How Valentine’s Day conquered China

Valentine’s Day, as it is observed nowadays, could well be the quintessential demonstration of the crass commercialisation of human relationships. The legacy of colonial “hard power” and the pervasiveness of Western “soft power” have made Valentine’s Day celebrations de rigueur almost everywhere except under the strictest of theocracies.

Once upon a time, China, being a fount of civilisation and culture, saw its festivals adopted by peoples on the peripheries of the Middle Kingdom. The New Year, according to the Chinese calendar, which falls a few days after Valentine’s Day this year, is still celebrated in Korea (where it’s known as Seolnal) and Vietnam (Tet), and, some say, among Tibetans and Mongolians, too.

The Japanese New Year fell on the same day as that of the Chinese calendar until 1873, when a reforming Japan decided to adopt January 1 as its official and cultural New Year, perhaps a manifestation of Japan’s determination to “leave Asia and join Europe”.

Other Chinese holidays adopted by non-Chinese include the Mid- Autumn Festival, the Duanwu Festival (the one with dragon boats) and even birthdays of Chinese deities. Now, however, the Chinese, especially the young, celebrate Christmas with more enthusiasm than they do the Winter Solstice Festival and prefer Halloween to the Hungry Ghost Festival. Some even observe Thanksgiving! Well, if they can’t become Americans or Europeans, they can at least celebrate their holidays.