As we usher in the year of the tiger, i begin to ponder about whether Chinese New Year really means anything to teenagers like us. I feel that our current mindset is that of "CNY is a complete waste of time" or "lets just get through it". Many of us would rather stay at home and do things that we deem as useful and not time wasting. Teenagers simply hate the hassle of Chinese New Year and proclaim it as "LAME". we complain about many things:" why does it have to be so traditional?" "Why do we have to visit our relatives and trudge from one house to the other?". This is a matter of mindset.
Most of us actually think of Chinese New Year as simply a festival where we get to skip school, but in fact, i feel that Chinese New Year is a time where we honour the achievements and hardships of our ancestors, it's a time of families reuniting together and strengthening bonds and friendships, the reason why teenagers dont want to go and celebrate Chinese New Year is because they feel that they gain nothing from this "outdated and stupid festival", but in fact, what they gain from this seemingly stupid and outdated festival is way more than they can gain from skipping school, staying at home, playing computer games. As long as teenagers change their mindset about what they feel Chinese New Year means and brings to them, Chinese New Year will not be so dull and time and energy sapping anymore. Instead, Chinese New Year will be fun and fufilling.
What does Chinese New Year mean to you?(food for thought)
finally, i would like to wish everybody a happy new year, and may you succeed in all your endeavours.
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Yes, Zhi Xin, I agree with you. Many people do not really stop to think about Chinese New Year and its customs and meaning. Most chinese just view it as a time where they get a break from school and get ang-pow money. I feel that people should be educated from young and learn to respect Chinese culture.
ReplyDeleteHappy Chinese New Year!