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Across cultures, the final night of the year carries unusual weight.
In Spain, people count down grips.
In New York, crowds watch a ball drop.
In China, the ritual has long been quieter but no less symbolic.
Staying awake together as the old years slips away.
When was the starting of this tradition?
How did people spend Spring Festival Eve in ancient days?
How come staying awake to see which sketch lends which celebrity appears and whether the Spring Festival Gala is quote unquote Better than last year becomes part of the ritual.
Let's discuss all the above and more.
For today's show, I'm joined by Steve Haiderly and Fei Fei.
Now pull up a chair and join the conversation.
For centuries, staying up on Chinese New Year's Eve meant huddling around a fire or an oil lamp,
sharing food, stories, games, and the quiet warmth of family time as the old year faded away.
Today, the fire is gone, but the fun remains.
Since 1983,
the Spring Festival Gala has turned staying up late into a national screen-centered ritual,
drawing millions of families toward the same show at the same moment.