Spring Festival in my eyes

Updated: 2015-03-05 15:39

[图/People.cn]

By Muhammad Abdullah

Spring festival is translated in English as “Chinese New Year” and from these words it seems like this festival just belongs to Chinese people, but I would like to dare to disagree with this perception. I believe that this festival has become a festival for the whole world because it is now celebrated in almost all parts of the world - as well as people from the whole world are now in China with different purposes and they all celebrate it with their Chinese fellows, therefore, it can be considered a festival for the whole world.

In the era of technology, where the distances have shrunk and people can remain in touch with others via electronic devices, this festival provides an opportunity for people to spend time with their families by postponing their daily life activities for a few days. People from different walks of life say goodbye to their work/jobs/businesses on a temporary basis and move towards a place which is usually called their hometown. This is considered the most peaceful place, which is full of joys and pleasures where elders, youngsters, grandfathers, grandmothers and their sons and daughters and their children are all together. They are already united and this festival provides them an opportunity to come closer by removing the distances due to the fact that jobs and work are in different places. This is not only the source of reunion among people but also the source of reunion of relationships. On this occasion, people spend money for food and shopping, so this spending brings a motion and creates a huge momentum in the economy, which is beneficial to all. This festival is a source of reunion of families, friends and I do believe that now it has become a source of reunion of nations as this year the Spring Festival was celebrated in 320 cities in 118 countries, which means 118 different nations were engaged in the pleasures of this festival from Feb 18 to March 5. If Chinese people were so open-hearted and generous that they shared the New Year’s pleasures out of China, then frankly speaking, how was it possible that they would forget the foreign students at China, like us.

I am an international student in China, like many thousands of other students, I can be considered as the guest of the Chinese people. For international students, my university arranged a superb party on the evening of Feb 18. This news brought a message of excitement for the students from 47 different countries at my university. This invitation made us realize that when the whole Chinese nation would be celebrating the pleasures of New Year, they would not forget their guests in China. On this amazing evening, the party hall was decorated and the lights were blinking on the walls. The beautiful and eye-catching pictures of sheep were clearly mentioning that this year is the sheep year, which means the people born in this year are polite, tender, filial and kind-hearted. Even on this evening, when every Chinese wants to spend time with his/her family, the president of our university and the director of the international exchange college, along with other staff members were present among us. In the opening speech, the leaders of the university wished us happy Chinese New Year with great enthusiasm and we responded by clapping our hands for a long time.

After the speech, the leaders of our university wished happy New Year to us by visiting us at our tables and to welcome them we left our chairs and stood up. They sacrificed their precious time and joined us so we thanked them and their answer was amazing and unforgettable. They said “Do you people not consider us a part of your family?” “We do so we are here with you”, they added with a polite smile and emotions dominated over our thoughts and feelings and we became speechless. It was an unforgettable reunion between the management and students, between the guests and hosts that tightened the existing relationship more firmly, and it was just due to the Spring Festival. I want to share with readers that on the occasion of Spring Festival, such reunion parties are arranged by all the universities and the international students who are the representatives of their countries are invited there. I don’t need to mention that delicious Chinese food is also served there, especially the Chinese dumplings.

For me, as an international student, this festival brings the message of harmony, a message of brotherhood and an occasion to enjoy the reunion with university leaders, Chinese teachers and other university fellows. I do feel, as well as I do believe, that we are one family and will be forever.

Thanks Spring Festival.

Thanks.