WITH the malls so ferociously-colored red and overflowing with cherry blossoms as the red-letter day (pun not intended) draws nearer, it is impossible not to realise that Chinese New Year is just around the corner.

However, celebrating the Chinese New Year in a grand manner is one thing and knowing what each and every ritual and superstition that comes with this Spring Festival actually signifies is another.

It is true that there are many people out there that do not really know the meaning of celebrating the Chinese New Year, let alone the history and the myths behind its many ritual ls. While some may know why they shouldn't sweep the floor (it will chase away good luck or fortune) or be clad in black instead of red on the first day of the Chinese New Year (red is supposed to be an auspicious co lour) there are, in fact, many Chinese youths in Malaysia that do not always understand the purpose of doing (or rather, in this case, not doing) something.

Student Alyna Low Su Lyn (far left) spending quality time with her family. ‘banana’.

“Sometimes, I really do not know why it is done and it can be confusing,” Alyna Low Su Lyn, an A Levels student from HELP University College says when asked about the superstitions and rituals observed during Chinese New Year and also other Chinese traditions. “I just follow and do what everyone else does!” she added cheekily.

Alyna, a 17-year-old KL-born Chinese who loves traveling, has been to many countries in the world including Italy, America, England, Australia and New Zealand and loves American movies too but proclaims that she still observes Chinese traditions with pride.

Another thing about being ‘not a true Chinese’ is: not knowing how to speak in Chinese of course.

Although there are more and more Chinese who cannot speak in their mother tongue, many people are surprised by this phenomenon.

Alyna Low Su Lyn is what many people call a ‘banana’.

Their responses can range from calling you names like the all-time famous “banana” (white on the inside) to exclaiming out loud that it is a disgrace for a Chinese to not know how to speak in his or her own mother tongue.

Alyna, however, is fine with all that. “I don’t mind it when people call me a ‘banana’ because it is true!

And besides, I can’t really defend myself because that is, after all, the truth.”

Coming from a loving English speaking family of four, Alyna feels that the main reason she couldn't speak much in Mandarin or even Cantonese is because her pa rents never encouraged her to speak in Chinese. Her situation is probably not so unusual too.

Being a “banana”, says Alyna, certainly has its disadvantages.

“To a certain extent, not being able to speak in Chinese is really a disadvantage.

I remember once, when I went to China for a holiday with my family, people kept talking to me in Chinese and I had absolutely no idea what they were saying! Thankfully I had my cousin there to translate for me.”

Indeed, life can be a little bit more…challenging, if one could not speak in his or her own mother tongue and Alyna herself sometimes wishes that she knows how to communicate in Chinese too.

Still, she would not choose to be brought up differently. “Why?” she answers with a smile, “well, because I quite like the way I am now!”

From Sandra, Congratulation Alyna a.k.a. Sweet tooth! My 1st expression was "WOW!" Anyway, Love you Loads! :)

P/S it is from The Star newspaper. Link here

Labels: Alyna Low

WITH the malls so ferociously-colored red and overflowing with cherry blossoms as the red-letter day (pun not intended) draws nearer, it is impossible not to realise that Chinese New Year is just around the corner.

However, celebrating the Chinese New Year in a grand manner is one thing and knowing what each and every ritual and superstition that comes with this Spring Festival actually signifies is another.

It is true that there are many people out there that do not really know the meaning of celebrating the Chinese New Year, let alone the history and the myths behind its many ritual ls. While some may know why they shouldn't sweep the floor (it will chase away good luck or fortune) or be clad in black instead of red on the first day of the Chinese New Year (red is supposed to be an auspicious co lour) there are, in fact, many Chinese youths in Malaysia that do not always understand the purpose of doing (or rather, in this case, not doing) something.

Student Alyna Low Su Lyn (far left) spending quality time with her family. ‘banana’.

“Sometimes, I really do not know why it is done and it can be confusing,” Alyna Low Su Lyn, an A Levels student from HELP University College says when asked about the superstitions and rituals observed during Chinese New Year and also other Chinese traditions. “I just follow and do what everyone else does!” she added cheekily.

Alyna, a 17-year-old KL-born Chinese who loves traveling, has been to many countries in the world including Italy, America, England, Australia and New Zealand and loves American movies too but proclaims that she still observes Chinese traditions with pride.

Another thing about being ‘not a true Chinese’ is: not knowing how to speak in Chinese of course.

Although there are more and more Chinese who cannot speak in their mother tongue, many people are surprised by this phenomenon.

Alyna Low Su Lyn is what many people call a ‘banana’.

Their responses can range from calling you names like the all-time famous “banana” (white on the inside) to exclaiming out loud that it is a disgrace for a Chinese to not know how to speak in his or her own mother tongue.

Alyna, however, is fine with all that. “I don’t mind it when people call me a ‘banana’ because it is true!

And besides, I can’t really defend myself because that is, after all, the truth.”

Coming from a loving English speaking family of four, Alyna feels that the main reason she couldn't speak much in Mandarin or even Cantonese is because her pa rents never encouraged her to speak in Chinese. Her situation is probably not so unusual too.

Being a “banana”, says Alyna, certainly has its disadvantages.

“To a certain extent, not being able to speak in Chinese is really a disadvantage.

I remember once, when I went to China for a holiday with my family, people kept talking to me in Chinese and I had absolutely no idea what they were saying! Thankfully I had my cousin there to translate for me.”

Indeed, life can be a little bit more…challenging, if one could not speak in his or her own mother tongue and Alyna herself sometimes wishes that she knows how to communicate in Chinese too.

Still, she would not choose to be brought up differently. “Why?” she answers with a smile, “well, because I quite like the way I am now!”

From Sandra, Congratulation Alyna a.k.a. Sweet tooth! My 1st expression was "WOW!" Anyway, Love you Loads! :)

P/S it is from The Star newspaper. Link here

Labels: Alyna Low