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In today’s China, traditional holidays feel like a loaf of
expired bread—crafted with care, wrapped in nostalgia, but slowly forgotten
on the shelf. No matter how rich their cultural ingredients or attractive
their presentation, they struggle to stay relevant in the fast-paced rhythm
of modern Chinese life. People have moved on, barely checking the expiration
date.
But should we so easily let go? Have foreign customs truly become a better
fit for China—a country that has already endured deep cultural erosion? Our
cultural roots, once proud and strong, now seem shallow compared to those of
our neighbors. We’re aware of this, we worry, we talk about it—but still, we
watch passively as the cultural soil beneath us slips away.
The sense of "Chinese identity" hasn’t vanished, though. We saw it flare up
during the heated debate over the Dragon Boat Festival—was it ours or
Korea’s? For a brief moment, people were outraged, confused, or just
surprised. “When did they start eating our *zongzi* and rowing our dragon
boats?” they wondered. But after a short pause, life resumed—appointments to
book, Valentine’s dinners to plan.
Foreign culture washes over us like a wave. When the tide goes out, it
leaves behind pearls, shells, or even ordinary stones—yet we gather them up
eagerly, no matter the cost. We carry roses, dress in bright colors, and
proudly display overly extravagant Christmas trees, imagining ourselves
cosmopolitan and modern. But all the while, something essential is
fading—our own traditions, remembered only faintly, if at all.
This isn’t to blame foreign cultures. Cultural exchange doesn’t mean
cultural loss. Traditions from elsewhere can enrich us—but they should never
drown out our own. Trends are meant to color life, not repaint its entire
canvas.
To outside observers, the sight of Chinese people fervently celebrating
foreign holidays while neglecting their own can seem almost absurd. If we
admire Santa Claus for his spirit of giving, shouldn’t we also revive the
warmth, generosity, and depth of our own festivals?
Standing at the crossroads of cultures, perhaps it’s time we stopped just
looking outward—and started looking back, too. |
