I don't think I'll be wishing you a happy new year.

I used to be a normal-and-politically-aware/ level-headed /rational /socially concerned Taiwanese who advocated the phrase “Lunar new year” instead of “Chinese new year” (for blatantly obvious, do-you-care-about-being-exclusive?, the-far-east-doesnt-belong-to-China!, why-isn’t-being-politically-correct-attractive-anymore?, reasons). Yet something’s taken it to the next level and now I just don’t understand why people, Asian Americans particularly, bother to observe this day when they don’t follow the lunar calendar on a normal occasion. (No one’s answering my Facebook status either but I wasn’t asking rhetorically!) Technically, no one uses it anymore, especially if you’re in a developed, fast-track, multitasking, first world country that has to keep up with everyone else’s international agenda. But people, especially those my age, should consider the possibility that maybe they’re in this for the money or to honor a taken-for-granted excuse for family members to all be in one place. I don’t want to dub this day a “holiday” but I’m against any idea that families need to reason the purpose of their annual get-togethers with a calendar. Am I saying we’re shallow? Also, for Christians, if you’re into sweeping the house and cleaning it up to make way for good luck or if you hang charms upside down - what does that say about what you worship and your devotion to the one and only sovereign God? Are we celebrating a good harvest? Are we welcoming back family members who worked as merchants on the silk road? Am I being a party pooper? Sure, we’re allowed to give antiquated ceremonies a modern and personalized face-lift so we can check off “honored my living and decreased family in 2013,” but I’m not going to fold all my clothes and put them back in my drawers to make my mom feel like I care for her more than I usually do or to comfort my dead great-grandparents I’ve never even met. Is Jesus saddened by my behavior? Is my cynicism making him cry? That’s not for anyone to say, but you’re all encouraged to tell me why this day matters to you at all.

Or, you can all get off the computer and go outside and offer to shovel people’s driveways for free.