A Chinese New Year in the countryside

As evening drew closer, more family members and people started to arrive. It seemed like half the village was congregating in one house. I realized how generous the family was, providing for others in the village and inviting them along to take part in the New Year meal. The family was one of the most well off in the village; I found out that they had been the first to own a radio and a television.

To my surprise, none of the villagers found it strange that a foreigner was coming to join the celebration. In fact, they were very welcoming, toasting me continuously and inviting me to drink with them and taste every dish on the table. They asked me a whole host of questions about my family and where I was from, and where I had visited in China. There were so many people in the house that two sets of tables had been set up, after being introduced to the villagers in the kitchen, I went to join the family in the main room.

Every new year meal I have seen has been different. This time there was a huge variety of different dishes, from cold fruits and nuts, to preserved meats, hot vegetable dishes and a whole fish standing out at the center of the table. I did not hesitate in indulging myself in all the treats that had been put before me. Before long, everybody was fully into their meal, and I was no exception.

The television in the corner of the room had already been switched on, and was tuned to the CCTV New Year Gala. Despite the fact we were in the middle of the country, the picture was crisp and the sound filled the room. Everybody in the room sat transfixed by the acts on the show.

At midnight, everybody gathered around for another feast of boiled dumplings with meat fillings. I had eaten my fill, and after all the excitement of the celebration, the guests started to leave. "So this is what an authentic Chinese New Year in the countryside is like," I thought.