Chinese New Year is just 3 weeks away. To build the mood, I want to share with you a weird thing (well, that's what my parents said) that I like to do during this period.
Back when we were younger, during the month before Chinese New Year, every family would be very busy cleaning their house, buying new clothes, pants and shoes, baking cookies, and parents often brought their children to the morning market to buy firecrackers. Black coloured cloths and jeans with holes were not allowed during Chinese New Year period.
Nowadays however, the sound of fire crackers are almost unheard. New clothes, pants, and shoes for Chinese New Year are no longer necessary. You will also see youngsters wearing black cloths during Chinese New Year, no one seems to care about it. Once the clock strikes 12 am on the first day of Chinese New Year, no friends nor relatives even call to wish us “GongXiFaCai”. It has been instead replaced by digital wishes of “GongXiFaCai” in WhatsApp.
曾经，过年前家家户户都会很忙，忙着打扫家里的每一个角落，忙着买新衣新裤新鞋，做各种糕点准备招待客人，父母还会带小孩特地去早市买各式各样的炮竹。妈妈还会提醒我们那件黑色的不可以穿，你那牛仔裤的袋子有个洞，不吉利，不能穿。
如今，陪着我们长大的炮竹，那些小小的玩意儿渐渐的消失。过年前也没特地去买新衣新裤新鞋，拜年穿黑的衣服的也已经见怪不怪。一到凌晨十二点，手机响个不停，不是亲戚朋友打电话来祝贺，而是那些变成图案的祝贺词在WhatsApp里传来传去。
There are many things that have changed. For me, the most obvious change is the Chinese New Year songs. Since I was a kid, I have had a special interest in Chinese New Year songs. Local artists from MY ASTRO always do a great job by introducing new Chinese New Year songs every year. It’s very modern, easy to sing along and with meaningful lyrics. However, for me, it lacks some of the Chinese New Year feel that older songs had.
新年变化实在太多，但是我觉得最明显的就是新年歌。我从小就对新年歌有种特别的感觉。每年电台MY ASTRO的潮流的新年歌都很好听，朗朗上口，歌词也很有意识，但是就是少了些感觉。
During Chinese New Year period, sometimes I like to listen to the classic Chinese New Year songs of old. I am not referring to songs from 龙飘飘 or林淑容 era, but from a much older era. I think not many people have heard of these songs now. Even my parents feel that my taste of Chinese New year songs is a little weird.
Actually, the older Chinese New Year songs are very unique. For example, the song 《恭喜恭喜》by 姚莉and姚敏.The only musical instrument used was a guitar. When listening to this song, I feel like I am celebrating Chinese New Year in Hawaii.
在新年期间有时候我会听一些比较早期的新年歌才能够给到我新年的气氛。早期的新年歌我不是指龙飘飘或林淑容年代的歌，而是姚莉，姚敏还有张露年代的新年歌。应该很少人听过这些人的名字吧。就连我父母也顶不顺我播这年代的新年歌。哈哈
其实那些年代的新年歌很特别。比如姚莉阿姨跟姚敏叔叔合唱的《恭喜恭喜》，整首歌就只用了一把小吉他伴奏，听起来还会有一种像在夏威夷吹海风的感觉。
Another example is the song 《向王小二拜年》by 白光.This Chinese New Year song has an almost Christmas feel to it. The first part of the song is similar to Jingle Bells!
或者是白光唱的《向王小二拜年》，简直是圣诞气氛的新年歌，前奏还是Jingle Bell的曲调呢！没听过的可以听下。
The world is changing every day, and we have no choice but to follow the trend. The only thing in this world that doesn’t change, is ‘CHANGE’. Things from different era are not outdated, you simply need to change your perception, and you will discover something very special thing in them.
跟着时段潮流的改变，我们没办法也得跟着走。因为这世界只有一样东西不会变，那就是‘变’。不同时代的东西，不能说是过时，换个概念就能感受那独特的味道。
Happy Chinese New Year! 新年快乐，恭喜发财！
