Friday’s Mission Moment: City vs. Countryside

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One of the topics I enjoy teaching in the classroom involves holidays. I have an opportunity to share with students the most popular American holidays. Christmas, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day are all fair game. I then ask the students which are the most popular holidays in China. I expected to hear “Spring Festival” (Chinese New Year), or National Day, or Teachers Day, Labor Day, and Children’s Day. The students, however, responded with Christmas, Children’s Day, New Year’s Day (January 1). I couldn’t believe it. Half the class responded with Western holidays, the other half with Chinese holidays. And upon further reflection, the half that responded with western holidays all lived in the city.

To this new generation of children living in the cities, “receiving presents” is their #1 priority. Spring Festival used to be the only time of the year when children would get new clothing and outfits to wear. However, in advertisements across China, Christmas has replaced the traditional time to give presents and causing Spring Festival to lose some its “pop”. In fact, this new generation of children expect presents all the time. But I wonder if this is just a city phenomenon.

For children that live in China’s rural areas, especially those that are a part of chinaconnect’s HomeAlone Kids Care Project, the only time they may see their parents during the year is when they return home for Spring Festival, usually about one week. Spring Festival, I believe, remains the one time when they may get new clothing, or a present of some kind. However, probably the greatest gift these children receive is seeing and hugging their parents. For these kids, Spring Festival still remains as the most important holiday of the year.

Blessings and Peace,

Steve