CNY atmosphere?

Everyone we met, we talked to, will agreed on one thing - "This year's" CNY atmosphere is not as merry as the previous year(s). Note that "this year" is actually refering to every year. Every year for sure we will say something like this.

It seem we tend to miss the good old days, but really, does the atmosphere really get thinner? 20 years ago, CNY album by local artist is not a norm. The radio, TV, shops still airing good old classic CNY songs that really brings in the spirit.

20 years ago, we do not have Tesco, Giant, Carrefour hyper market. Most supermarkets we have are sendirian berhad by some local Chinaman that will close half day on the Eve of CNY. Thus last minutes shopping then is stupid, and the people will really get into real CNY shopping weeks earlier.

We visited the wet market more of then, pressing the boundaries of our fridge with the enormous amount of food supply we bought, fearing that it will take days before some proper restaurant with reasonable price will reopen. Now, most fast food and eatery opens almost 365 days a year. Some even extend business our in festive season. Food supply is never an issue, for most hyperstore franchise will be opened. We no longer need to buy and keep large supply of food. We can buy less and reload it when its finish anytime, since the market is always opened for us.

20 years ago, car was less on the road. Now an average income family has at least one to two cars. The street is never quiet. 20 years ago, you can even lie down in the middle of the road in the first day of CNY. The city is deserted, almost dead. Now, the city never sleeps.

We were so thrilled when we get Ang-pow, regardless of the value in it (although we will be happier is the value is bigger). What can be more fun, than calculating the total Ang-pow value after the 15th? That, was the only constant source of income we have, as a kid. Now...sigh.Taking Ang-pow is so mechanical. The giver is acting and so is the receiver. We no longer be very thrilled and excited of getting money.

As a kid, it feels the time travel so very slow. From one CNY to another is a very long wait. Now, I can even clearly remember what I ate last year, what wine I was drinking, what did I do after reunion dinner. It's just happened months ago.

Does the CNY atmosphere getting thinner? If is it our mentality is changing? We no longer restricted within our shelter. We are now out there, exploring. We learnt more, got to know more. We no longer son # Y or so that is so excited about CNY reunion dinner or house visiting. We now have responsibility, burden, mission everyday. We no longer blinded by the colorful world of our naiveness, but we are revealed, to a certain extent how hellish our world is. CNY is but a norm, a ritual of live we no longer sure of its rational.

The skinny kid inside me has long gone along with my naiveness, stolen by the vilain - Time. CNY for me is almost meaningless, save for the chance getting long holiday. I get involve in CNY preparation not because I like it, but to help out my parents.

I do not know how a CNY atmosphere should feel like. But I do firmly believe, the essence of CNY if family. This is a time where a big family will get their reunion, with number of attendee exited any other non-CNY family gathering throughout the years.

Is there a CNY feel, I don't give a shit. What I enjoy most in CNY Eve, is always the reunion diner. After days of work and preparation. We all sit around the table having our meat, drinking sparkling wine, chat and joke with an extra touch of merriness, largely due to during CNY we prefer to only saying good things. In CNY suddenly all people you meet 'look' nice and friendly. CNY is the living proof, we can survive the day without losing the head and utter a syllable of vulgar language.

Is CNY losing it's atmosphere year by year? What changed? The world, or us? Or both?

CNY, wish my parents身體健康 and my friend - 發you!