Tujuhbelas Agustus! (August 17th)

August 17th is the 4th of July in Indonesia. No, we don't use a different calender over here, but just as Americans celebrate their independence on July 4th, the Indonesians celebrate theirs on August 17th. Indonesia officially gained its independence from the Netherlands August 17th, 1945, soon after the Japanese surrender that ended WWII. This day is celebrated throughout Indonesia with a variety of activities, including "greased pole climbing" for kids. Prizes adorn the top of tall bambu poles that are erected and greased with goat fat, car oil, and anything else that could make it slippery. Kids start at the bottom, climbing up a little ways and then slide down, working as a human squeegees to clean the pole. They gradually work their way higher and higher, standing on each others shoulders for support. Finally after hours of exhausting work, they send the smallest kid climbing up the ladder of humans clinging the the pole, until he reaches the top and throws all the prizes to the bottom. Unfortunately, at this point chaos breaks loose as kids go running for the prizes. The kids on the top are left hoping that they have a good hold on the pole and can slide down safely, since they've been forgotten by their "base" friends who are at this point madly grabbing for prizes. This tradition accentuates a culture where "gotong royong" (working together) is held in high regard (that is, until there a prizes to be had!).