More people prefer dining at home on Lunar New Year's Eve as tradition stages comeback

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, January 20, 2004

More people prefer dining at home on Lunar New Year's Eve as tradition stages comeback

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The whole family sitting together around the table to enjoy dinner is no doubt the most pleased event on China's Lunar New Year Eve for thousands of years. But the point is: where do you enjoy your dinner this year?

As the traditional Spring Festival, due to fall on Jan. 22, whether to have dinner at home or in a restaurant has become a question facing many Chinese. With higher living standards and changing lifestyles in recent years, more Chinese families have chosen to eat in a restaurant to avoid the trouble of preparing such an extravagant family meal.

This year, however, people are increasingly doubtful about the joy of eating out. Over half of 500 respondents in a recent survey in Shanghai said they were tired of having dinner at restaurants.

"There is no festival mood in a crowded, noisy restaurant," some said.

Li Linfang, a commercial enterprise staff said that she would prefer to stay at home. "I feel most cozy and comfortable having dinner at home."

"A warm house, bright yellow lights, appetizing scents floating from a gorgeous display of food, families' chatter and laughter around the table ... all are things that touch every Chinese heartstrings."

China's 25-year-old economic reform and opening-up has transformed the country's landscape, leaving urbanites with a swollen wallet, and hence, more life choice to make out of the traditional box.

Last year, in east China's Shanghai municipality alone, around 30,000 dinners were served on the Lunar New Year Eve. Many restaurants in other big cities like Beijing and its neighboring city of Tianjing, had put out "fully booked" signs for weeks or even months before the festival.

"Why does the Chinese family have the tradition of spending the Spring Festival together? It's because they want to usher in a peaceful, united and joyful life for all family members in the new year," said Feng Jicai, a renowned writer and vice-chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. "How can such an atmosphere be manifested? It's through the get-together dinner on New Year's Eve."

Shrewd businessmen have quickly sensed the change. Quanjude, the No. 1 Peking roast duck restaurant, has joined hands with EMS (express mail service) 185 of China Post to offer a door-to-door service.

"Dial 185 and a steaming hot roast duck will be a hit on your dinner table four hours later," said Ms. Liu with Quanjude's marketing department, adding that over 70 roast ducks were sold through the direct marketing service every day during last year's Spring Festival.

Besides well-established restaurants, Goodies, a food and drink delivery company, has jumped in to benefit from the "Lunar New Year Eve's dinner economy". A call or a visit to its website will enable customers to get food items from over 30 Western-style restaurants.

"No matter where you enjoy the dinner, Jiaozi (or dumpling believed to bring good luck if eaten before midnight on New Year's Eve) has to be home-made," said a 90-year-old grandma from Beijing.

The old lady gently pulled a copper coin tied with a red threadout of her pocket. "It's magic. I wrap it in a Jiaozi every year. My grandchildren scramble to find it as anyone who gets it will be bestowed with a peaceful life for the whole year."

Source: Xinhua

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