The Changing Spring Festival
The Spring Festival, as it is celebrated today, has undergone many changes, the country’s economic development and globalization.
No Spring Festival is complete without food. People could not get good food with desired in earlier times, something that does not apply to society today. The best time celebrate was when food was available in plenty, and that was possible in spring, or the beginning of the Lunar New Year. That was the main reason why the Spring Festival acquired such great importance among Chinese people. But three decades of economic growth has ensured that people in China can enjoy a good meal whenever they want. People seem not to long for delicious food like before during the Spring Festival due to the change in people’s fortune.
In the past, celebrations were limited to events like song-and-dance duets(二人转)in North China, dragon and lion dances in South China and fireworks. And economic development and urbanization seems to have ensured various forms of entertainment and communication. People can watch the Spring Festival Gala on TV or even on the cellphone.
Many customs associated with the Spring Festival have changed, too. In the past, people used to visit relatives and friends with gifts and lots of good wishes. Today, many people, especially the youth, use their cell phones or the Internet to send their good wishes and even “gifts” to their relatives and friends. Some may say this is a sign that people have become less caring about their near and dear ones, but we can see this development as a time-and energy-saving exercise granted by the information age.
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There's more of a connection between food and culture than you may think.
On an individual level, we grow up eating the food of our cultures. Many associate foods from our childhood with warm feelings and fond memories, tying us to our families.On a large scale, food operates as an expression of cultural identity, Traditional cuisine (烹饪法) is passed down from one generation to the next. Immigrants bring the food of their countries where they go, and cooking traditional food is a symbol of pride for their ethnicity (民族特色) as well as a means of coping with homesickness.
Many immigrants open their own restaurants and serve traditional dishes. However, the food does not remain exactly the same. Some ingredients needed to make traditional dishes may not be readily available, so the taste and flavour can be different from what they would prepare in their home countries. Additionally, immigrants who sell dishes have to alter the original dishes to satisfy a wider range of customers. Alterations to original dishes can create new flavors that still preserve the cultural significance of the dish.
What stays the same is the extent to which each country or community's unique cuisine reflects its unique history, lifestyle, values, and beliefs. For example, in China, harmony is a vital characteristic in almost every aspect of life. This is reflected in Chinese cuisine, where almost every flavour is used in a balanced way. Throughout history, Chinese people are of the belief that food not only needs to be nutritious but also needs to look appealing, so they put a lot of effort into decorating the dishes，with vibrant red as their traditional colour.
As the world becomes more globalized, it is easier to access cuisines from different cultures. We should not only accept our traditions through our culture's food but also become more informed about other cultures by trying their foods. It is important to remember that each dish has a special place in the culture to which it belongs, and is special to those who prepare it. Food is a window to culture, and it should be treated as such.
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