I’m really afraid of those articles that are too “correct”.
So, I have to say something else first. In 2025, this Spring Festival is really weird. In fact, it should be a day of great joy, and now, the whole world has begun to follow us to celebrate the New Year's Eve. However, as far as the feeling in my heart is concerned, I always feel that there is a different kind of feeling that is difficult to express accurately. That feeling was just like the can of malted milk that was about to expire hidden on the top of the cabinet when I was a kid. Although it tasted very sweet, it was also mixed with a sense of panic.
Do they understand what "year" is?
UNESCO, after all, did a very nice thing and included the Spring Festival in the category of "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity". But to be honest, I just want to ask: Those judges with blond hair and blue eyes, can they really taste the entangled meaning behind the two words "New Year's Eve", which is looking forward to a new year while being unable to let go of the past? Do they understand that behind the taboo of "no hair cutting during the first month" is the simplest love that old ladies give to their children and grandchildren?
don't know.
But that's not the point. The key point is that the items that belong to us finally have the ability to make the world stop, even if it is just a glance out of curiosity.
Si Snake: It’s not the “little dragon”, it’s itself
Many people say that the Year of the Snake is the "Year of the Little Dragon", which puts the Snake in a good light. Pooh.
Whose shadow would a snake not be interested in taking? Go and look through the bronzes in Sanxingdui. Those snakes are twisting their bodies, and their eyes reveal a spiritual and evil spirit. In the eyes of the ancients, snakes are spiritual creatures that can communicate between heaven and earth. They are the shape of Fuxi and Nuwa's intertwined human heads and snake bodies, and are what they looked like when chaos first began. What is a dragon? The dragon is a patchwork of powers, a mascot that was assembled later. Snakes, on the other hand, are the embodiment of divinity that grow out of the earth and smell like grass.
The mascot called "Sishengsheng" that appeared in this year's Spring Festival Gala is chubby and makes people feel happy just looking at it. Some people say it is very cute. As for me, I saw the very small Ruyi pattern on its head, as well as the peonies, peach blossoms and branches wrapped around its body in a circle. This is simply a beautiful decoration that hides the ancestors, all sewn into this soft little body. It conveys this meaning to those who are afraid of snakes: Don't run away, look at me, how close I am.
Things in Chinese characters: from "it" to "snake"
I always think that when our ancestors created characters, they must have been afraid of snakes.
Looking through oracle bone inscriptions, the word "it" first appears as a snake spitting out letters. At that time, when people met each other, they were not like we ask "Have you eaten?" like we do now. The difference is that people at that time would ask "Have you seen it?" And if nothing happens, the answer will be "nothing". My God, how exciting was life back then? Going out is like participating in a huge gamble, betting that the fatal "it" does not exist in the grass.
Later, when life became more stable, a "worm" representing that shape was added to the referring "it", which evolved into a "snake". This Chinese character has undergone such changes that the fear of nature has been transformed into an image of awe and the related discipline. Just one word is like a life history that contains traces of past activities and attitudes.
Snakes and rabbits make each generation rich
Before, my mother always said, "Snake coiled around rabbit, generation after generation will be rich." I always feel that this is nonsense, words with auspicious connotations made up by those who are afraid of poverty.
Then I saw a paper-cut from northern Shaanxi. A snake docilely entangled a rabbit. There was a strange tenderness to that scene. The coldness of the snake contrasts with the warmth of the rabbit, and the coiling of the snake and the jumping of the rabbit reflect each other. This is not talking about animals. It is clearly talking about days. No matter how difficult it is, no matter how cold the winter is, you can still create a gap, and there will always be a nest for the rabbit to hide.
This is probably the power of folk custom. It does not tell you those big principles, but integrates the most simple wishes into these seemingly contradictory images. After generations, it is cut on the window paper and posted on the earthen wall, making it impossible for wind, frost, rain and snow to penetrate.
This Spring Festival is different
During the Spring Festival in 2025, the Yellow Crane Tower on Snake Mountain lit up all night, and the light show dyed the Yangtze River golden red. People pray at the foot of Snake Mountain and take a walk at the foot of Turtle Mountain. The name of this place is as if it was agreed upon with God.
I was walking on the street, and there were children holding candy to draw snakes everywhere. The candy was shining brightly in the sun, and when I took a lick, it was so sweet that it made people sickly. Some people were wearing Hanfu, with looming snake patterns embroidered on their skirts, walking among the crowd, as if ancient ladies had accidentally entered the future world.
It feels so good. Both ancient and fresh.
Finally, let’s be honest
I know that I have to live my life day by day. Successfully declaring a heritage site as a heritage site will not reduce your mortgage loan by even one cent, nor will your fortune suddenly change in the Year of the Snake.
But at least, on this New Year's Eve, when Chinese people all over the world are waiting in front of the TV, waiting for the familiar bell to ring, and waiting for the host to say the words "Everything is as it should be, life will last forever", you will find that one thing is unwavering.
It’s that stubbornness that no matter how far you go, you always have to go home and eat dumplings.
It’s that feeling of security that feels inexplicable when you see the red word “福” posted upside down on the door.
The Spring Festival in 2025 is a gift to all Chinese people, and it is also a gift to the entire world. Written on the gift are two words. These two words are: live, live in a lively state, live in a orderly manner, and live like a snake waking up after hibernation. No matter how cold the environment is, it will twist its body and burrow in the direction of spring.
I hope that you and I will be able to shed the old skin in this Year of the Snake. Even if it hurts a little, we will still have to grow new scales to boldly hit the south wall or break open the door.
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