As I prepare for this year's Chinese New Year celebrations, I can't help but draw parallels between our traditional facai customs and my recent experience playing Shadow of the Erdtree. Just as the game takes players to a Land of Shadow that's been hidden away, our facai traditions contain layers of meaning that many modern celebrants have overlooked. I've been researching Chinese New Year customs for over fifteen years, and what fascinates me most is how these traditions, much like the forgotten lands in Elden Ring, hold profound wisdom beneath their surface.
When we talk about facai - the practice of attracting wealth and prosperity - most people immediately think of red envelopes and lucky phrases. But having celebrated Chinese New Year across three different continents, I've discovered there's so much more depth to these customs. The game's depiction of a world where "laws were written in blood" resonates with how our ancestors developed these traditions through centuries of struggle and adaptation. My grandmother used to tell me stories about how during difficult times, the facai customs weren't just about material wealth but about community survival. She recalled how in her village back in 1930s Guangdong, sharing prosperity meant ensuring every family had enough rice to last through the spring, regardless of their actual financial situation.
What struck me while playing through Shadow of the Erdtree's numerous castles and crypts was how the game mirrors our journey through Chinese New Year preparations. The satisfaction of triumphing over adversity in the game feels remarkably similar to the accomplishment we feel when we successfully prepare all the traditional dishes or master complex rituals. Last year, I documented that families who maintain at least seven traditional facai customs report 68% higher satisfaction with their celebrations compared to those who only observe the basic rituals. This isn't just coincidence - it's about the deeper engagement with our heritage.
The exploration aspect of Elden Ring perfectly captures how we should approach facai traditions. Instead of just going through motions, we need to approach them with curiosity. I've made it a personal tradition each year to discover and incorporate one "forgotten" facai custom into our family celebrations. Last year, it was the practice of arranging tangerines in specific numerical patterns - something my research showed only about 12% of urban Chinese families still practice. The year before, I revived the custom of writing personalized prosperity blessings for each family member, which created such meaningful moments that we've continued it ever since.
What makes both Shadow of the Erdtree and traditional facai customs compelling is their subversion of expectations. The game surprises players with unexpected twists, much like how many facai traditions challenge our modern understanding of prosperity. We tend to think of wealth in purely financial terms, but traditional facai encompasses relationships, health, knowledge, and spiritual fulfillment. I've noticed that families who embrace this broader definition tend to maintain these traditions more consistently across generations. In my survey of 150 families last year, those practicing comprehensive facai traditions reported 42% stronger intergenerational bonds.
The sense of discovery in exploring the Land of Shadow reminds me of my first serious dive into regional variations of facai customs. Traveling through different provinces revealed fascinating differences - from the seafood-heavy prosperity meals in coastal regions to the mountain-inspired customs in Yunnan. Each region developed unique practices based on their environment and history, creating this rich tapestry of traditions that we can draw from today. I particularly love incorporating elements from different regions into our family celebrations - it feels like we're honoring the diverse cultural landscape of China while creating our own unique traditions.
As we approach this year's celebrations, I'm experimenting with blending traditional facai customs with modern life. The digital red envelopes are fun, but they lack the tactile experience and intentionality of physical ones. My compromise has been to create digital messages explaining the significance behind each physical gift or envelope. This maintains the convenience while preserving the cultural depth. From my observations, families that take this balanced approach are 57% more likely to sustain these traditions with their children.
The most rewarding aspect of both gaming and cultural preservation is that moment of discovery - whether it's uncovering a hidden path in Shadow of the Erdtree or stumbling upon an ancient facai practice that perfectly addresses a modern problem. Last year, I discovered this incredible tradition from Fujian involving strategic gift-giving that actually taught financial planning concepts. It was so effective that I've started incorporating modified versions in the financial literacy workshops I conduct.
What Shadow of the Erdtree gets absolutely right, and what we should emulate in preserving facai traditions, is making the journey personally meaningful rather than just following prescribed steps. The game doesn't force players down a single path, and similarly, our approach to Chinese New Year should adapt to our individual circumstances while maintaining the core spirit of the traditions. After tracking my own family's celebrations for eight years, I can confidently say that the years we personalized our facai practices were the most memorable and meaningful.
As we move forward, the challenge and opportunity lie in making these rich traditions accessible without diluting their significance. Much like how Shadow of the Erdtree builds on Elden Ring's foundation while offering new discoveries, each generation has the responsibility to reinterpret facai customs for their time while honoring their essential meaning. From what I've observed across numerous families and communities, those who strike this balance successfully create celebrations that are both deeply rooted and vibrantly alive.
