Today is February 14, 2014, the 15th day of the first lunar month, the traditional Lantern Festival. I wish everyone a Happy Lantern Festival!
However, although it is the Lantern Festival, our local customs do not include any grand celebrations. It seems that here, the Lantern Festival is just like any other regular 1st or 15th day of the lunar month—we simply burn incense and worship the gods as usual. The only special thing was that my mother set off some firecrackers this morning. There are no tangyuan (sweet rice balls), lanterns, or lantern riddles. Nevertheless, this does not stop me from appreciating the Lantern Festival. In my memory, this seems to be the first time since I started school that I have spent the Lantern Festival at home. Fortunately, I did not participate in the American Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM/ICM); otherwise, I would have lost half a month of vacation and a rare Lantern Festival, only to gain labor that would not have been worth the effort...
Today is also Western Valentine’s Day, but here I only emphasize the Lantern Festival. The primary reason is not that I am currently single (though that is indeed one of the reasons ^_^), but rather that the Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese festival. I have a peculiar “hobby”—I tend not to follow whatever is trendy. Consequently, since so many people are celebrating Western holidays (such as Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day), I choose not to join the crowd. I recall last year on Christmas Eve, a junior student came to promote and sell Christmas items to us, and I gave him a bit of a lecture. I told him bluntly, “Why didn’t you wait until New Year’s Day to come?” I think if one day I have the opportunity to celebrate Valentine’s Day, I would only celebrate the Chinese Valentine’s Day. I always feel that the Chinese version is much more beautiful: Qixi, the Qixi Festival—how beautiful! Both the legends and the customs are far more elegant.
Yesterday, I saw a post on QQ Space: “This year, Valentine’s Day and the Lantern Festival fall on the same day; such an overlap occurs only once every 19 years. The last time was 1995, when we were still young; the next time will be 2033, when we will be old.” It sounds like such sentimental language. However, I immediately thought: isn’t this just the “7 leap months in 19 years” rule of the lunar calendar? Furthermore, I thought that this is actually not very precise. Let me calculate how to make it a bit more accurate... (The final result is 123 leap months in 334 years, which is slightly more accurate than 7 leap months in 19 years). Alright, please don’t throw stones at me. I indeed tend to think about rational things during emotional moments, or emotional things during rational moments.
I woke up a little earlier than usual this morning and felt quite bored. As mentioned before, there are no activities for our Lantern Festival. I originally wanted to find a movie or a TV series to watch, but I ended up spending the whole morning chatting on QQ. Indeed, idle talk and simple days are the easiest to pass. As I am about to prepare lunch, I started writing this piece. If we are to talk about love, I feel that two songs on this website represent two different periods of my life: Sakura Grass and Pain that Breathes. The melody of Sakura Grass is beautiful and moving, making one feel as if they are in a fairy-tale world. The lyrics make one infinitely long for love, stars, and the galaxy; remarkably, its artistic conception seems to coincide with my passion for astronomy. Although I have never personally experienced a romantic relationship, I have observed and learned a lot. Now, a new song, Pain that Breathes, has been added to my heart. It is a bit sad and reflective, much like the vicissitudes of time. The line “One person completing our dream” evokes countless original dreams and memories. However, it is an addition, not a replacement. One of my major characteristics is stubbornness—I will persist even to the point of being pedantic, and even with contradictory things, I seek to integrate them. Therefore, although my heart is catching up with the times, it is still filled with the expectations of Sakura Grass. Actually, there is a saying that puts it well: “Not giving up until reaching the Yellow River.” Indeed, if one hasn’t reached the Yellow River, why should one give up?
Although it is still very cold, the sun is shining brightly today. Indeed, it is a good day. May those in love hold hands for a lifetime, and may my single friends also live happily. Don’t forget, today is the Lantern Festival!
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