The lunar new year celebration is into the 9th day today.The day offerings are being made to the god of heaven. On the radio the other day, a listener in his mid twenties, commented, he does not know why nor understand the reason for celebrating the Lunar new year. Apart from the all important reunion gathering and dinner with family. This chinese tradition is slowly losing it's significance to the younger generation. However, this listener, felt christmas celebration was more meaningful. Churches hold mass and sermons to commemorate the significant of christian events. While, food and not rituals have always nominated chinese festivals and celebrations. It's now an trend to go off on a holiday instead of coming together with the family clans. The main reason, to avoid facing a barrage of personal questions. The significance of festivals and events should be emphasis more than just eating.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Chinese
The lunar new year celebration is into the 9th day today.The day offerings are being made to the god of heaven. On the radio the other day, a listener in his mid twenties, commented, he does not know why nor understand the reason for celebrating the Lunar new year. Apart from the all important reunion gathering and dinner with family. This chinese tradition is slowly losing it's significance to the younger generation. However, this listener, felt christmas celebration was more meaningful. Churches hold mass and sermons to commemorate the significant of christian events. While, food and not rituals have always nominated chinese festivals and celebrations. It's now an trend to go off on a holiday instead of coming together with the family clans. The main reason, to avoid facing a barrage of personal questions. The significance of festivals and events should be emphasis more than just eating.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
But... eating and food is part of the festivities... LOL.
I agree. We should try to understand why we are celebrating. I've been doing some digging myself.
Liling
I used to like X'mas more when I was much younger. But as I grow older (but wiser), the whole commercialisaton of it juz put me off! And I like CNY! It's the only occasion when we have "reunion dinner" and make goodwill visits to one and other. I think we, the "older" Chinese have a duty to ensure that the meaning of CNY is never lost on our kids....
Bernard
Why are we celebrating CNY? It signifies a NEW beginning - renewal of family ties; paying respect to the elders in the family; and a time for family togetherness, and much much more!
Chris:
Yes,notwithstanding the barrage of Qs, CNY is about renewal of family ties over a plate of yummies and tangerines.
Bernard:
As we grow older,one cannot help but be curious of our roots.
Post a Comment