China’s stay-at-home Lunar New Year a welcome break from tradition for many
- Not everyone is sorry to be skipping the family festivities, which usually include intrusive questions from relatives
- Most city workers appear to be heeding the government’s call not to travel this year, in bid to prevent another Covid-19 outbreak
Yuan, who works in Beijing and is learning to be an illustrator, usually spends the Spring Festival in Changchun city in the northeastern province of Jilin, where relatives and former classmates pester her about when she will get a boyfriend and marry.
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The 28-year-old answered the questions – which she regarded as unnecessary blasts – year after year, until she eventually kept silent whenever the subject was raised.
“Now this year the country calls us to say put, I am really happy, since I can finally escape those annoying questions,” Yuan said. “Everybody has different life plans and there is no benchmark for all. But when they ask me those questions, they seldom consider my situation and feelings.”
For Yuan, the internet will help shorten the physical distance from her family. “I talk with my parents via WeChat almost every day, and there’s not so much difference that I cannot go back,” she said. “I will make use of the Spring Festival holiday to gather drawing materials and practice illustrating.”
Yuan is not alone in feeling a sense of relief about missing out this year on the gatherings which are an integral part of the week-long holiday, with its special focus on family reunions and the exchanging of new year blessings.