Celebrate the Spring Festival as the Locals Do

Yuliya Sharkun, college teacher, Ukraine

No matter how long one lives in China, during the Spring Festival season, they need to take time to experience Chinese New Year customs. Compared with the celebrations before the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebration last year and this year are quite different, since people are encouraged to stay where they are and avoid big crowds and gatherings.

Besides celebrating the festival by sending greeting messages and hongbao to friends, I’ll surely have delicious food and adorn the house with Spring Festival decorations like adorable images of the animal of the lunar Chinese year and the auspicious Chinese character 福 in various forms. Another must for me is watching the annual Spring Festival Gala on TV. I’ve watched all of them in previous years. About the gala, I, in particular, expect the funny cross-talk banter, xiangsheng in Chinese, and skits that cover the latest life-related issues in today’s China. Some skits reflect anti-epidemic episodes, some reflect the life of ordinary people, and some reflect family stories. They form a unique “cultural hard dish” on the theme of happiness.

I am also looking forward to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. In 2008 I was a volunteer for the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. I support the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Through sports, we can enhance understanding and friendship, and build a more peaceful world. The Olympic motto of “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together” reflects the importance of solidarity for all humankind to overcome hardships in difficult times.