Sack race races are one of the popular traditional races on Indonesian independence day. No wonder this race is held in various regions across the country, both in big cities and in remote villages, and is enthusiastically followed for both adults and children alike. The contest is quite simple, where the participants are required to put the bottom of the body into the sack and then they have to jump up and down to reach the finish line.
The philosophical meaning contained in the sack race is very deep, especially to recall the dark times during the Japanese occupation. Indonesians at that time had to undergo forced labor or Romusha and were forced to use burlap sacks as their clothes, as the Japanese government deliberately impeded the distribution of clothing. Sacks used to wrap rice and sugar are very uncomfortable to use because of full of ticks, to cause various skin diseases such as scabs and itching.
Therefore, sack race is done by stepping on and jumping on the sack becomes a symbol of the Indonesian people's resentment of the dark past and do not want to experience such things again.
In addition, there is another meaning contained in the race sack race, ie never give up in fighting for independence. In this game, some participants must enter the sack, then try to jump to get to the finish line. You can imagine how difficult it is to run forward when both feet are stuck in a sack. It is likewise likened to the freedom of the people who are occupied by the invaders to achieve independence.
Not infrequently, in this sack race participants are often dropped to roll over. The meaning of falling while running, then rising again until finally reaching the finish line, is a picture of the unyielding spirit of the ancient Indonesian people who have successfully liberated Indonesia.
After knowing the philosophical meaning contained in the sack race, it is expected every time to celebrate independence by following the various races, not only the euphoria that we feel but also can appreciate the meaning of all the races based on the difficult struggle to achieve independence.
Rules of Competition
Player
Sack racing games can be categorized as games of all ages (children, adolescents, and adults) conducted by men and women. The number of players between 4--6 people, both in the form of groups with a maximum of 2 members or individuals. In addition to the players, sack race also uses the referee to oversee the running of the race and set the winner.
Games Place and Equipment
Sack racing games do not need a place (field) wide. It can be played anywhere, as long as it is on the ground. So, it can be in the yard of the house or in the field. The width of the sack racing arena is only 15-20 meters long and 3 to 4 meters wide, divided into 4 or 5 lanes.
While the game equipment is: (1) chalk or crucifix to make the border between players; (2) the whistle to give cue; and (3) a sack of fifty kilograms of rice or sack of wheat that will be worn by the players when competing.
Rule of the game
The rules in this game are easy, that is, one must jump on a sack from the starting line to the end of the track and return to the starting line again. If the game is done in groups, when the player has returned to the starting line then he will be replaced by other players in his team. And, the team that managed to reach the start/finish line with the fastest time recorded as the winner.
For the record, the race usually uses the knockout system because of the number of participants a lot. So, if a person or a team manages to win, he must fight another winner again. While the losers are declared dead and cannot play anymore.
The game
Sack racing games begin with a draw to decide which team or player to start. How to determine it there is something similar like an is to write the names of players or teams that will play in a small piece of paper and then rolled and put in a bottle or glass and then shaken. If the team game, then two teams whose first roll of paper out of the bottle will get the first turn to play, while the other team in accordance with the order of the paper that came out next.
After the drawing process is complete, the two or three-person squads will soon enter the game arena. Next, one by one the members of the team will take turns jumping on sacks from the starting line to the end of the track and back to the starting line to be replaced by other members of the team. And so on until all members of the team get a turn to jump and the first team to reach the finish line is declared the winner.
Culture value
The value contained in the game called sack racing is hard work, cooperation, and sportsmanship. The value of hard work is reflected in the spirit of the players to reach the finish line as quickly as possible. The value of cooperation is reflected in the cohesiveness of the players while playing. And, the value of sportsmanship is reflected not only from the attitude of the players who do not cheat during the game, but also willing to accept defeat with a graceful chest.
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