So how’s your long weekend?
Thanksgiving has finally passed. Black Friday has finally passed too. Then what’s left? Christmas you say?
not too long ago, the stores, streets, shops, tv are all decorated with 4th July theme. Then followed by Halloween. Right after Halloween, in few days time only, they’ve changed it to Thanksgiving.
2 days after Thanksgiving, they changed it dramatically to Christmas spirit. All the houses decorated their house with xmas ornaments, etc.
I wonder why people do that? Is it the tradition here in USA? is it just coz your neighbours are doing it so you don’t want to feel left out? Is it coz you just want to do it?
Some people I asked said “it’s for my kids”. I dont quite understand on that part. What you mean for your kids? Did your kids ask for it? Must you do all your kids asked? So what if you don’t do anything about it?
Growing up, my parents never do any xmas celebration at home. In fact, I never had one. You know..the kind where you put xmas tree at home decorate it with all the ornaments and lights? Putting all the gifts under the tree, eat eggnog (i suppose), sing under the tree, hang mistletoe, etc.
I don’t understand why bother to do all that. But hey..again… I kinna understand it too. It must be the tradition that their parents did it since they were young, their parents’ parents did it, so as their parents.
Just like us, the chinese. We celebrate Chinese New Year. Every year on CNY, my parents will be busy. We would spring clean the house top to bottom. Paint those stain wall. Fix those that need to be fix. Cut your hair, they say to throw away bad luck from last year and to start a fresh new year with new hair (luck).
Mom will be busy cooking since 1 day before the CNY, coz all chinese family will be having family dinner on the night before. Then after midnight, we would do some pray.
Then on the CNY itself, we would get up, dress your best/new clothes that’s mostly in RED. Nowadays people don’t wear red all the time, anything as long as it’s not black.
Then we will start greeting everyone “gong xi fat chai”…and starts calling all family members to wish them.
So I guess..that’s what xmas is like for the non-chinese, especially westerner. It’s like the biggest celebration ever in their life. The mark of new beginning, new promise, the time where all the family will be gathering in 1 place and have a wonderful time once again. The time where all will be forgiven for the sake of love. The time where the wrong can be fixed and turn into the right. The time where you are given a chance to do what’s right before it’s too late.
I guess the Santa figure in xmas is the same with the Chai Sen Ye (the fortune god) in the chinese in CNY. They just need a figurine to excite the kids and parents. To make them believe in something. So everyone will still carry on this tradition year after year.
And so….for those who are celebrating xmas….enjoy this xmas preparation. Don’t just focus on the xmas day itself, but focus and enjoy the whole month. The preparation, wrapping the gifts, cooking, etc. It’s the gathering that need to be enjoyed, so don’t get stress over it.
Tags: black friday, chinese new year, christmas, christmas tree, stress, thanksgiving, xmas