Chinese New Year Will Never Be The Same Again.
Some changes cut deep into our social fabric. A fraction of those will stay.
The pandemic broke out in 2019, moved quickly to spread around the world in 2020, and got mutated in 2021. In a matter of 3 years, our lives have changed in ways that we never imagined.
And rightfully so. This is no regular financial crisis that comes around every decade. A pandemic that chews on our mental health and physical well-being daily has a pervasive political, economic, and social impact.
In short, no one is spared from the pandemic, as well as the aftermath. Celebratory festivals as well.
I was rather lucky last year, this time. The pandemic is largely contained within the source country and while Singapore was the second country that detected infections, it was in the single-digits.
We celebrated Chinese New Year 2020 as if it was 2019.
That means intergenerational gatherings with steamboat buffets, tossing raw fish (known as Yusheng) as high as possible and screaming auspicious sayings, passing red packets containing a decent amount of money to the young and unmarried.
Stricter measures for Chinese New Year gatherings are introduced in Singapore this year. No groups can exceed eight persons and house visits are limited to twice a day. Many who love big parties are disappointed.
These measures apply to the Reunion Dinner that is set for the last day of the Lunar New Year, which has greater meaning than the 1st day of the New Year itself.
To understand the importance of the Reunion dinner, we have to look at China.
In China, many working adults do not have their families in the cities they are working in. A vast majority of them are rural-urban migrants. They look forward to heading home to their 2nd, 3rd-tier cities, villages to eat with their parents and kids who they meet and hug once a year.
Millions of people will be affected. The lucky ones get to go home. A vast majority will not. I cannot imagine how they would feel when their annual trip home has to be canceled.
And to this point, I think it is important not to politicize the pandemic.
We can debate health policies and the effectiveness of pandemic-containment at the global level.
However, it is the people who have to deal with the pandemic and its pervasive effects. Politics take a side-step when people cannot unite with their families.
Even when they do, that journey home is arduous. Imagine traveling home in a rail container with all protective gear in place for days. Safety masks, gloves, and disinfectants are required if they get to go home.
Public transport for the masses has transformed into a moving science laboratory. Safety First is no longer a slogan for the construction and offshore marine sectors.
Things change in Singapore for 2021 too.
As we are a small country where the ultimate east point and west are 42 kilometers apart, we do not have to undergo human migration as China does.
For us, eating together at the same table for families greater than eight persons will not be allowed.
One of my ex-colleagues is considering reunion dinners over Zoom, where the entire family can get-together virtually while eating a different spread. It seems that his kids are rather happy that they get to have pizza for once, instead of the usual steamboat.
Restaurant patrons are advised not to shout auspicious sayings as they toss the raw fish. I think it has to do with preventing large drops of saliva from flying around.
Electronic ang-pows (ang-pow refer to the red packet) via bank transfers are preferred over red paper envelopes, to minimize the potential spread of the invisible via human touch points.
Fashionistas prepared to strut along the streets with figure-hugging cheongsams need to put on color compatible face masks.
Mind you, we are talking about a country that has gotten infection rates under control.
Chinese New Year 2021 is different from 2020, and I do not think it will be the only time where health and safety come before the actual mode of celebration.
That said, we have a lot to celebrate gratuitously.
The elders need not worry about excessive hospital visits, and the young can continue to run around, making a ruckus. We can continue to generate sufficient income to keep our families going, working safely from home.
And I believe we will not give a second thought to wearing a mask when we get out of the house, moving forward. It is similar to wearing a condom today.
Will the pandemic be contained? I do not know. The last time I checked, A.I.D.S is still around. We learned to live with it around, with precautionary measures in place.
We will eventually embrace pandemic-containment measures holistically, where they will change how we live and work in this decade.
And because of that, Chinese New Year will never be the same again.
Wishing All Readers A Happy Chinese New Year.
Aldric
Related Stories from the Author.
About the Author:
As a content contributor, I write my observations from daily life and my business exposure.
Because our life experience is the bedrock of our unique perspectives.
As a Consultant by training, I believe in making the complex simple.
Because simplicity adds value.
And with clarity — We grow.
Follow me for my stories on Medium!
This is more “About Me”.