• Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
My Women Stuff
  • About Me »
    • Contact Me
      • For PR
  • Budget Beauty »
    • Save & Splurge
  • Makeup »
    • Eyes »
      • Brow pencil
      • Mascara
      • Eyeshadow
      • Eyeliner
    • Face »
      • BB Cream
      • Blush
      • Bronzer
      • CC Cream
      • Concealer
      • Foundation »
        • Cream Foundation
        • Liquid Foundation
        • Cushion Foundation
      • Highlighter
      • Loose Powder
    • Lips »
      • Lip Gloss
      • Lipstick
      • Lipbalm
    • Makeup Brushes
  • Skincare »
    • Cleanser »
      • Cleansing Balm
      • Cleansing Cream
      • Cleansing Gel
      • Cleansing Milk
      • Cleansing Oil
      • Cleansing Water
      • Makeup Remover
    • Mask
    • Moisturiser
    • Scrubs
    • Serum »
      • Vitamin C
      • Retinol
    • Sunscreen
    • Toner/Lotion
    • Treatment »
      • Acne
      • Anti-Aging
      • Brightening/Whitening
      • Hydrating
    • Bath & Body »
      • Body Lotion
      • Body oil
      • Hair
      • Shower Gel
    • Facial Oils
  • Tips »
    • Tips & Discussions
    • Blogging Tips
  • Lifestyle »
    • Cooking at Chez PB
    • Beauty Services »
      • Hair Salon
      • Facial
      • Spa
    • Fashion »
      • Bags
      • Jewellery
      • Shoes
    • Home
  • Brands
  • Product Reviews
    • Beauty hor d’oeuvres
  • Blog
Home » Interesting Discussions » Your say: How traditional are you?

Your say: How traditional are you?

February 1, 2011 Paris B 9 Comments

In this day and age of fast information and globalization, we find ourselves learning and absorbing a lot from other cultures around the world. Some good, some less so.

how traditional are you?
  • Save

But with the Chinese New Year looming in just 2 days, I’m curious. Are you a traditionalist? Do you keep to traditional values and cultures for celebrations at least? In fact, this is true not only for those who celebrate Chinese New Year, but for any cultural festival or just life in general.

Just how traditional are you? 🙂

I did not grow up in a very traditional household for day to day matters. My parents were pretty forward in their thinking but we did stick to certain cultural norms like respect for the elders and calling relatives by their chinese honorific titles based on age and generation. Its confusing as a child but it makes a whole lot of sense as we get older. Just one honorific title tells us whether they are our maternal or paternal relatives and their hierarchy in the family, and it was sort of fun in a way 🙂

In terms of Chinese New Year traditions, some I practice are:-

  • going home for the traditional Reunion Dinner on the eve of Chinese New Year
  • bringing mandarin oranges (kum) when I go home and when I visit others during the festive season – “kum” signifies gold and thus wealth and prosperity
  • spring cleaning the house before Chinese New Year – to welcome the God of Prosperity to a clean house
  • not sweeping the floor on New Year’s Day – so as not to sweep away good luck
  • making sure we wear something new and red on the first day of the Chinese New Year – for good luck
  • ensuring my rice container is full of rice – so as not to go hungry the rest of the year
  • paying off all my debts before the New Year – so I don’t start the year owing money!

You can tell prosperity plays a large part in Chinese beliefs eh? LOL! 😀 I made sure to practice what I could even when I was living overseas because it was what defined Chinese New Year for me.

You might say I’m quite a traditionalist or even superstitious, and I am as I get older 😉 But so long as it doesn’t harm or inconvenience me or anyone around me, I’m happy to keep the traditions going. Its fun anyway 😀

I realise not everyone here celebrates Chinese New Year, so if you do, do share if you have a traditional streak in you despite the wonders of modern technology and knowledge.

If you are of a different culture, please feel free to share if you keep to traditions of your culture or festive celebrations too. I know every culture and celebration has their traditions and I’m always up to learning something new 😀

Your Say: How traditional are you?

Paris B

Was this helpful? Tell your friends!

0 Shares
  • Facebook 0
  • Twitter
9 Insightful comments ... Read or JOIN THE DISCUSSION

YOU MAY FIND THESE THESE POSTS HELPFUL TOO!

About Paris B

Paris B is a 40-something beauty and skincare enthusiast with a practical and very critical view of beauty products and the world of beauty. Her mission on My Women Stuff is to deliver clear, honest reviews and facilitate discussions about beauty trends and life, tempered with a healthy dose of humour. Let the buyer's remorse be ours not yours! When not testing the newest skincare creams and lotions, or playing with makeup, find her testing her culinary skills in the kitchen at Chez PB. Read more about us here or leave a comment below or connect with us on social media at Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

PREVIOUS POST: That’s HOT! Rouge Dior Haute Colour lipstick in Red Muse
NEXT POST: Just Sampling: Shielo Shampoo and Conditioner

9 comments ... Read or JOIN THE DISCUSSION

  1. Alla says

    February 1, 2011 at 8:48 am

    not Chinese, but I come from a Russian family and New Year’s is the biggest celebration in our culture as well since the USSR banned religious celebrations. big family dinner waiting for the clock to strike midnight and then fireworks champagne and gift exchanging. No body gives a damn about christmas. also have to start the year the way you want to live it. so with your loved ones, dressed as nice as you can, eating the best food, not fighting with anyone.

    Reply
  2. Natalie says

    February 1, 2011 at 8:59 am

    I am not Chinese, but my husband is Malaysian Chinese.. We go to the temple every year (with his parents), just for a good luck. Hope it brings prosperity to the businesses we operate and health to everyone we pray for. I have been praying for a big lottery winning for the last few years, which never worked though 😀

    Reply
  3. Jenn says

    February 1, 2011 at 10:25 am

    Hmmm… i don’t think i’m very traditional so i don’t really stick to most CNY traditions, but i do keep some of the traditions mentioned above because they please the elders, and yeah, because its fun too!

    I spring clean my place, but thats because i like how it symbolizes a fresh start for a new year. My parents always taught me not to go to ppl’s house with empty hands, so yeah i’ll bring either mandarin oranges or bak kwa when i visit my relatives. I’ll also wear something bright on CNY day! But most importantly, i go home to mummy’s uber uber uber yummy steamboat!!! I’m drooling now just thinking about it! Hehehehehe!! 😀

    My dad’s side of the family is really traditional, so yeah, we have to call them by specific names too. Somemore before reunion dinner, have to call one by one before we can start eating! lol!!

    Reply
  4. mrsdjones says

    February 1, 2011 at 10:54 am

    Happy Chinese New Year to you and family, Paris! I love mandarin oranges and will be very happy come CNY coz there are a lot of them on sale 😉

    I consider myself half and half. Half traditional and yet still modern. I still believe in Asian traditions that you need to always respect elders and visit them often. I love family gathering and weddings and I try to keep contact with all my relatives.

    For Eid, we will usually make sure we cook the usual traditional dishes like rendang and ketupat as well as all the variety of cookies and kuih. Visiting relatives and morning prayer is the usual practice as well. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Hanny says

    February 1, 2011 at 11:36 am

    My family is utterly traditional. Especially in the “respect for elders” part. And the thing is, they’re 30 of us at any one time. So imagine waking up late one CNY morning. When you get down the stairs, you have to be quiet and observe which relative is where and then address them accordingly. ^.^ Of course, we cousins ignore one another. But we still call them “koko” (big bro) or “jiejie (big sis) even if al of us are in our 20s! ^.^

    And yeah, we visit each other’s houses, bring mandarin oranges and stuff, even if all of us stay around Subang Jaya!! ^.^

    Oh, and the first day of CNY we’re vegetarian until dinnertime. 🙁

    Reply
  6. Jessica says

    February 1, 2011 at 12:33 pm

    I’m one of those modern-age Chinese I guess…don’t really practice most of the traditions but I do stick to the essentials.

    Reply
  7. rinnah says

    February 1, 2011 at 10:07 pm

    Hmm, like you, I’ve been brought up to practice what you’ve listed above – except the full rice bin bit, which I’d not heard of before. 😛

    Reply
  8. Stephanie/Yukaeshi says

    February 2, 2011 at 1:22 am

    We (Meaning my family and I)…

    … spring clean. My Mum also puts up decorations- mainly it’s lanterns, pussy willows and the nice phrases over the door (And also a pair on each side of the door).
    … clean the altar and change the altar’s decorations (The cloth, etc).
    … have the traditional Reunion Dinner on Chinese New Year Eve, and we observe a vegetarian meal on the first day of Chinese New Year.
    … bring at least mandarin oranges and an angpow with at least RM2 in a nice paper bag whenever we go visiting.
    … wear new clothes (Preferably red) on the first day of Chinese New Year.
    … don’t sweep the floor on the first day of Chinese New Year.
    … go to the temple on the first day of Chinese New Year.

    And yeah, we call our elderly relatives by their proper honorifics as well haha 😛

    Reply
  9. Rebecca says

    February 3, 2011 at 1:41 am

    I’m Chinese and my family and I do 6/7 of all those things on your list!
    My Mum also insists that I do NOT wash my hair on new years day as that also washes your luck away. Totally ruins my weekly routine but ah well. 😛

    Reply

Comment Policy:At MWS we love reading your comments. However, if you are new to leaving comments you may benefit from reading the comment policy first.

What's your view? Share it! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

My Women Stuff by Paris B

Welcome to My Women Stuff, a beauty blog based in Malaysia, written by veteran blogger, Paris B. What you can expect is honesty, critical views & a healthy dose of shared life lessons sprinkled amongst beauty product reviews. What you shouldn't expect is a page filled with unnecessary narcissistic photos. MWS is a blog for those who love to read, because we love to write! Read More about MWS and Paris B

Subscribe for weekly updates of all published content

RECENT REVIEWS

beauty of Joseon radiance cleansing balm

Getting your clean on with the affordable Beauty of Joseon Radiance Cleansing Balm

murad retinal resculpt overnight treatment

Kicking up the potency of retinoid serums with the Murad Retinal Resculpt Overnight Treatment Serum

dr. hauschka night serum

I’m not sure what it is about the Dr. Hauschka Night Serum that I like, but I do!

I tell stories on Instagram @parisbmws

An “I’ll be out all day and need my makeup to An “I’ll be out all day and need my makeup to stay on” look 😅 Super simple and using stuff I already own. How many do you recognise? 😅 

For the base I think the key is the Nars setting powder which is basically a silica powder. Many brands have similar white powder for setting. I did this same look yesterday and it barely budged/faded by evening. Only lipstick needed a little topping up 😊 

And this is about all the makeup I can handle these days 😂 no eye makeup cos I can’t be arsed 🤪
Been ages since I’ve gone to a big pasar malam ( Been ages since I’ve gone to a big pasar malam (night market). Popped by the one in SS2. Frenetic. Crowded. Lots of food and drink. Excellent good fun! 😆 Your eyes always want more than your stomach can handle. Ate a lot and bought even more food back home. Diet? What diet? 😂
Will have to admit that this serum from @drsambunt Will have to admit that this serum from @drsambunting had me curious about Azelaic acid. It’s a pretty good serum for brightening if Vit C isn’t quite your thing. It’s a 4-in-1 combo of pretty potent ingredients. 

On the blog mywomenstuff.com

If you want to purchase use code PARISBMWS To get 15% off 😉

#drsamskincareclub #drsambunting #drsamsbrightlyserum #brighteningserum #parisbmws #skincareblogger
By your request, shared some thoughts on the @madh By your request, shared some thoughts on the @madhippiebeauty Triple C Night Cream on the blog mywomenstuff.com

You can get it at @wortheecosmetics (use code PARISB to get 15% off) if you’re keen to try. They have a smaller size for you to see if it works for you 😊

#madhippie #madhippieskincare #madhippietriplecnightcream #parisbmws #nightcream #skincarecommunity #naturalskincare
Posting for posterity because I like this photo 😆 Also hello! 😜

It’s interesting that when I meet people they always ask me “Are you still blogging?” which tells me they don’t read my blog anymore (cos if they did they’d know I am lol! Weekly generally, but still writing) Yet I don’t blame them because a lot of social credit is placed on one’s Instagram presence. This I fear, is an area I am lacking. I pop in every now and then, share stories that are totally unrelated to what people follow me for, then wonder why they unfollow lol! Other times, spider webs gather in the corners of my unused account. I don’t blame them. Not everyone wants to know what my dogs are up to 😜

Anyway I make no apologies. It’s ok if you follow. It’s ok if you don’t. It’s ok if you’re interested in stuff I do. It’s ok if you’re not. Life goes on for both you and I and ultimately, we just both want it to be happy. So do what makes you happy 😊 I’ll still share my beauty finds and I still blog once a week. I may share what I’m up to from time to time, or I may not. I can tell you that I’m keeping busy and that I have a lot on my plate, none of it glamorous unlike that of most content creators/influencers. It’s too boring for most for me to share here so I’ll just share the good bits - as Instagram intended 😂

But if you want to find me, you’ll know how 😊

The review for the product is somewhere on the blog mywomenstuff.com
Yes I know many of you are terrified of lizards 🦎🫣

But I liked this sunscreen - for the body. Even though it left a white cast. Even though it is hard to remove. It kept my arms protected through a weekend of brutal sun exposure and I survived without burning! ✌🏻

Review on the blog mywomenstuff.com. 

#parisbmws #wearsunscreen #bluelizard #bluelizardsunscreen #mineralsunscreen
Join over 10500 followers on Instagram

ABOUT ME · CONTACT ME · DISCLAIMER & COPYRIGHT · PRIVACY · ARCHIVES

© Copyright MY WOMEN STUFF 2007 - 2022 · All Rights Reserved