WhenChineseTraditionMeetsWesternInfluence
Chinesetradition,whichhaslostitslusterformanyyoungpeople,reboundedandtheinfluenceofwesternculturefounditsplacethisweekwhentheYearoftheHorsegallopedin.
InthisbustlingtimeoffamilyreunionsandtributestoancestorstocommemoratetheLunarNewYear,Chinesetraditionabounds--withsometwiststoembracethewaysofthewest.
Valentine'sDayfellonthethirddayoftheChineseLunarNewYear,whichstartedFeb.12,andwasenthusiasticallywelcomedalongsidetheage-oldholidayroutine.
Forexample,couplesstrollingthroughthestreetscarriedrosesandchocolatesinadditiontotheubiquitouscandiedkabobsavailablefromsidewalkvendors.VisitorstoartgalleriescouldseeexhibitionsofPicasso'sblockprintsorChinesepoetLiBai’spoemsandSpringFestivalcouplets.
YoungpeoplepassedontraditionalNewYear'sgreetingsviacellphones.Infact,tensofmillionsofshortmessageshavealmostparalyzedlocalmobilephonegridsinsomeareas.
InmanyoftheredenvelopesstuffedwithNewYear'scashforunmarriedpeoplewerethenewlycirculatedeuronotes.
Western-stylerestaurantswereinholidaymodewithtraditionalcostumesforservers,andredtasselsandlanternshangingfordinerstoenjoy.Paper-cutshavebeenputupinKentuckyFriedChickenandMcDonald's,andMotorolaandCocaColahavelaunchednewadvertisementsmakingreferencetotheLunarNewYear.
AttheannualgalaNewYear'sEveconcertsponsoredbyCentralChinaTelevision,aperformancewasheldtodemonstratetheChinesepeople'seagernesstolearnEnglish.
BeijingMayorLiuQisaidhehopedthateveryresidentinthecapitalwouldonedaybeabletosay,"IcanspeakEnglish."