Chinese tradition, which has lost its luster for many young people, rebounded and the influence of western culture found its place this week when the Year of the Horse galloped in.
In this bustling time of family reunions and tributes to ancestors to commemorate the Lunar New Year, Chinese tradition abounds -- with some twists to embrace the ways of the west.
Valentine's Day fell on the third day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which started Feb. 12, and was enthusiastically welcomed alongside the age-old holiday routine.
For example, couples strolling through the streets carried roses and chocolates in addition to the ubiquitous candied kabobs available from sidewalk vendors. Visitors to art galleries could see exhibitions of Picasso's block prints or Chinese poet Li Bai’s poems and Spring Festival couplets.
Young people passed on traditional New Year's greetings via cell phones. In fact, tens of millions of short messages have almost paralyzed local mobile phone grids in some areas.
In many of the red envelopes stuffed with New Year's cash for unmarried people were the newly circulated euro notes.
Western-style restaurants were in holiday mode with traditional costumes for servers, and red tassels and lanterns hanging for diners to enjoy. Paper-cuts have been put up in Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonald's, and Motorola and Coca Cola have launched new advertisements making reference to the Lunar New Year.
At the annual gala New Year's Eve concert sponsored by Central China Television, a performance was held to demonstrate the Chinese people's eagerness to learn English.
Beijing Mayor Liu Qi said he hoped that every resident in the capital would one day be able to say, "I can speak English."
(Xinhua News Agency February 14, 2002)
