By Bill Brown

    Happy Chinese New Year. But is Chinese New Year as happy as it used to be? While foreign holidays are growing in popularity, Chinese New Year seems to be losing ground. While the ban on fireworks in multiples cities has put something of a dampener on the holiday spirit, growing affluence has also taken a toll on this ancient holiday.

    When my family moved to China in 1988, people celebrated Chinese New Year by wearing new clothes and eating foods they could not afford on regular occasions.  For some poor families, even a boiled egg was a treat. Today, many Chinese citizens wear nice clothes and eat nutritious food on a daily basis. 

    Increased living standards, however, should make Chinese New Year more meaningful, not less.  The focus needs to change, which can happen by letting Chinese New Year also become Chinese Thanksgiving.

    The growth in America’s waistline is ample evidence that most Americans eat well year-round.  In spite or because of this abundance, Americans remain enthusiastic about the annual Thanksgiving reunion and family feast because the focus is not just on the food but also on the giving of thanks for the prosperity that is too often taken for granted the rest of the year. Chinese also have much for which to give thanks.

    For hundreds of years, Chinese families pasted red couplets on either side of their front doors in the hope that the New Year would usher in peace and prosperity, although only in the past couple of decades have those dreams been realized with such regularity. Today, China’s unparalleled affluence should make the Chinese New Year more festive than ever, if only it can also become Chinese Thanks giving.

    This year, instead of complaining that Chinese New Year is little different from other days, give thanks that the other 364 days are increasingly like Chinese New Year. To all, I wish a happy Chinese New Year, and a happy Chinese Thanksgiving.

       中国感恩节快乐！

       春节快乐！但是现在过年真的会像以前那样开心吗？随着外国节日在中国的风行，中国农历新年的魅力似乎正在减少。年味变淡，除了因为许多城市实施禁放鞭炮烟花以外，人民生活越来越富足也是一个重要原因。

       1988年我举家来到中国，那时人们过新年穿新衣，吃平时吃不上的食物。对一些穷苦家庭而言，一个煮鸡蛋就算是顿美餐。现在，许多中国人天天吃好的穿好的。

       生活水平提高了，本该让春节变得更加有意义。我们要做的，只是改换重点，把春节作为中国的感恩节来过。

       美国人平均腰围不断增加，充分说明大部分美国人伙食不错。尽管如此，或者说正因为如此，美国人非常热衷每年一次的感恩节家庭团聚和会餐。食物不是重点，重点是要对这一年的富足表示感谢，而不是觉得心安理得。中国人也有很多需要感谢的事情。

       几百年来，中国人在大门上贴大红春联，盼望新年祥和富裕，最近几十年间，这个梦想才变为现实。今天，只有当春节变成中国的感恩节，空前的富足才能使春节气氛变得空前喜庆。

       所以今年还是别再抱怨春节和平常日子没什么区别，让我们为了平常日子越来越像春节而感恩吧。春节快乐！中国感恩节快乐！

       潘维廉 著

       张薇薇 译