Op-Ed Contributors

Spring Festival through foreigners' eyes

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-12 07:56

It's all about spirit

（By Hiroyuki Kojima， deputy director of Japan Foundation, Beijing)

Spring Festival is a special time for Chinese. It is of special significance for people working hundreds or thousands of miles away from home, because they can return to their family for a reunion.

In Japan, we celebrate new year on Jan 1. On New Year's Eve, my father, mother, elder brother and I used to get together for a small party. My mother used to prepare special dishes and we had soba noodles just before ringing in the new year. And watching the singing contest between popular male and female singers, broadcast by NHK, a special part of the celebrations.

The program, Ko-haku Uta Gassen, somewhat similar to Chunjie Wanhui, telecast by China Central Television. The TV programs were well-made entertainment that everyone could watch together. And since small kids could watch TV till midnight, it used to be exciting for us so much so that happy memories from the TV programs have been etched in our minds.

The audience rating of Ko-haku was almost 80 percent in the early 1970s. At that time, Ko-haku was watched by virtually every household in Japan. But by 2009, its rating had fallen below 40 percent. Of course, there are many reasons for that. People's preferences have changed and they don't like Ko-haku any more. Or, perhaps people don't watch TV on New Year's Eve nowadays.

That is understandable. But it would be sad if the decline in Ko-haku's audience rating suggests Japanese families no longer spend time together on New Year Eve's and family ties have weakened.

Chunjie Wanhui's rating has reportedly crossed 90 percent. (Amazing!) And though I've heard different opinions about this program, its rating shows it has become a vital part of New Year's Eve celebrations in China. Chinese have realized the importance of traditional customs and try to observe them, particularly during Spring Festival. Many people take their families and friends to miaohui (temple festivals) during Spring Festival to watch acrobatic performances or savor delicious snacks or buy souvenirs. The atmosphere in such places is really festive.

But a large number of Chinese prefer going abroad during holidays. (When I returned to Tokyo during last Spring Festival, I encountered so many Chinese tourists in shopping areas that I felt like I was in Beijing!)

People's values are diverse, so we cannot say doing certain things in certain ways is the best way to cerebrate Spring Festival. But since in every society holidays are a precious time for families, couples and friends to reaffirm and strengthen their relationship, I hope wherever or in whichever way you celebrate them, the valuable spirit will continue to thrive in your hearts.