去促銷。父親節也不例外，商人對準顧客的心裡需要而鼓動其如簧之舌，說服你以物資代表愛心。
You hit the nail on the head. Yes, practically all "Red Letter Days" are being commercialized. And that includes the religious ones.
But then, we have to understand that in an affluent and capitalistic society, people are encouraged to "consume" instead of keeping their money "under their pillows." When the merchants make money, they can afford to employ more people and pay more taxes. Thus, a thriving economy!
To the contrary, poor countries like China before, people are encouraged to save and skimp. This means keeping the "government IOUs" without demanding redemptions and let them depreciate. All to the government's benefit.
What happening now reminds me of an old saying: "One Dollar One God!" How true the world has now become to.
Aloha,
Joe