This is a neat article written by Tay Tian Yan in mysinchew.com today.
I think most of us can reflect through some of these stages of the celebration of the reunion dinner. No doubt these days you can book a table for a reunion dinner in one of those posh restaurants in town and still in a way appreciate the cultural values amidst the commercialization of the affair.
Let us read the aithor's article and appreciate what it is worth.
"FEB 12 — We have different expectations for Chinese New Year in different stages of life.
During childhood, it is a kind excitement: playing firecrackers and games without any intervention.
It is like a pent-up child who has found a way to give off his chest. It is only a game.
During early youth, it is something new and exciting: dating, drinking and gambling. It is a short-term debauch.
It is like trying to step into the adult world while challenging taboos and guilt.
During youth, it is a kind of responsibility: busy running about, sending gifts to tighten relationships.
Based on Chinese New Year customs, we allow ourselves to be fully socialised and accept traditional requirements. However, it makes us feel tired and helpless.
During middle-age, it is a frame of mind: it all depends on our own feelings to choose the way we want to celebrate it.
We have no earnest expectation and it does not require any special arrangements. All we have to do is to feel the seasonal change, as well as the growth ring of life with our hearts.
Therefore, my Chinese New Year celebration seems very simple this year.
Without a north-south journey, shopping that always seems to have missed something, gift-giving, endless dinners and gatherings, as well as New Year escape trip, I just wish to sit down quietly and enjoy the reunion dinner.
Together, we enjoy the dinner and enter a brand new year.
Previously, I though that reunion dinners are only meant to reunion in which everyone sits around a table to tighten relationships.
But I realised later that the dinner is also meant to forgive and forget. The gap, dissatisfaction, complaints, ...should all be decomposed and digested through oral movements.
With the help of sweet wine and great dishes, affections are sublimated and connections are re-established.
Through the reunion atmosphere, we can find a mutual dependent relationship.
In fact, many customs contain far-reaching moral values.
We are required to salute the elders and worship when we were young. But we did not fully understand and recognise the customs.
Today, when we have lost the opportunity to do it again, we realised that it is a way to internalised the spirit and traditions.
The spiritual world of Chinese includes heaven, earth and humans. Humans are in the middle with heaven on top and earth beneath. The Chinese worship heaven first, followed by earth and ancestors.
Worshiping our ancestors is actually paying respect to our blood and the origin of our lives. It is a feeling of thanksgiving.
Paying door-to-door visits is actually expanding our relationships and affections.
Chinese New Year is a kind of normal human relationship, extending from families to the society and the world. It is to arrange the order of our "love" and by following the "love order", we make ourselves, families and the society live in harmony.
Feel the changes over the past year and have a taste of the throb of life.
No matter how you are going to celebrate it, I would like to wish you and your family a peaceful and blessed new year. Live a rainbow life in the brand new year!"
Happy Chinese New Year, everyone!
