How Are the World Baseball Classic and the Lunar New Year Similar?
As a writer, it is not every day that I have the chance to connect two subjects that, on the surface, seem to have no relationship with each other. Both subjects are near and dear to my heart. One is the upcoming World Baseball Classic, beginning on March 5th. The other is the Lunar New Year holiday, which began on February 17th.
Lunar New Year is a holiday celebrated across many Asian countries and communities worldwide. Each culture has its own traditions and ways of celebrating. For example, in Chinese culture, the celebration spans 15 days, lasting until March 3rd this year. In Korean culture, the celebration lasts three days, going from the Lunar New Year’s Eve to the second day of the Lunar New Year. With two major events, the WBC and Lunar New Year, nearly happening back-to-back, I thought it would be interesting to draw some parallels between them.
First and foremost, both are celebrations. The WBC is a celebration of baseball as a sport around the world and how far it has come. Lunar New Year is celebrating the coming of the new year by gathering with loved ones, such as family and friends. One of the most common activities is sharing meals and enjoying each other’s company.
On a deeper level, both the WBC and Lunar New Year represent new beginnings. Usually, at this time of the year, Spring Training is the main dish to keep hungry baseball fans alive after a cold offseason. However, this year, there is a more eye-popping dish. Since it is an international event, the WBC may grab more attention from fans and the baseball world as a whole. While Lunar New Year is the start of the new year, it is also known as the Spring Festival, welcoming the coming change of seasons. It is also about reuniting with people, sometimes meeting new people, and being excited or exploring what is to come. Another common tradition is the release of films. Similar to the Christmas holiday, the Lunar New Year has its own category of films. Generally, they contain ridiculous storylines regarding family, friends, and/or fortune, using comedies to lightly illustrate the importance of balancing or prioritizing one’s values.
A similar situation is happening in the WBC since it is scheduled to take place before Opening Day. Hopefully, to make things more interesting and relatable, I will connect a number of Lunar New Year films to the teams mentioned. Some players are playing for their native countries and in comfortable environments, reuniting with old teammates or coaches. This is especially true of teams like Japan, Korea, and Chinese Taipei. There is existing team chemistry, whether it be from their previous international appearances or their professional league teams. For them, it is like meeting and joining forces with their family or old friends; a homecoming. The film that closely resembles these teams is Back to the Past. It is a film that tugs on the collective memories of the audience and cast alike, because its prequel was a classic television show from 25 years ago. Seeing the majority of the cast reunited onscreen is magic. In the same way, Japan, Korea, and Chinese Taipei, with familiar faces, will be looking to recapture the likes of baseball fans.
On the other hand, some players are representing the countries of their heritage, such as members of Italy and Israel. The rosters of these two teams are composed of native players as well as players from the minor league and MLB clubs. Theoretically, they will need to gel quickly and become one to make noise at the international tournament. Whether Italy or Israel finally does so and surprises other teams is something fans should tune in to watch. They need to stick together to get far, just as the newlyweds in Double Happiness do on their crazy wedding day. Lastly, WBC teams with a star-studded cast include Team USA and the Dominican Republic. It is easy to gravitate toward because it is only once in a blue moon that there is so much star power and so much baseball all at once. Indeed, one of the key characteristics of a Lunar New Year film is the participation of a multitude of star actors and actresses, which, as classics, Fat Choi Spirit and All’s Well Ends Well do a perfect job of.
At the end of the day, baseball is a world sport and a universal language. While I hope that referencing Lunar New Year and films associated with the holiday were interesting, I also hope it shows the WBC has a variety of storylines and teams to follow. Whether you are looking for something familiar, new, or you simply want to enjoy and celebrate baseball, this international tournament has something for you. So, be sure to tune in to the WBC starting on March 5th and lasting through March 17th.
