When I was thinking what to write for this weeks blog…I was left blank! I started thinking about how I do things and if anything stood out as different!…Being a Sri Lankan I realised that there were a few things that we do among ourselves without really noticing. Here a few:
- When visiting someones house, we always take off our shoes outside, or just inside the door. This is a sign of respect to the hosts. So, when there is a really big family function at someones house, there is always a huge row of shoes outside the door!! It can be quite a mission to track down your shoes! It also means there isn’t much point wearing amazing shoes that match your outfit, as now one will really see them! HAHA!
- Also when you go to someones house (not so much with close family) you generally take a gift of some kind…it usually ends up being a box of chocolates. WOW lol. So, when there’s a birthday in your household, it is likely you will end up with tons of chocolate! Though…something funny!…lots of people tend to hold onto these chocolate boxes until they need it to visit someone else! I find this hilarious! One time my aunty got a box of chocolates wrapped up (i’m not sure why! Its unlikely to be anything else but chocolate!) and when she unwrapped it (we actually eat the chocolate we’re given!)…she found a note addressed to someone completely different, not even the person who gave it to her. So, we have no idea how many times the box has been passed on!!
- When accepting a gift, or anything for that matter, you should do it with the right hand. I asked my grandma ‘why’ once, she said the left hand was seen as ‘dirty’…It’s because in SL (Sri Lanka) everyone uses their left hand for toilet related activities!
- It is seen as rude to sit with your legs outstretched or elevated (on a stool or table) in front of others. Especially when in the company of elders.
- We always call an older lady ‘aunty’ and an older man ‘uncle’. This is great as you don’t have to remember as many names…traditional Sri Lankan names aren’t always the easiest to pronounce either!
- There are some superstitions in Sri Lankan culture too…you know how often living at a number 8 house is lucky for many Chinese?…Well apparently for usit is the opposite! Most people don’t believe that stuff, but it’s funny how things are seen so differently in other cultures!
Well, that’s all i’ve got for now! I would like to say though, that most of these things don’t apply anymore and that I have chosen the funnier of the bunch! Most of the things we do have a deeper meaning to them but sadly most people have forgotten them. I might add some more to this later! Hope you had a few giggles at my expense! 😀
Anna's Ritual Blog 
thats pretty interesting anna i thought the whole number 8 superstitionj was kinda funny as i new that chinese people love anthing to do with 8 and hate 13 but i didnt no that sri lankans thought it was unlucky i wonder why that is does it have anything to do with myths or legends?? because the chinese 8 superstion has to do with a dragon eating its own tale that represents eternity or infinity… im pretty sure
talking about the box of chocs…my mum is a teacher and at the end of the term/year it is customary that the kids give their teacher a present. more often than not, this is choc. i think its great and would happily eat it all but mum keeps some and gives it away to others as pressies. hmm, wonder if she ever checks whether there is a note in there!
Hey Anna, your idea sounds really good. I like that you are incorporating something that you are familiar with to do this assignment. I’m going to watch an orchestra practice, which is rather familiar to me too (I do composition at NZSM). Good luck with you observing, I’m sure you’ll notice and jot some real interesting finds.
Coolies,
Bridget
Thanks for sharing – those are all interesting observations. You make the good point that specific, culturally engrained behaviours often persist far longer than anyone can recall the reasons they originally developed.
Heya, the calling an older lady auntie and an older man uncle is pretty interesting. i guess sometimes with people we know well we can call them uncle or auntie, but it dosent happen often. it reminds me of kindship relations in hawaiian societies, you call elders mother or father and then they can call you son or daughter, even if their not biologically related! and the choclates thing is cool! although i dont think there is as much restraint in my family, chocolate is gone in seconds! it cool to hear all about these differences.