Embracing Traditions and Celebrating the Chinese New Year: A Reflection on Spring Festival

　　Embracing Traditions and Celebrating the Chinese New Year: A Reflection on Spring Festival

　　The Chinese New Year, commonly referred to as the Spring Festival, is one of the most important traditional festivals in Chinese culture. It is a time for families to come together, feast on delicious meals, and exchange red envelopes filled with money. As a Chinese person, I have always looked forward to celebrating the Spring Festival every year. This year, however, was different; the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the festive atmosphere, leaving many of us feeling subdued.

　　Despite the challenges of the pandemic, I learned to appreciate the importance of cherishing our traditions and culture. For most of Chinese people, the Spring Festival is not just a holiday, but a time to celebrate our rich cultural heritage. It is a time to remember our ancestors, pay respect to our parents and elders, and renew family ties. Although the pandemic made it difficult to gather in person this year, I realized that it was still possible to honor this tradition online. My family and I connected virtually and shared stories of our childhood memories, about growing up in China and the history of the Spring Festival. It was uplifting to see everyone's faces and laughter during a time of crisis.

　　Another important aspect of the Spring Festival is the food. The festival food has its own traditional meaning and rituals. On New Year’s Eve, families get together to enjoy a large feast of symbolic dishes. Dumplings, for instance, represent wealth and good luck, while glutinous rice cakes symbolize progress and upward mobility. While spending the festival at home, my family and I cooked the festive food together. We prepared dumplings with different fillings, enjoyed the stickiness and fragrance of sticky rice and made New Year cakes in the shape of a lotus.

　　The Chinese New Year also includes several activities such as fireworks, dragon and lion dances, temple fairs, and a lot more. These activities are held to celebrate the arrival of the new lunar year and to ward off evil spirits. However, due to the pandemic this year, public gatherings and celebrations had to be canceled. Being unable to enjoy the excitement of traditional activities, I decided to learn to make paper-cut decorations, lanterns and couplets at home. These activities not only make my time enjoyable but also enrich my cultural knowledge.

　　The pandemic may have taken away many of the Spring Festival's cherished customs, but it did not diminish my love and appreciation for my culture. Through embracing traditions and adapting to the current situation, I realized that the spirit of the Spring Festival lives on. Despite the pandemic, I was still able to enjoy the traditional food, practice handicrafts and connect with my family, allowing me to appreciate the deep-rooted traditions and beliefs that have been passed down for thousands of years. The Chinese New Year is not just about the celebration, it is an opportunity to recognize our history, values and to come together as one family.

　　In conclusion, the 2021 Spring Festival was a different experience but a memorable one, as we celebrated in unique, separate ways. The pandemic has taught us the importance of resilience and the ability to adapt to change. As we welcome the new year, I am optimistic about the future and look forward to celebrating next year’s Spring Festival with even more joy and enthusiasm. Let us cherish the culture and traditions we have inherited, and may they continue to inspire and guide us in the years to come.