#我来唠家常#
With the passage of time, the 80s have faded away, but during that time, the excitement and joy of the first day of the Lunar New Year in the countryside are forever engraved in the depths of many people's memories. Whenever I mention it, there will always be a warm current in my heart, which is the purest nostalgia for my childhood, my hometown, and that era.
In that era of relative material scarcity, the first day of the Lunar New Year in the countryside was the most anticipated day of the year. On this day, every household will prepare in advance, and from the evening of the Chinese New Year's Eve, the sound of firecrackers will be endless, heralding the arrival of the new year.
On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, before the sun has fully risen, the children are already eager to put on new clothes, new shoes, and some of them even put on new hats bought by their parents. This sense of freshness and anticipation is difficult for today's children to experience.
In rural areas, there is usually a special ritual on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year - ancestor worship. Every household will place the prepared offerings in front of the ancestral tablet, light incense, and pray sincerely. Although the children do not understand the deep meaning, they will also stand solemnly with the adults, feeling the solemnity and sacredness.
After worshipping their ancestors, the family sits around and enjoys a hearty breakfast. In those days, this breakfast was often the most hearty of the year, with fish and meat, as well as a variety of home-cooked dishes. The children ate with relish, their faces filled with satisfaction and happiness.
After breakfast, the children began their most anticipated activity – New Year's greetings. In those days, there was no current red envelope culture, but New Year's greetings were very sincere. Children would go door-to-door to greet their elders, say "Happy New Year" and bow respectfully. The elders smile and grab handfuls of candy, peanuts or home-made snacks for the children. These small snacks, which seem insignificant now, were the most precious gifts in the hearts of children at that time.
In addition to New Year's greetings, children will also go to the village in groups to play by the river and in the fields. Although the fields may seem a bit depressed in winter, children always find something to enjoy. They flew kites, kicked shuttlecocks, played hide-and-seek in the fields, and had a lot of fun. The creek is another paradise where children can't help but pick up a few pretty rocks or try to catch the little fish that swim around, even though the water is cold.
Of course, there is also an important activity on the first day of the Lunar New Year - watching social dramas. At that time, the cultural life in the countryside was relatively monotonous, but the social drama on the first day of the Lunar New Year was a grand event for the whole village. Children will follow the adults to the theater early and take up a good seat. Although the content of the drama was a little difficult for them to understand, the lively atmosphere, bright costumes, and high-pitched singing voices made them feel very novel and interesting.
As night falls, the activities on New Year's Day are gradually coming to an end. Lanterns are lit in every house, symbolizing a prosperous new year. Children play under the lanterns with happiness and satisfaction on their faces. On this special evening, the whole village is immersed in a warm, peaceful atmosphere.
Now, decades have passed, and many changes have taken place on the first day of the Lunar New Year in the countryside. The abundance of material life has made great changes in the form and content of the New Year, but the attachment to home, the longing for relatives, and the expectation and longing for the New Year have always been the same.
Looking back on the first day of the Lunar New Year in the 80s, those simple and pure happiness, those simple and sincere emotions have become the most precious wealth in our hearts. They make us understand that no matter how the times change, that love for home and enthusiasm for life are our eternal spiritual pillars.
When we go back to that era and experience the joy and warmth of that new year's day again, we will find that those memories will never grow old, they are like a beacon that illuminates our way forward and guides us to a better future.