lunar new year

the chinese people follow different calendars. this one is the lunar calendar. this year, tons of unexpected snow had fallen, more than in the past 50 years and for some other regoins, for a century. ice has also frozen grounds and made houses crumble and train lines uncapable of passing any trains. so actually i started out my trip by being stuck on a the train for 3 days, but we had electricity and luckily continued onto our destination. some people on other trains never had the chance to go where they wanted to go. some people have lost electricity for 3 weeks, and for new year's, this is quite a problem, as they must return home to be with their family.  not only have roads been locked enough to let millions of people at train stations, but they all want to travel at the same time, given the new year event, so the people traffic jam and weather is really creating a huge blockage here.  why is it so important for them to sleep in the train station for days on end to go back home? 

the family unit is crucial for these people, and some traditions that have been practised for over two thousand years has barely changed!  it's these customs and traditions that make it impossible for people to let go of the idea of going home and will do no matter what it takes to go to their home. what is their home for them?

their family, in most cases is the central key, they listen to their elders, they work together, so their society is axed more on family values than in the west... they hold a high respect for what the parents say, and this is grounded from Confucius, a man who wrote the Analects which is a collection of principles to make people live in a stable society. He said that  in order for a society to function, order must be maintained and this was shown in 5 different relationships where one had to listen to the other. the father and son, the governer and the governed, husband and wife, friend to friend, older brother to younger brother. this has had an enormous impact on china because for centuries life depended on this hierarchy and even when it was abolished, the idea remained in the characteristic of the people. That is maybe one reason why the children have to go home for new years. its perhaps an obligation. if you dont show up to your family party that is awaiting you, perhaps you are deceiving them

nonetheless, this thought is changing because the city influences the person's mind to work and make money, or stay with friends... and not all are going back home. the family is becoming less important for some because other interests are growing and they realize that by moving otu they can do what they want and the possibility is much easier now than it was just a decade ago.

on  the other hand, the country is vast, and even if minds are changing due to external ideas and exchanges of opinion with people who go to the cities, many people still live in the country side and villages and retain the tradition of going back home.  the children often stay with ther parents till they are married because they cant go off and study somewhere else due to lack of funds.. and yet,  this is also changing.... i ve met many , since i live in the city and travel in some other cities , that are donig exactly this and are working on their own.. so the rate of china's change is always growing, and what was, might not be tomorrow.

also, people save up all for new year's. they buy presents and have to cook and buy trani tickets for the family. they dont want to miss that! also, they only have 2 weeks of holidays a year! so they also probably dont want to miss this oppurtunity to do something different and get a different air.

ill talk more of those customs when i have the chance after my trip to post some pictures. till then good luck and have nice prosperity!

Comments

[Erik A.]

Wow! A lot of text! have downloaded your page now and will read tonight as bedtimestory... =) Cost's to much to read it in the internetcafe =)

Well, Happy new year to you!
Hugs and sheers from Thailand