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Q: Spring Festival. Is it a comparison time for Chinese?
Of course, Chinese New Year is about the coming of Spring Time, being with family... dumplings, fire works... and a bunch of other traditional and heart-warming things.
But is it also the time you are criticized and judged the most by your family and neighbors? Seems like most Chinese are scared to death to return home to unsatisfied parents.
A huge thing at Spring Festival is bringing home a new car (inflated car prices just before the CNY), buying new clothes, looking your best and basically trying to show off. Even most marriages are around this time, despite the poor bride having to dress in a wedding gown in the bitter cold (who cares right? We paid for her!).
Is the CNY just a time for everyone to get together and compare who made the most money that year? A time of year for the neighbors to show off their new possessions? Does your Chinese family and friends seem to compare themselves with you during this time?
Interesting question. I guess there is much of that going on. I know many of my unmarried Chinese friends didn't want to go home and face the parents and grandparents. But, I think it really is about returning to family and roots. And, it is one of the few times in the year where Chinese people have a sense of off time from work.
I am not in my normal town. I am working in a backwater small town for a winter English camp. The few conversations I have had does seem to be about money and status. Of course there are other topics. But, you seem to have a point with your question. I never thought of it that way.
Sometimes you just have to go "hmmmm" with questions on here. Ha Ha
DrMonkey:
Not wanting to go home, it might be just the days of doing nothing and eating ^^ I'm done with it today, boy, what a relief...
I got the new clothes thing : we have to wear new clothe when we visit relatives. We bought new shoes for MIL. In my wife's family, it's a minor thing. They are mostly farmers who have very modest lives, they know they won't impress anyone and they don't try hard. I was told the new clothes is just a way to start the new year on a good first step.
Comparisons... My parents in law asked how much we saved, but that's more care for us than greedy interest. They don't even want us to lend them some money, to avoid paying interest to a bank... There is a successful cousin, but instead of showing-off, he helps everyone in the family. We went to the elder's tombs, we ate meals together, and that's it. I guess it depends on the families.
The new clothes is a transitional thing,many families were not able to afford new clothes in the past decades ,good or new clothes were for the new year time or visiting relatives.and it means a new beginning for the coming year.
There is nobody in my family compare himself /herself with me.but my uncle and mom asked how much I save last year,and they don't judge. My aunt sometimes compares her some with my brother,she complained her son was too lazy and didn't earn much money.so it depends on the family.
They didnt like the Audi, my wifes parents live it and understa d it , but the rest of the family. im not sure if its like we should be driving Nissans like all of them? Or they think we spent too much? I do know they think all Audis are like 600K, and I know they have no idea about much we make as they have never asked. So maybe its just care for us.
My FIL was comparing us to his siblings as we were the only ones in the whole family to give the parents hongbao. He had the camera out immediately to show it off to the rest. He got alot of face.
Generally we are not judged or compared to. Married to a foreigner is a different ball game and my wife is the oldest of her generation. First to marry , first to get knocked up. So there has been no one to compare us to for like 20 years. The wifes siblings and cousins will have a harder go of it in the next few years.
