Do We Need An Expiry Date for Chinese New Year?
Yesterday was the third day of the Chinese Lunar New Year. which saw many a folk going back to work, as the public holiday lasts for only 2 days here in Singapore, compared to the days/weeks/month of celebration 'elsewhere'. For sure individuals celebrate by their own "timing", but the general mood and intention, is somewhat different.
Seems the notion of CNY has but been diluted to a commercial entity whereby the act of receiving and giving red packets ("angbaos") outshine the traditional values of family "togetherness", and paying homage and respect to elders in your family line. While maybe that notion might still be inherent in folks' minds (I do not pretend to claim otherwise), one cannot deny the change with the times.
Shown above was a gold-finish coin bank depicting the Dragon-character in a more approachable 'cuter' interpretation. When I saw it, I knew that I needed to have it, for a photoshoot, but in reality that was all it was good for (besides a consideration to customize it, but why? LOL), which to me showcases the embrace of popular culture and commercialism to accept the longstanding traditions of old, and make it relevant to the 'now'.
There is no 'Good' or 'Bad', I suppose, as long as traditions and heritage maintains as long as it possibly can, for however long it is needed to remind folks where they come from, so that they can decide where to go from there. We do not need an "expiry date" on CNY and tradition, do we?
Seems the notion of CNY has but been diluted to a commercial entity whereby the act of receiving and giving red packets ("angbaos") outshine the traditional values of family "togetherness", and paying homage and respect to elders in your family line. While maybe that notion might still be inherent in folks' minds (I do not pretend to claim otherwise), one cannot deny the change with the times.
Shown above was a gold-finish coin bank depicting the Dragon-character in a more approachable 'cuter' interpretation. When I saw it, I knew that I needed to have it, for a photoshoot, but in reality that was all it was good for (besides a consideration to customize it, but why? LOL), which to me showcases the embrace of popular culture and commercialism to accept the longstanding traditions of old, and make it relevant to the 'now'.
There is no 'Good' or 'Bad', I suppose, as long as traditions and heritage maintains as long as it possibly can, for however long it is needed to remind folks where they come from, so that they can decide where to go from there. We do not need an "expiry date" on CNY and tradition, do we?
