SHAH ALAM - From e-wallet duit raya to café meet-ups and online greetings, Generation Z is quietly reshaping how Hari Raya Aidilfitri is celebrated, blending long-standing traditions with digital habits and modern lifestyles.
While traditional practices such as balik kampung and visiting relatives remain central to the festive season, younger Malaysians are increasingly integrating technology and new social trends into their celebrations.
For 19-year-old law student Muhammad Benjamin Haziq Badrul, digital platforms have become an essential tool for maintaining relationships during Raya.
“Today’s generation is more focused on online platforms. When we want to greet relatives or family members who live far away, we often use Google Meet or Zoom,” he said.
However, Benjamin acknowledged that digital interactions cannot fully replicate the experience of traditional house visits.
“For Raya messages, I prefer sending them in group chats because it’s easier and more convenient. But the experience is not quite the same as before,” he added.
The shift towards digital convenience is also evident in how younger Malaysians handle money during the festive season.
Benjamin said he prefers using e-wallets rather than carrying cash.
“I wouldn’t want to risk my money falling out of my pocket or carrying too much cash. So I prefer e-payments,” he said.
However, not all Gen Z share the same preference.
Science student Maisarah Fadhillah, 19, said she still prefers receiving traditional cash-filled envelopes.
“I like the feeling of receiving fresh duit raya and the sampul itself,” she said.
Maisarah noted that while some aspects of Raya celebrations have changed, family visits remain important.
“For me personally, I still visit relatives’ houses as usual. The tradition of visiting each other is still there,” she said.
Meanwhile, law student Muhamad Hariz Zaquan Mohd Affandi, 19, observed that younger Malaysians sometimes spend more time socialising with cousins or friends after the main family gatherings.
“Gen Z still balik kampung, but sometimes we spend more time hanging out with cousins and relatives,” he said.
Universiti Teknologi Mara senior economics lecturer Dr Mohamad Idham Razak said such changes reflect a pragmatic response to current economic conditions.
“From an economic perspective, trends such as e-wallet duit raya and more modest gift-giving suggest that Generation Z is adapting traditions in ways that are financially manageable,” he said.
Digital payments also allow young consumers to control their spending more effectively.
“Cashless transfers make spending easier to track and encourage more deliberate budgeting,” he explained.
Beyond financial considerations, lifestyle changes are also influencing how the younger generation celebrates the festival.
Universiti Putra Malaysia sociologist Dr Wan Munira Wan Jaafar said practices such as café meet-ups during Raya reflect broader social shifts.
“While family gatherings remain important, younger Malaysians are also extending celebrations to peer networks, reflecting the growing importance of friendship-based communities,” she said.
Wan Munira stressed that these trends do not signal the disappearance of tradition.
Instead, she said, they demonstrate how cultural practices adapt to new social realities.
“Digital tools and changing lifestyles are enabling new forms of connection. Rather than replacing tradition, they are creating new ways for the spirit of Hari Raya to be expressed,” she said.
At the same time, many young Malaysians are adopting more budget-conscious and sustainable approaches to festive consumption.
Idham noted that some Gen Z consumers are choosing to reuse Raya outfits or opt for simpler attire, reflecting both environmental awareness and sensitivity to rising living costs.
If these habits persist, he said, they could signal a longer-term shift in festive spending behaviour.
“Moderation, sustainability and financial prudence may become increasingly embedded in how younger generations celebrate,” he said.
Despite evolving trends, young Malaysians say the essence of Hari Raya remains unchanged.
“Traditions are still important. It’s just that the way we celebrate them is a little different now,” Benjamin said.