The ambivalence of the Chinese for the Spring Festival
Another Spring Festival is spreading out at the feet, and the familiar joy and troubles are coming together. In the face of this annual family reunion, mixed emotions rose in everyone's hearts.
For most migrant workers, the moment of the year's struggle is about to reap the first reward, which is happy, because they can get rid of the shackles of work and reunite with their families.
Although they are exhausted from the journey, the thought of being about to embrace the flavors of their hometown and their loved ones turns into the strength of hope.
However, this joy is also mixed with anxiety and stress. For an ordinary worker, the consumption of the Spring Festival is a heavy burden. The purchase of New Year's goods, travel expenses, and the red envelopes of New Year's money from relatives from all walks of life almost exhausted all their hard-earned money for a year.
What is even more disturbing is that there are only a few days a year to reunite with the family, but it also exposes the long-standing family conflict. Therefore, during the festive season, feelings of concern and anxiety are like shadows in the hearts of every traveler.
For the white-collar class in the city, the anxiety of the Spring Festival comes more from complex interpersonal relationships. All kinds of gatherings and home dinners not only allow them to rest physically and mentally, but also involve them in all kinds of socializing.
The marriage of the elders and the competition among colleagues have made this supposed warm festival a strong annoyance.
Whether it's a tired salaryman or a white-collar worker in the city who has a lot of entertainment, this traditional festival is full of happiness and exhaustion, which makes people confused. What are we going to the Spring Festival for? Is it out of concern and cherishment, or are we bound by layers of expectations and inertia? This is worthy of everyone's serious consideration.
The exterior and interior of a rural family's Spring Festival gathering
On the first day of the first lunar month, the sound of firecrackers at the entrance of the village was higher and higher, and the door of Zhang's house was full of red lanterns, announcing that the Spring Festival reunion of this farmer was about to begin.
The old couple Zhang Guizhi and Li Baolin have been waiting all morning, and finally look forward to the arrival of their eldest son's family. As soon as the son saw his parents, he went up and hugged him with a smile on his face, while his wife followed with a flattering look.
Although the old couple still had apprehension on their faces, they finally showed some smiles.
Then came the second son and his successful girlfriend in the city. The son is on the rise in his career, and his girlfriend is also from a high-ranking family, looking at the young couple dressed brightly and decently, the old parents' faces are full of pride.
Just when they were discussing that their second son was going to go on an expedition in other places, his girlfriend suddenly interjected to ask about the investigation funding, which suddenly made the old father's face look ugly.
After a while, the little daughter-in-law, who was wearing heavy makeup, appeared with her eldest son who was following behind. The family of three smiled and hid their greetings. The little daughter-in-law was speaking modestly while staring intently at the gold ring on her mother-in-law's hand.
The rest of the children also came back one after another, and the courtyard was lively for a while. And under this jubilant appearance, everyone has their own little Jiujiu hidden in their hearts. The eldest daughter-in-law was eager to get a gold ring from her mother-in-law, the second son wanted to make up for his father's travel expenses, and the younger son wanted to take this opportunity to raise his own wedding expenses.
Moreover, the expensive gifts given by the sons-in-law are just a means to please the elders.
It seems that each child goes home with filial piety to reunite with their elders, but in fact they all have different purposes. This lively family Spring Festival reunion is joyful on the surface, but there are countless hidden calculations and desires inside.
The family gathered at the Zhang family's Chinese New Year's Eve dinner table, and the laughter was like a festive symphony.
First of all, the second daughter-in-law walked up to the new son-in-law Ma Tao with a wine glass, and said with a smile that she wanted to clink glasses with this generous new in-law and thank him for the gold ring he sent.
is polite on the surface, but in fact, her greedy heart has long had the idea of her son-in-law's future.
Immediately afterwards, the youngest son put out a box of "Asian Games fundraising" and asked everyone to donate money to support his marriage, which was rightly declared to be a major event. The laughter stopped abruptly, and everyone stared at the little son suspiciously.
When the atmosphere was a little awkward for a while, the eldest grandson came to the front of his new uncle Ma Tao and childishly asked for a big red envelope. The mother behind her smiled hypocritically and said "four heads" in a voice that only two people could hear.
Ma Tao looked at the daughter-in-law who instigated his son to make trouble with a strange face, and still stuffed the biggest red envelope into the child's hand.
At this time, the second son also picked up his wine glass when he entered school, walked up to his father, and said that he was going on a business trip and needed his father's support for the cost of 1,000 yuan. When the younger son heard this, he hurriedly interjected that his marriage was more important, and the two brothers argued about money.
For a long time, the father worked and went out to earn money to support the family, and he was clear about the calculation of these children. He stood up with a calm face, turned around and brought a large vegetable plate, which slammed the table.
"That's what you want, right?" He lifted the lid with great force, and inside was stacks of renminbi.
The father's angry roar and face made the atmosphere at the dinner table instantly cold. Originally, everyone had a ghost in their hearts, put down their disguised smiles, and their faces were full of embarrassment.
The eldest son, who had always been the most cowardly, also summoned up the courage to reprimand his wife for her greed and instigated her son's immorality. On weekdays, these family members maintain a superficial harmony, and it is not until this moment that their ugly and greedy nature is finally exposed.
In this seemingly warm Spring Festival reunion dinner, the father's strong questioning revealed the true roles of these people behind the masks. On the surface, it is a decent family, but inside it is full of undercurrent calculations and competing interests.
After that embarrassing Spring Festival reunion, every member of the Zhang family fell into deep thought. His father, Li Baolin, began to reflect on whether the education he gave his children was too utilitarian. Cultivating children as little adults ignores their inner growth.
Mother Zhang Guizhi looked at the dilapidated house, and her heart was full of sadness. She began to think about the meaning of family, ("-", ") should be a spiritual sustenance, not a supply station of interests.
The eldest son was awakened by his wife's calculations and reflected that he should not tolerate her vexatious troubles for a long time. He was determined to save the home that his mother had built.
The second son's trip was not funded by his father, but by thinking about his brother's righteousness. He should remember this lesson and not hurt the feelings of his siblings for his own interests in the future.
The youngest son also paid a heavy price for a momentary mistake. He will keep in mind his father's teachings not to base the meaning of life on material things.
And those who are not right-minded have also spent a long year in self-blame and introspection. They will eventually realize that it is difficult to end up with a good end.
After this farce, everyone in the Zhang family was alerted to varying degrees. This makes them re-examine themselves and will bring more positive energy to the family. This is the ultimate meaning of this calculation.
The story of the Spring Festival is also a microcosm of the current society. It inspires us to reflect on whether this festival, which is endowed with beautiful meanings, is it going out of shape?
Secondly, we need to reflect on whether the concept of "going home for the New Year" is being promoted day after day.
Perhaps the Spring Festival should also return to its original meaning - not just running and etiquette, but an emotional sustenance that belongs to oneself and loved ones. In today's society, we need to reflect on the meaning of festivals, rather than blindly following traditional forms.
If the Chinese New Year is too heavy for you, you might as well take the opportunity to let it be reborn as an autonomous choice.
How to spend a meaningful Spring Festival
If going home is a concern for you, then cherish this rare time together. Communicating with family members and talking about New Year's resolutions is the most touching meaning of the Spring Festival.
If it's a long way home, why not catch up with a local friend. If you have complicated family relationships, it is better to travel alone to discover yourself. If you have a festival of your own, you can also feel the enthusiasm of life.
There is more than one meaning of this traditional festival. The key is to have an understanding and tolerant heart, so that the Chinese New Year becomes a positive experience and a source of new vitality.