Starchild: Why Malaysian children love the colour red

Jayden Tan Li Sheng, 12

Colours are everywhere around us, from the blue of the sky to the green of the grass and the red of hibiscus. But did you know colours have special meanings and can affect how we feel?

What’s your favourite colour, and how does it make you feel?

Red is a colour of energy and excitement. It is often used during celebrations like Chinese New Year (CNY) to symbolise good luck and prosperity. Yellow is the colour of sunshine and makes us feel warm and cheerful. In many cultures, yellow stands for friendship and hope.

Ken Xin Ru, 12Blue, on the other hand, is calm and peaceful, like a quiet ocean or the soft sky. It is a colour that helps us relax. Green reminds us of nature and growth. It represents freshness and new beginnings. Meanwhile, purple has long been seen as a royal colour, often linked to creativity and wisdom.

Colours also play a big role in traditions around the world. In Japan, white represents purity and the colour is worn during special ceremonies.

Did you know that colours can brighten someone’s day? Wearing colourful clothes or drawing with bright crayons can make you and others feel happier. Imagine giving your friend a colourful card – it sure will bring a smile!

Every colour has its own magic and meaning. Some colours may remind you of happy memories, like the pink of cotton candy. Others might make you feel relaxed or excited. That’s the power of colours – they bring life, beauty and joy to the world around us!

So the next time you see a rainbow, think about how each colour is special, just like you.

Recently, Starchild asked readers to send in letters on the topic, Colours. Here’s what they had to say.

Jayden Tan Li Sheng, 12, writes, “I love bright colours. My favourite colour is red. I like red because I think about the red roses for my mother, a pretty red dress for my sister and a red shirt for myself. When it comes to food, I love spicy food with red chilli sambal. The colour red makes me feel energised, confident and courageous. It is also about being ambitious. I love challenges.”

Twelve-year-old Ken Xin Ru’s favourite colours are orange and green. “These colours remind me of nature and happiness. Orange makes me think of bright sunny days. Green reminds me of trees, plants and the peaceful feeling of being outdoors.”

Lim Jing Fu, 12

Lim Jing Fu, 12, prefers red and green. “These colours make me feel calm and cheerful at the same time.”

Eight-year-old Chuah Seng Koon’s favourite colour is red as it is one of the colours of the rainbow. “Our national flower, the hibiscus, is red. Another reason I love red is because of the red packets (angpow) traditionally given during CNY. Red symbolises good luck, especially during CNY celebrations. You can see red banners hung outside doors and red firecrackers being lit in gardens. Even during traditional Chinese weddings, auspicious red characters are placed on doors and in bridal rooms to bring blessings and joy.”

Chuah Seng Koon, 8

“There are lots of colours in the world but I think the colour blue is the best. There are many shades of blue, and they all look very nice. I think the blue colour of blue flames is the best. It is a very energetic and beautiful colour. At the same time, blue is a calming colour,” says Lim Sheng Hao, 11.

ITEM: If you could travel to any year, which year would you go to? Would you visit the past to see dinosaurs or witness ancient pyramids being built? Or would you zoom into the future to explore flying cars and robots? Share your thoughts about where and when you’d go, and what you would do when you get there. Tell us why you chose that year! Don’t forget to send us a beautiful drawing too.

Email your contributions to [e-mail] by Dec 6. Please put “STARCHILD: Time Machine” in the subject line of your email.

Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact, and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.