Has the Lunar New Year lost its Fun?
By Phạm Nhật Huy 11.2
It is that time of the year again when Spring emerges: Cherry and apricots blooming in pots, ornaments of red and yellow coating houses, and bus stops becoming jam-packed with people returning to their homes in the countryside. These images have long been a staple of the annual Lunar New Year celebrations. Yet even this bustling scene cannot fill the emptiness in me. I just can’t find it within myself to truly enjoy the holiday like I used to – as if something important is no longer present.
Photograph by Stanislav Beloglazov, courtesy of Wikimedia. CC BY SA 4.0
Impending Adulthood
“As we grow older, Lunar New Year doesn’t feel as fun as it used to” is a sentiment long shared by people on social media. Being nearly 17 myself, I can attest to this.
Long gone are the days of getting excited to receive lucky money, waiting for the cake pot to cook, and racing each other for the final piece of candied fruit. Instead, we are stressed out with going to college, preparing to enter adulthood, and the various responsibilities alongside.
The idea of growing up – which had not once occurred to any of us 10 years ago – is now a reality: one that makes us carry huge burdens and effectively eliminates any dreams of a carefree childhood long past.
Social Isolation
Another huge elephant in the room that most people nowadays fail to address is the modern-day phenomenon of social isolation, which happens when our need for rewarding social interaction and relationships is not met. One of the most prominent reasons for this can be attributed to the excessive use of technology.
When everyone is too busy scrolling on their phones, so dies out the precious time for socializing each year. The rapid modernization of social media and technology alike causes detrimental effects on our attention span, need for connections, and relationships – in turn, shortening the already short amount of time we have left together in this holiday season.
While the article may seem doom and gloom – which it is – the true essence of the holiday never changes: as an opportunity for generations to get together in a festive and familial atmosphere. It is up to each of us to make the best use of this holiday season, appreciate each moment together, and have fun this Lunar New Year.
Works Cited
“Technology Use, Loneliness, and Isolation”
Jasmin Tahmaseb, Psychology Today,
