Winter in My Community

 

            Having been a resident of Changchun City since childhood, I can confidently say that it is one of the most important hubs of economic, political, and, most importantly, cultural activity in my country. This city is quite huge in line with its status as the capital of China’s Jilin Province. Indeed, this community is known for several things, but none of these is equal to the wondrous winter season and its cultural accompaniments. The season has continually shaped my cultural identity as it highlights important cultural aspects that define us as the Changchun Community.

            The winter season in my hometown is exceptional to say the least. My community engages in numerous social and leisure activities to usher in this spectacular season. One of the most conspicuous among these is the widespread purchase of large quantities of Chinese cabbage. Large quantities of this vegetable are first arranged outside in the open sun to dry in preparation for use in making Chinese Sauerkraut – a major ingredient in the community cuisines. In the old past, large quantities of cabbage are bought to ensure there is enough vegetable in store to last the entire winter.  The community is usually hit by a severe shortage of vegetable in this season, which means that people have to find a way to store this precious but perishable vegetable. Consequently, this activity has become an important component of our community’s tradition. For me, the sight of large quantities of cabbage around my community is something that triggers a feeling of excitement because it marks the onset of my most favorite season among the year – a period characterized by various delicious cuisines, festivals, vacations, and above all, family reunion.

            In my hometown, temperatures vary significantly all through the year, which defines the four seasons clearly. Winter is usually the longest sometimes lasting for up to 7 months. Day length usually gets shorter as we move into midwinter. As the temperature hits -10 Fahrenheit, I dress for the occasion and so does other teenagers in our community. Our usual dress code comprises of a down coat, woolen hat, scarf, muffle, and mask specifically made for the freezing weather. Generally, long-sleeved clothing tends to be the uniform in our community during this period regardless of age. This dress code elicits sweet memories from our past and symbolizes a key aspect of our tradition.

             The lunar new year is usually deep into the winter. This is also known as the Spring Festival; a time when my family holds the reunion. This is one time that I would not want to miss at all since it is the only time that both of my parents take a break from work. We participate in numerous cultural traditions as well as celebrations. It is our family tradition to prepare stuffed buns and dumplings. We also write couplets associated with the spring festival. On top of this, our community members usually hang lanterns at porches and all around the city. Lucky money is also put in red envelops and distributed to children as gifts and as a way of spreading the new year wishes. The ultimate epic moment of these activities in my community is the fireworks and sharing of family delicacies with relatives and friends alike.

            The attractiveness of the snow view is one to behold. In fact, my hometown is known for the way it attracts visitors from across the globe to come and savor these incredible sights. The permanent covering of snow creates a nice environment for a wide range of fun activities. One of the most attended activities during this period is the Jingyuetan Ice and Snow Festival. Additionally, there is the Yuanxiao Festival, which is meant to celebrate the first full moon in a lunar new year. Actually, this festival has a rich history dating back to around 210 CE. It is a festival with many fun activities, principals of which are the carrying of lanterns at night and attempting to solve riddles printed inside the lanterns. These lanterns are usually used to symbolize good fortune and are made in various shapes including those of animals. In the past, young men and women used this festival with the hope of finding partners. Essentially, it was more of a matchmaking ceremony. In fact, the festival is likened to Valentine’s Day and some people refer to it as the Chinese Valentine’s Day. The festival also serves as a perfect arena to display various elements of our culture. Every year, we construct huge ice castles in parks. In addition, we carve sculptures of revered folk figures as well as animals using ice. We then stuff these items with colorful lights, which makes them incredibly beautiful – a sort of wonderland that families spend a substantial amount of the nighttime viewing. These exhilarating scenes make the season memorable not only for the locals but for tourists as well.   

            Other common sights during this time are the skiing and ice sliding. These activities also bring together members of my community and visiting tourists along with their families. The polar bear swim is another thrilling activity. It requires a lot of courage since it basically involves swimming outdoor in lakes or ice-cold rivers. Interestingly, this is also done for purposes beyond mere pleasure such as charity. Overall, the winter season in my hometown is one that has shaped my existence. It is a season that helps us to showcase our traditions, cuisine, and cultural activities in general to the rest of the world. For me, it is a time that presents some of the most memorable moments of my existence and one that I always look forward to. As is the case with every teenager, this is a period that effectively teaches me the importance of coming together as a family and community to enjoy what nature offers. This period offers me an opportunity to learn and align my family traditions with that of my community. As aforementioned, temperatures are quite chilling during this season, yet I have managed to courageously get out and take part in these activities, which distinguish my family and my community at large from others. In view of this, it has shaped my character as a hard-working and sociable person.

            In conclusion, my community is known for various things, but the biggest among these is the winter season. It is usually the longest among the four seasons of the year. As much as it is a chilly period, it is graced with numerous cultural activities that make it unique and special. This season distinguishes my community from other Chinese communities and the rest of the world. More importantly, the season, as well as the activities it is associated with, has significantly shaped my cultural identify since childhood. Above all, it has helped me to grow into a hardworking and courageous person who appreciates family and recognizes the need for communal leisure activities. I always look forward to this period as it helps me to continually learn my family and community traditions with the hope of passing them on to the future generations.