The old Chinese saying "as happy as spending the New Year" might
be outdated now in the busy modern world.
A survey of people's attitude toward Spring Festival, the lunar
new year, found that many people think the traditional festival is
losing its glamor and isn't bringing the happiness to their lives
that it used to.
Conducted by sohu.com and New Cultural News, the online survey,
collecting more than 2,200 ballots, found that about 60 percent
called the Spring Festival holiday totally boring, and 70
percent said they probably would not pay a New Year call to their
neighbors.
Spring Festival is regarded as the most important festival for
Chinese people and an occasion for all family members to get
together, like Christmas in the West.
This year it falls on February 18.
But many traditional customs accompanying Spring Festival,
however, have weakened in practice.
"Setting off fireworks was once the most typical custom of
Spring Festival. People thought the sputtering sound could help
drive away evil spirits. However, the activity has been completely
or partially forbidden in big cities for years as the government
has taken security, noise and pollution factors into
consideration.
"In recent years, some cities have begun to allow people to
light fireworks during limited hours at Spring Festival,
surrendering to public demand. Respecting folk traditions is a
gesture of respect toward public opinion."
Zhou Xing, a folklore researcher
"As people gain more income and it becomes easier to buy daily
goods, the new year holiday is just like any other day. After long
workdays, many people use the New Year holidays to take a rest,
rather than visiting friends and neighbours.
"The process of making and enjoying the family dinner on Spring
Festival Eve is the most important thing. However, many families
would like to eat out to save time and energy."
Li Shunzhi, a resident of Harbin, Heilongjiang
"I enjoy the holidays very much in the countryside. My family
has been preparing for Spring Festival more than two weeks before
the holiday, cleaning the house, buying holiday goods and
decorating the house with paper cuttings. On New Year's Eve, the
whole family stays up to see the New Year in, and in the days to
follow, a series of activities such as lion dancing, dragon lantern
dancing, lantern festivals and temple fairs will be held."
"Without the ancient traditions, the holiday is nothing to
us."
Zhang Hui, a Hebei farmer
"China needs to start the process of applying for World
Intangible Cultural Heritage status for China's Spring Festival.
South Korea's Gangneung Danoje Festival, occurring at the same time
as China's Duanwu Festival and rooted in Chinese culture, was
included in the UNESCO's Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible
Heritage of Humanity list in 2005.
"Why do we Chinese people always wait? Chinese people need to
join together to protect our tradition and heritage."
Chen Jing, a professor at Nanjing University
(China Daily January 31, 2007)