Some say that Spring Festival has always related to money. It is true that people emphasized meals and exchanges of gifts, stressed auspicious remarks and avoided taboos.

Traditional Spring Festivals, however, were never only about the worship of money. It was more a festival of culture and attachment. People have been using this festival to honor ancestors and reunite with relatives and friends. Their sense of morality was ignited by participating in various ceremonies.

The traditional cultural connotation of Spring Festival includes rich factors like ideals, hopes, harmony, reverence and appreciation. That is why the series of traditions and rituals have lasted thousands of years all over China, even affecting the cultures in a greater area.

The damage to the festivals' cultural connotations have led to an awkward situation for traditional festivals. On the one hand, there have been great changes in the level of knowledge and rhythm of modern life. On the other hand, the various social transitions over the past century, such as the new culture movement in the early 20th century, the "cultural revolution" (1966-76) and economic globalization in recent years, have had multiple impacts on our traditional culture.

The cultural connotations of our festivals get weaker each year while sophisticated businesspeople soon fill the gap with the culture of consumption. Holiday mammonism gradually holds sway. Disguised by the prosperity of the holiday economy, it is rarely questioned.

A campaign should be launched to protect the cultural connotations of our festivals, build up a healthier national mentality and make culture a driving force for social development.

The fun and delight of traditional festivals should be recovered and promoted. The many games and activities like setting off firecrackers, group prayer and playing instruments should be restored. New activities like community games, visits among neighbors and charitable actions can also be developed.

It is important to make festivals more relaxing, restrained and civilized. Interpersonal communication should reach a higher spiritual level to give full play to the festivals' functions in evoking echoes of human nature, concentrating moral consensus and appreciating life's feelings.

Last but not least, a discussion should be initiated to rectify misunderstandings about culture and the economy. The two inseparable parts of the whole complement each other. If we merely pursue economic concerns and consumption, it would be a departure from the real value of culture or even an abandonment of our culture.

The author works with the Xingtai education bureau in North China's Hebei Province

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