The value of Chinese festive seasons
The value of Chinese festive seasons
The dumpling festival is fast approaching again, and for many, buying dumplings off the shelf for consumption seems to be the easiest and most convenient thing to do. Like past years, my eldest sis would always be the one to suggest making our very own dumplings - in fact, she's so into making pineapple tarts, dumplings, mooncakes, etc, that she would always be the one rallying all of us to "participate" whenever we can. Well, besides the fact that the dumplings she made are really delicious and full of ingredients (hmm... imagine with egg york, dried shrimps, mushrooms, meat, bean paste, red beans, chestnuts, etc ... are you salivating already ... haha), such times of "working together" helps the family gel as well.
After receiving theological education at the college, I began to view Chinese festive seasons in a different light. In fact, I used to be "struggling" and "wondering" that as a Christian, what I can participate in, and what I can't, when all these Chinese festive seasons come round the corner. More so, when a lot of these festivals seemed to place much emphasis on remembering our ancestors.
I discovered that there is a difference between ancestor worship and ancestor veneration - the former being really treating our ancestors as gods, praying to them and wishing for blessings, etc; whereas the latter being remembering our ancestors, keeping their memories with us alive. I guess the reason why many Christians struggled with participating in Chinese festivals is because of a misconception between the two - ancestor worship and ancestor veneration. In fact, I begin to see Chinese festive seasons to be something that is so valueable and important, and ought to be held dear by Christians as well - of course, less the worship element of other spirits and gods.
You see, most of the Chinese festivals emphasized on firstly remembering our ancestors - whether it's in the form of making offerings to them or whatsoever, the primary motive is to remember the deceased even though they are departed - in fact, the deceased are not only not forgotten after their death, they are still very much remembered and cherished!
Secondly, Chinese festivals thrives on opportunities for family reunions - just think of the value of Lunar New Year dinners, and occasionally some families getting together on the 15th day of Lunar New Year again to mark the close of the season ... the Qing Ming festival where most family members come together to visit the tombs/columbarium ... the mid-autumn or mooncake festival ... the winter solstice (or dong zhi) - most of these occasions are family get-togethers, especially in and for very traditional Chinese families.
Thirdly, Chinese festivals teaches the younger generations about filial piety - going back to ancestor veneration and family get-togethers - isn't the roots of all these deep-seated in the value of respecting our elders and appreciating our family members/loved ones?
In fact, comparing with a number of the Western festivals, which I felt whose emphasis (pardon me, I may be wrong ...) seemed to be more on gathering and meeting up with friends ... partying with friends ... having a good time with friends ... etc, the Chinese festivals really had much to offer and teach us - whether we are Christians or not. I would really encourage Christians to participate in these Chinese festivals by their presence, and not avoidance of it - and of course, ask God for wisdom and discretion as we participate that in our involvement we don't stumble another younger Christian or non-believer by our "insensitive" actions.
The dumpling festival is fast approaching again, and for many, buying dumplings off the shelf for consumption seems to be the easiest and most convenient thing to do. Like past years, my eldest sis would always be the one to suggest making our very own dumplings - in fact, she's so into making pineapple tarts, dumplings, mooncakes, etc, that she would always be the one rallying all of us to "participate" whenever we can. Well, besides the fact that the dumplings she made are really delicious and full of ingredients (hmm... imagine with egg york, dried shrimps, mushrooms, meat, bean paste, red beans, chestnuts, etc ... are you salivating already ... haha), such times of "working together" helps the family gel as well.
After receiving theological education at the college, I began to view Chinese festive seasons in a different light. In fact, I used to be "struggling" and "wondering" that as a Christian, what I can participate in, and what I can't, when all these Chinese festive seasons come round the corner. More so, when a lot of these festivals seemed to place much emphasis on remembering our ancestors.
I discovered that there is a difference between ancestor worship and ancestor veneration - the former being really treating our ancestors as gods, praying to them and wishing for blessings, etc; whereas the latter being remembering our ancestors, keeping their memories with us alive. I guess the reason why many Christians struggled with participating in Chinese festivals is because of a misconception between the two - ancestor worship and ancestor veneration. In fact, I begin to see Chinese festive seasons to be something that is so valueable and important, and ought to be held dear by Christians as well - of course, less the worship element of other spirits and gods.
You see, most of the Chinese festivals emphasized on firstly remembering our ancestors - whether it's in the form of making offerings to them or whatsoever, the primary motive is to remember the deceased even though they are departed - in fact, the deceased are not only not forgotten after their death, they are still very much remembered and cherished!
Secondly, Chinese festivals thrives on opportunities for family reunions - just think of the value of Lunar New Year dinners, and occasionally some families getting together on the 15th day of Lunar New Year again to mark the close of the season ... the Qing Ming festival where most family members come together to visit the tombs/columbarium ... the mid-autumn or mooncake festival ... the winter solstice (or dong zhi) - most of these occasions are family get-togethers, especially in and for very traditional Chinese families.
Thirdly, Chinese festivals teaches the younger generations about filial piety - going back to ancestor veneration and family get-togethers - isn't the roots of all these deep-seated in the value of respecting our elders and appreciating our family members/loved ones?
In fact, comparing with a number of the Western festivals, which I felt whose emphasis (pardon me, I may be wrong ...) seemed to be more on gathering and meeting up with friends ... partying with friends ... having a good time with friends ... etc, the Chinese festivals really had much to offer and teach us - whether we are Christians or not. I would really encourage Christians to participate in these Chinese festivals by their presence, and not avoidance of it - and of course, ask God for wisdom and discretion as we participate that in our involvement we don't stumble another younger Christian or non-believer by our "insensitive" actions.
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