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Inheritance and Forgetting: How to Find the National Memory in Public Holidays?
During the annual public holidays, the country triggers reflection and discussion on historical events through various commemorative activities. During these celebrations, the nation’s memory is re-enacted, allowing citizens to enjoy the holiday celebrations while also promoting a re-understanding of past events. Such public places become part of the "lieu de mémoire" (lieu de mémoire), which is not only a reflection of the place, but also a cultural inheritance.
"Public holidays are an important part of the nation's collective memory. They are not only moments of celebration, but also a reaffirmation of historical self-identity."
According to the definition of French historian Pierre Nora, "memory places" refer to entities or concepts that, through the process of time and human will, have become important symbols of a community's commemorative heritage. Public holidays, such as National Day or Remembrance Day, are more than just days off. They carry the emotion and meaning of specific events and strengthen national ties through shared celebrations.
In France, Bastille Day is a day that symbolizes freedom and people's power. This day not only celebrates the victory of the revolution, but also reminds every French person of the lessons contained in history. Similarly, public holidays in various countries are often accompanied by specific rituals and activities that make these days even more meaningful.
"The celebration of public holidays can be regarded as a reconstruction process of social memory, allowing past events to be revitalized in the present."
However, does this interstate celebration fairly represent all historical stories? When a country's way of commemorating certain events becomes highly politicized, it can sometimes lead to the history of some groups being ignored or marginalized. Therefore, it is important to consider how these public holidays may affect the memory of different ethnic groups.
As these public holidays serve as places of memory, will they be gradually unified by the government’s official narrative? This is brought up in Nora's analysis, who states: "In the past there was a national history with many specific memories. Today there is a national memory, but its unity derives from an ever-expanding and seeking coherence. Legacy needs."
Under the influence of marketization and globalization, the form of these holidays may change, which makes us wonder, will such changes erode the historical essence of these days? In today's world, the lines between inheritance and forgetting are becoming increasingly blurred. Our discussion of how to preserve and understand these historical moments may become increasingly important.
"There is a need for meaningful social forgetting that enables us to learn from the past."
This situation is especially obvious in some public festivals. For example, some countries may ignore the impact of colonial history on local minority groups in their Independence Day celebrations. This triggered thinking about social memory and its scope. How should we respect and accommodate diverse historical perspectives while maintaining national memory?
Thus, public holidays not only serve as vehicles for illuminating national identity, they also reflect the complex processes of creating and modifying national memory. In the future, perhaps we can explore more deeply how to further discover and preserve the true national memory and social stories in these public festivals.
When these public holidays are deeply rooted in people's hearts as "places of memory", they are not only a reminder of the past, but also an inspiration for the future. In these days, personal and collective history intertwine to form a unique national identity and culture. Does this make us rethink where our sweat and laughter are hidden?
