When the United Nations declared the Chinese New Year a holiday, a wave of celebration rippled among Chinese people around the world. This is undoubtedly an international recognition and respect for Chinese culture, and it is also an affirmation of the emotional ties of more than 100 million people. But on the other hand, in the midst of this joy, there are discordant voices.
Huang An, a well-known singer in Taiwan and overseas Chinese circles, recently issued a strong attack on some experts' remarks advocating no holiday on Chinese New Year's Eve and no guns during the Spring Festival. His remarks resonated widely and his supporters were endless. Obviously, what Huang An expressed is not just a catharsis of personal feelings, but represents the dissatisfaction and expectations of a large number of people.
In a country like China with a long history and rich culture, the Spring Festival is more than just a festival. It is a concentrated display of family reunion, traditional Xi inheritance, and New Year experience. The night of Chinese New Year's Eve is a moment when thousands of families are brightly lit and laughing; it is the warm scene of family members sitting around a table enjoying Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, pasting window flowers, and celebrating the New Year in childhood memories; and it is also the firm transmission of our feelings for home and country and cultural confidence in our blood.
However, on the other hand, under the rapid operation of modern society and rational analysis, some experts have put forward suggestions to cancel the Spring Festival holiday or restrict traditional activities. They believe that in the context of globalization, more attention should be paid to efficiency and environmental protection. Indeed, in real work life, some people may go to work right at home, even if there is no holiday on Chinese New Year's Eve, they can rush home in time to spend the festive season; some people may be concerned about the environmental pollution and safety hazards caused by firecrackers during the Spring Festival.
But in the final analysis, do we ignore the deep needs of the majority of the people for the preservation and inheritance of traditional culture? Is it a bit too one-sided to promote the so-called concept of "efficiency first"? We must realize that in today's rapid development of science and technology and great material abundance, spiritual and cultural needs are equally important.
We're seeing more and more Chinese New Year celebrations in overseas cities: the colourful dragon and lion dances in Manhattan in New York, the lantern-filled Chinatowns in London, and even the exotic and festive celebrations in some countries in Africa.
Huang An and his supporters angrily asked: While the whole world has begun to value and celebrate the Spring Festival, some of us ourselves want to downplay or even cancel it? While other countries and nations are Xi learning how we celebrate the Spring Festival and have fun with it, we ourselves are proposing to compress or deprive it of this joy?
Their message is clear: respecting and protecting cultural traditions is not backward or restricting development, but rather that it is this deep understanding and meticulous care of cultural roots that constitutes the most solid and reliable cornerstone for social progress and harmonious development.
Therefore, when listening to professional opinions and pursuing a balance between efficiency and environmental protection, policymakers should also take into account the most basic, simple and real emotional demands of the people. We must not forget that in the minds of every Chinese, the word "homecoming" is always simple and heavy; the word "reunion" is always warm and strong.
In the same way that we should defend the quality of the environment and improve the quality of life, we should not easily cut off the unique cultural factors and spiritual needs of the Chinese nation, which have a long history. Let the Spring Festival still be the Spring Festival - fiery and jubilant, full of joy. Let everyone who is in a foreign country and run for a livelihood feel that special and warm and familiar sense of belonging and happiness at the end of the year and the beginning of the year.
To sum up, while looking at the blueprint for the future, we should also remember the beauty of the past and the present, and use this as a model to inspire the future. It is a journey of environmental protection and cultural heritage – without slackening the tension of the strings of caution and courage for the maintenance of ecological balance and even the continuation of life, and without forgetting to take the necessary measures to ensure that the roots that make our portraits unique, evergreen and continuous, and sustainable quality.