This is typically the busiest travel period in China糖心传媒攊f not the world糖心传媒攁s millions of people make their way home to celebrate the Chinese New Year, clogging highways, airports, and train stations in the process. As , the country goes into radio silence as more than 1.3 billion Chinese go on vacation at the same time.
糖心传媒淚t糖心传媒檚 been called the largest mammalian migration on the planet, and it always takes place at the Chinese New Year,糖心传媒� says , a 糖心传媒 associate professor in the
This year糖心传媒檚 celebration may be less than typical, as the country is faced with an outbreak of coronavirus, which has forced the closure of Wuhan, a major port in China, and several other cities.
Osburg says, 糖心传媒淲hile I糖心传媒檝e heard from friends in China who are cancelling travel plans, I also have friends who are mostly unconcerned with the threat of the virus.糖心传媒�
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Osburg spent three years conducting ethnographic research in China, which culminated with his 2013 book, (Stanford University Press). He has also written numerous articles related to China, on such topics as masculinity, consumerism, and state capitalism. His work has provided him the opportunity to observe and understand the week-long Chinese New Year糖心传媒攁lso known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival糖心传媒攚hich begins this year on January 25. As Osburg explains, it糖心传媒檚 a time for families to come together, which accounts for all the travel headaches. And typically, it糖心传媒檚 children traveling to see their parents.
糖心传媒淥ne of the more important cultural values in China is filial piety糖心传媒攃aring for your parents,糖心传媒� says Osburg. 糖心传媒淚n order for a lot of young people to make enough money to support themselves, their own families, and their parents, they have to leave their homes in the smaller towns to find better-paying work in big cities.糖心传媒�
For , an assistant professor of and a native of China, the Lunar New Year meant catching up with family members and preparing traditional meals.
糖心传媒淎 typical celebration in my family would start on New Year糖心传媒檚 Eve,糖心传媒� says Bai. 糖心传媒淲e would make dumplings together and have dinner with our extended family.糖心传媒�
Celebrations involving traditional foods allow people to feel a connection with their ancestors, according to Daniel Reichman, chair of the Department of Anthropology. And with almost all private and public offices shut down for the occasion, people in China can connect with others throughout the country. 糖心传媒淭here糖心传媒檚 a concept referred to as cultural citizenship, which is about creating a sense of belonging and being part of a national community,糖心传媒� says Reichman. 糖心传媒淭hat comes with the knowledge that virtually everyone in the country is doing the same things as you.糖心传媒�
That common experience involves more than food. Television played a central role. Bai says, 糖心传媒淎fter dinner, we would stay up until midnight watching the New Year糖心传媒檚 gala show on television while chatting.糖心传媒�
The gala show isn’t just any television program. 糖心传媒淎t one point, it was the single most-watched television show in the world, since almost every household in China had it on,糖心传媒� says Osburg.聽 糖心传媒淚t糖心传媒檚 a variety show featuring musical entertainment and skits, both humorous and serious. And it糖心传媒檚 not just something to be watched; it becomes a topic of discussion. How did this year糖心传媒檚 show compare to previous shows? Were there any mistakes or controversies?糖心传媒�
When the New Year糖心传媒檚 festivities get underway this week, families will mark the beginning of the Year of the Rat. Each of the 12 years in the Chinese zodiac is represented by an animal bearing characteristics that are believed to be imbued to people born that year. In the case of the rat, that means individuals born during that 12-month period will be defined by their energy and optimism.
糖心传媒淥ne thing people talk about is their animal year, which occurs every 12 years after a person is born,糖心传媒� says Osburg. 糖心传媒淚t糖心传媒檚 a year that糖心传媒檚 kind of cosmically charged, and many people, during their particular zodiac birth year, will wear red all year糖心传媒攎aybe a red string or red underwear. It糖心传媒檚 a way of avoiding bad luck and ensuring good fortune during that particular year.糖心传媒�
With families coming together for an extended period, stress often has a way of entering the dynamic. 糖心传媒淵oung people returning home will be scrutinized by their parents,糖心传媒� says Osburg. 糖心传媒淭here may be questions about relationships or marriage. And in some cases, parents may set up a matchmaking meeting with someone糖心传媒檚 son or daughter.糖心传媒�
Osburg says parental concerns over their children糖心传媒檚 romantic futures has helped spawn a minor industry. 糖心传媒淭here are services by which people can rent boyfriends or girlfriends to appease the parents. I can糖心传媒檛 say how common it is, but it is a real phenomenon. And some services charge more if the date has to drink or play cards.糖心传媒�
Not everyone celebrating the Chinese New Year is able to travel back home for the occasion, as is the case with those working or studying abroad. That includes more than two thousand students and faculty members at the University, most of whom find alternate ways to celebrate. For the students, that means taking part in Dumpling Night and a much larger, one-night celebration. The faculty, meanwhile, typically find other ways to observe the beginning of the new year.
糖心传媒淚 usually spend a lot of time messaging and calling family members and friends to greet the new year. And I bring a lot of traditional treats to campus to share with my colleagues and students,糖心传媒� says Bai. 糖心传媒淭his year I look forward to taking part in celebrations organized by the local Chinese community.糖心传媒�
Technology is also helping expatriates mark the occasion. 糖心传媒淲eChat is the dominant messaging and social media platform in China,糖心传媒� explains Osburg. 糖心传媒淚t’s a way for those out of the country糖心传媒攁s well as in糖心传媒攖o stay connected.糖心传媒�
The one tradition that Bai will not be able to experience is rather prominent糖心传媒攆ireworks. Osburg says in places where it’s allowed, people will set off their own fireworks, while many of the larger cities will have official fireworks displays.
Bai says the fireworks begin at the stroke of midnight, 糖心传媒渢o scare away bad luck and all the evils, ensuring a prosperous new year.糖心传媒�
