A celebration for a time of promise
Spring Festival enjoys a growing global profile with recent UNESCO heritage recognition. Zhao Xu explores the cultural roots of this age-old tradition and how it has evolved over time.
The carriages were packed to the brim, with the narrow walkway running through the middle of the train entirely occupied by passengers holding "standing tickets", which condemned them to long hours — sometimes 10 or more — on their feet. The crowd was so dense that trying to cut through it felt like a hopeless endeavor. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, and, every so often, a weary groan would rise above the murmur of voices, as exhaustion took its toll on the travelers.
As if the journey itself weren't challenging enough, nearly everyone carried giant packages — gifts for loved ones, in an era when what was available in one part of the country might be impossible to find in another.
Among the passengers were students returning home for Spring Festival and winter holiday, their parents waiting on the arrival platform, sometimes in temperatures as low as -30 C.
These experiences gradually fade into memories. Today, children no longer eagerly anticipate the festival for a taste of candy, and Spring Festival may even be spent on a sun-kissed beach, far from home.
Yet, the relentless tide of urbanization and the fast pace of modern life means that separation has become more frequent and inevitable, making each reunion all the more precious.
Those who have been through life's trials appreciate the deeper significance of such an occasion like Spring Festival.
Life is not always kind or easy. Spring Festival can neither erase struggles nor lift burdens but it offers solace — a gentle balm for the weary soul, a moment of comfort and warmth to brighten life's winter nights.
