Red lanterns,
dumplings, fireworks and the traditional three-word greeting of "Guo Nian Hao"
(Happy New Year) have lived on in China during the Spring
Festival.
Modern Chinese have been re-discovering the traditional fun of the festival
about two decades after the country opened to the world and exposed itself to
various cultures.
Beijing
lifted a 12-year ban on setting off fireworks in the urban areas following
public demand. The move came after similar acts in other cities.
The ban on fireworks in the urban areas was implemented in the early 1990s
after the traditional celebrations resulted in many casualties.
Some experts, however, believe that the ban diminished the glamor of
traditional festivals so that more young people converted to foreign
celebrations. They called on the public to protect traditional festivals.
A Declaration to Safeguard the Spring Festival was posted by a folklore
scholar before this year's festival on Jan. 29, calling on the nation to protect
the vulnerable Chinese festivals.
"Globalization, urbanization and commercialization have been etching
traditional Chinese rituals and celebrations. The Chinese are discarding the
cultural meaning, spiritual values and psychological effects of many festivals
to air grievances and relieve stress," said Gao Youpeng, a professor with Henan
University, who posted the declaration.
"Some foreign festivals then suddenly boomed in China partly because of the
market operation. We should safeguard the traditional festivals amid the siege
of foreign celebrations," Gao said.
The declaration received a remarkable response and widespread support from
the public.
