There are "three changes" in the custom of Spring Festival.
Xinhua News Agency, Nanjing, February 7 th: There are "three changes" in the custom of the Spring Festival.
Xinhua News Agency reporter Shen Rufa
Spring Festival is the most important festival in Chinese. Custom is the mark of the times of a society. The reporter found that with the development of the times, the Spring Festival gifts, the way of festivals and the scope of reunion have quietly changed.
One change: from "three catties of preserved fruit and one catty of sugar" to "nut seafood spree"
The annual gift is a must-have item for the Spring Festival. "New Year’s greetings must be brought with them." Aunt Zhang, 68, who lives in Dafeng District, Yancheng City, Jiangsu Province, recalls that in the 1980s and 1990s, it was basically "three Jin of candied fruit and one Jin of sugar". "At that time, everyone was not well off, so I took these gifts to express a blessing."
In the impression of 49-year-old Zhang Dage, the standard of the annual ceremony is "two cigarettes and a box of wine". "Later, everyone’s life became better and better. Generally, it is convenient and face-saving to go to the tobacco hotel to carry wine and cigarettes to send the annual gift."
Zhang Dage said that when relatives come to visit the New Year, they usually take melon seeds, peanuts and sesame candy to entertain them. "The atmosphere is relatively relaxed, and everyone chats and doesn’t stick to some old ceremonies."
What gift should I bring now? On the eve of the Spring Festival, the reporter saw at Nanjing Railway Station that many people from south to north were carrying exquisite boxes marked with nuts, milk, salted duck and seafood spree … … Li Tongxue, who lives in Lianyungang and is waiting for the bus, said: "Now everyone is not eating a big fish and meat for the Spring Festival, but eating more delicately and healthily."
"In the past, the days were tight. The annual gift was heavy oil and heavy sugar. Now it is different. Everyone is rich and pays attention to what to eat." Aunt Zhang said with a smile, "Everyone wants to be in good health and enjoy the good life now. It is better to send health than to send anything."
Second change: from "playing cards, drinking and setting off firecrackers" to "drinking tea and singing and watching performances"
The entertainment mode of the Spring Festival is also changing. Aunt Zhang told reporters that in the past, there were few ways of entertainment, and playing cards, drinking and setting off firecrackers were the most common. "Several families gather together to play cards, which were originally for entertainment. Some people are looking for ‘ Stimulate ’ I gambled, and there was a contradiction in the happy year. "
Reporters interviewed in Huai ‘an, Yancheng and other places in Jiangsu Province saw that there were obviously fewer cards played during the Spring Festival this year. A staff member of the Huai ‘an Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection introduced that during the Spring Festival, civilized festivals were advocated, gambling was strictly prohibited, and the atmosphere was obviously improved.
Setting off firecrackers is also common. From the New Year’s Eve to the early morning of the next day, firecrackers broke out at zero o’clock. "Just put the child to sleep, I was awakened by firecrackers, which was very helpless." Mr. Wu, a resident of the Greenland Century City Community in Huai ‘an City, said.
During the Spring Festival this year, Huai ‘an banned fireworks and firecrackers in some areas. "It’s obviously much quieter, and occasional firecrackers will not affect the rest." Mr. Wu said.
"It turned out that during the Spring Festival, the wine was very prosperous. When the owner finished drinking Western drinks, he often made trouble with wine. If he didn’t drink high, he didn’t feel happy." Mr. Wu said, "This atmosphere has changed a lot in recent years. Everyone began to drink tea slowly, and the atmosphere of reunion and chat was much fresher."
Miss Chen from Huai ‘an District, Huai ‘an City said that during the Chinese New Year, she and her little sisters often get together for tea, or go to KTV to sing together. "Several people pack a box, order a small dish and drink, and sing for an afternoon. It’s very happy."
There are also some families who choose to watch performances during the Spring Festival. "Usually everyone is very busy, and it is rare to get together." Mr. Yang from Jiangning District, Nanjing, took his family to Nanjing for the New Year this year. "Please watch the performance with your family during the Spring Festival and have an elegant year."
Three changes: from traditional "family reunion" to "gathering of relatives and friends"
The Spring Festival is a festival of reunion. Every Spring Festival is a great migration of population. According to the big data report released by Tencent, during the Spring Festival, the population of first-tier cities decreased greatly, while the county towns ushered in a great traffic flow. The reporter saw in some villages in Jiangsu that there was a long queue of cars on the village road, and there was a traffic jam that was only in the city before.
The reporter found that the content of Spring Festival, a traditional reunion festival, is changing, gradually changing from traditional "family reunion" to "gathering of relatives and friends".
New Year’s Eve is the highlight of the Spring Festival. "In the past, it took a long time to prepare for the New Year’s Eve, and it was busy enough." Aunt Zhang said, "The reunion dinner may not be eaten at home, but it’s easy and worry-free to eat at the restaurant during the New Year." It is understood that the phenomenon of eating New Year’s Eve in hotels has become very common, and some hotels have booked all the New Year’s Eve dinners a few months ago.
Chinese New Year is no longer limited to family reunion, but extended to gatherings of family, relatives, classmates, comrades-in-arms and other relatives and friends. "It’s rare for everyone to come back for the New Year, and the students will get together." Mr. Liu, who works in Shanghai, returned to his hometown in Yancheng, and spent a lot of time "arranging" gatherings with junior high school and high school students. "Talking about the old days and talking about the anecdotes at school, I feel that time really flies."
More and more families choose to go out for the New Year. Miss Wang from Nanjing took her family to travel to Thailand during the Spring Festival. "Now there are more and more choices for Chinese New Year. It doesn’t matter where it is. The most important thing is to be with relatives and friends."
Abundance, Civilization and Modernity … … The custom of the Spring Festival is like a window into the times, from which we can feel the social changes.













