As a Chinese person, the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year is undoubtedly the most significant holiday for me and my family. This traditional festival is not only a time to welcome a new year but also a time to reunite with family and embrace our customs and traditions. This year’s Spring Festival was no different as I celebrated it in a foreign country with my international friends.
The weeks leading up to the Spring Festival were filled with excitement and anticipation. Every year, my family would spend days cleaning and decorating our house with red decorations, which symbolize good luck and prosperity. This year, I decided to decorate my dorm room with red lanterns, couplets, and paper cutouts, which immediately brought back memories of my hometown. Although I was far away from home, the decorations made me feel closer to my family and my culture.
On the eve of the Spring Festival, I gathered with my friends to have a big feast. We prepared a variety of traditional dishes like dumplings, fish, and rice cakes. Despite the lack of Chinese ingredients, we were able to improvise and come up with our own unique version of the classic dishes while still maintaining their traditional taste. The shared meal not only filled our stomachs but also brought us together to experience the warmth of family and friendship, which is a crucial element of the Spring Festival.
At midnight, we set off fireworks outside of our dorm room. The deafening sound of fireworks accompanied by the vibrant colors in the sky was a sight to behold. Watching the fireworks took me back to my hometown, where every household would light fireworks to welcome the new year. The festive ambiance created by the fireworks made me realize that no matter how far away from home I am, the Spring Festival will always be a time for me to embrace my culture and heritage.
On the first day of the new year, I woke up early to greet my parents and relatives through video call, which is a modern way of keeping the tradition of paying respects to elders. I sent my parents a virtual red envelope, which is a gift of good luck and fortune during the Spring Festival. Although it was not as personal as giving the red envelope in person, the virtual red envelope still conveyed my blessings and love for my family.
Throughout the Spring Festival, I also engaged in traditional activities such as playing mahjong and the card game “Fight the Landlord” with my friends. These activities, although seemingly simple, carry a wealth of cultural significance and are an essential part of the Spring Festival. Since my international friends had never played these games before, I had the opportunity to introduce them to my culture and share my favorite childhood memories with them.
In conclusion, celebrating the Spring Festival in a foreign country was not easy but it provided me with the chance to share my culture and traditions with my international friends. This unique experience reminded me of the value of family, friendship, and customs, and further strengthened my cultural identity. The Spring Festival is not only an occasion to reunite with family and embrace traditions but also an opportunity to introduce our rich culture to the world.
TAGS： TraditionsandcustomsRedenvelopesFestivedecorations