Source:
https://scmp.com/comment/letters/article/2185296/if-grandma-gets-hi-tech-break-lunar-new-year-kitchen-whats-not
Comment/ Letters

If grandma gets a hi-tech break from the Lunar New Year kitchen, what’s not to celebrate?

Residents raise their glasses at a table full of dishes during a “ten thousand families dinner” to celebrate the Lunar New Year, in Wuhan, Hubei province. Photo: Handout

I am writing in response to “How China’s technology boom is changing New Year celebrations” (February 5). It’s a Chinese tradition to cook a huge meal for the Lunar New Year and for several generations of family members to gather together for a reunion dinner. This is because the New Year is a time for family reunions, and everyone working far away comes back to their hometowns for it.

However, the person cooking this big feast is usually the mother or the grandmother. They may be getting on and may not wish — or have the strength – to prepare the lavish meals any more, as the preparation alone takes a lot out of them, and then each dish takes up a lot of time and energy.

It is indeed good news if technology can give them a break during the New Year. The reunion dinner will still need to be laid on, but it is no longer a problem for them to worry about. Ordering a multi-course meal online is as easy as a few taps. People can enjoy food from their favourite restaurant without having to wait for hours, or jostle with the crowds. And not having to leave the house must be a good idea in the north of the country, where it is still bitterly cold. After all, when this tradition was invented, there were no restaurants and people just stayed indoors and celebrated.

Technology that brings comfort to the people is worth celebrating. We can see how China’s advances in technology have transformed the lives of the Chinese people.

Katy Lee, Tseung Kwan O