冯骥才：过年，就是“过文化”
过年要有年味，而年味越来越淡，这是令大冯（冯骥才）感到困惑的问题。
年味变淡有其正常的和必然的原因：中国春节是与农耕文化、生产节律紧密相连的；过完年，春耕即将开始。这种生活距离我们（尤其是城市居民）毕竟已十分遥远；加上移风易俗和现代通讯手段的发达，人情味和年味自然被稀释了。此外还有人认为，现在天天鸡鸭鱼肉，等于天天过年，那么过年还有什么意思呢？大冯说，其实不是这样，过去中国人生活贫穷，过上好日子是他们的理想；而只有在过年时，这种理想才会变成现实（尽管只是短暂的“幻觉”）。今天当人们已经丰衣足食时，过年，应有更高的理想和境界。在大冯看来，当代人过年已越来越是一个精神的、情感的和文化的生活。
无Feng Jicai: Culture is the essence of the Spring Festival
The Spring Festival is expected to have its unique atmosphere. What confuses Mr. Feng is the diminishing atmosphere of the Spring Festival.
The phenomenon has its natural and inevitable reasons. Firstly, Chinese New Year is closely related to agriculture and the production rhythm. Spring ploughing begins after the Spring Festival. This kind of life is very far from us, especially urban residents. And changed customs and modern means of communication also lessen the human touch and the New Year atmosphere. Besides, some believe that, nowadays, one can enjoy a feast, which was only available in the New Year, whenever he wants. Then, little interest of celebrating the Spring Festival remains now. Mr. Feng does not agree with the idea. According to him, Chinese people led a poor life in the past with an aspiration of a good life. The Spring Festival is the only period that the ideal becomes reality, though a transitory illusion. As people’s life is affluent now, the Spring Festival is supposed to be celebrated on a higher level. Mr. Feng holds a view that contemporary Chinese New Year increasingly becomes a spiritual, emotional and cultural life.