The Ketupat Eating Tradition on Lebaran Ketupat Day in Java

摘要

This article discusses an anthropological study of the cultural power contained in the ketupat eating tradition (ketupat is a food name) among many Javanese Muslim families on the Lebaran Ketupat day, held annually at 8 Shawwal, the tenth month in the Hijri calendar. This study aims to identify the cultural power that forms the ketupat eating tradition on the Lebaran Ketupat day in anthropology perspective. In achieving this goal, the authors use qualitative research methods with cultural anthropology approach. As a tradition related to human behavior, the ketupat eating tradition on the Lebaran Ketupat day is certainly very appropriate to be discussed from the aspect of cultural anthropology. The research results show that there is a mindset that shapes the behavior of many Javanese Muslim families in carrying out that tradition. The power of that mindset has succeeded in putting the activity of ketupat meal on the Lebaran Ketupat day in the criteria of tradition. The conclusion is that the ketupat eating tradition on the Lebaran Ketupat day has strong roots among many Javanese Muslim families, so this tradition can be done every year in Shawwal month. The impact of the implementation of ketupat eating tradition on the Lebaran Ketupat day is the increasingly crowded of coconut leaves trading in various traditional markets around Javanese Muslim family towards the coming of the Lebaran Ketupat day and the appearance of cultural perception conformity among them in determining the food menu in that day.