中西節(jié)日文化差異英文

1、ThecomparisonbetweenChineseandWesternfestivals中西方節(jié)日文化的差異比較Abstract:theprocessofcomparingtheChineseandWesternfestivalsandstudyingWesternhistoriesandculturescanhelppeoplepromotethecommunicationandunderstandingofdifferentcultures.Withthefurtherdevelopmentofsocietyandinter-cultures,globalizationwillaffe

2、ctmanyaspectsoflifeinallcountries.AndwesternfestivalsarebecomingmoreandmorepopularinChina.Weshouldrespectthemandselecttheessence.Chinaboastsabrillianthistoryandsplendidtraditions.Inmoderntimes,Chinesetraditionshouldbepreservedandpromoted.Butitseemsthatyoungpeoplenolongertreasurethetradition.Onthecon

3、trary,theyturntopursueenthusiasticallyaseeminglymoremodernculture.Ifthistrendisallowedtocontinue,thepricelessheritageofourancestorswillbereplacedbywesterntraditions.Nobodyexpectssuchaconsequence.SoletsjoinhandinhandtoprotectandcarryforwardChinesetradition.Keywords：Traditionalfestivals;ChineseandWest

4、erncultures;difference;globalizationIntroduction:“Aholidayofanationrepresentsagloriouscultureandconcentratedcustomsofanation.Tounderstandanationsculturalimplications!atsculturalcharacteristics,wemuststartwithitstraditionalfestivals.ThereexistsgreatdifferencebetweenChineseandWesternfestivalsduetothei

5、rdifferentlanguages,education,lifestylesandcustoms.Recently,westernfestivalsarebecomingmoreandmorepopularamongChinese.Ononehand,itcanindeedbringsomebenefitstoourcountrytosomeextent.Ontheotherhand,weshouldpayattentiontothisphenomenon.Thedifferencesintheiroriginandshaping,celebration,food,banquetmanne

6、rs,coloroffestivedressingandtheattitudesofacceptingpresentscontributetothegreatdifferencesofChineseandWesternfestivecultures.Onthebackgroundofglobalization,weshouldpayrespecttowesternfestivals,andcarryforwardourexcellenttraditionalfestivalsatthesametime.“Aholidayofanationrepresentsagloriousculturean

7、dconcentratedcustomsofanation.Tounderstandanationsculturalimplicationsanditsculturalcharacteristics,wemuststartwithitstraditionalfestivals.ThereexistsgreatdifferencebetweentheChineseandWesternfestivalsduetotheirdifferentlanguages,education,lifestylesandcustoms.Recently,westernfestivalsarebecomingmor

8、eandmorepopularamongChinesepeople,especiallyamongtheyoung.Accordingtoaninternetsurvey,morethanhalfofthethirtiespreferforeignfestivals.Withthefurtherdevelopmentofsocietyandinter-culture,thoughweshouldnotrejecttheadvancedtechnology,culture,andforeignlanguage,thereisatouchofmelancholywhencomingtothinkt

9、hatourtraditionalfestivalswasneglected.Thereareseveralpossiblereasonsforthisphenomenon.First,westernnations,suchastheUnitedStatesandBritain,arepowerfulanddominantinmanyaspects.Everythinginthesecountriesisassumedtobesuperiorandadoredbysomemodernyoungpeople.Second,theprevalenceofEnglishasaworldlanguag

10、eandthedevelopmentofglobalizationenablewesternculturetofloodinChina.Overwhelmedbysuchatrend,Chineseunconsciouslygetinvolvedinwesternculture.Lastbutnotleast,someChinesepeoplehaveblindfaithinforeignthingswhiledismissourownpossessionswithcontempt.Undoubtedly,enjoyingwesternfestivalscanenrichourlife,bri

11、ngusmorehappiness,promotecommunicationandenhanceourfriendship.Whetherbetheforeignfestivalsortraditionalfestivals,theyallimplythemeaningofunion,safetyandblessing.Fromtheperspectiveofconsumptionandentertainment,festivalscannotonlystimulatedomesticdemand,butalsoprovideaccesstoexoticcultures.Andforeignf

12、estival,tosomeextent,meanspeer-gathering.Besides,morepeopleshouldmakecarefulanalysisofthedifferencesbetweenChineseandforeignfestivalcultures.1. thedifferenceofwheretheyoriginatedandhowtheytookshapeTheoriginalmeaningofChinesetraditionalfestivalsisfromagriculture,becauseourcountryhadbeeninfeudalself-s

13、ufficientagriculturalsocietyandnaturaleconomyforalongtime.AstheoldsayinggoesRaininspringisaspreciousasoilThepeasantsarebusywithgrowingwheatduringtheQingmingfestival.TheSpringFestivalandQingminghavebeenimportantagriculturalfestivalssinceancienttimes.WesterntraditionalfestivalsoriginatedfromChristiani

14、ty,suchasSt.ValentinesDayisincommemorationofChristianitymartyrnamedValentine,andtheEasteroftherevivalofJesus,HalloweenisAllSaintsDay,andtheChristmasisthebirthofJesus.2. thedifferenceincelebrationWesterntraditionalfestivalsemphasizeoninteractivity,collectivityandextremecarnival,focusingonselfandadvoc

15、atingfreeexpressingofpersonality.WhileinChina,wefocusonfamilyreunionandenjoyhappyfamilyrelations.Herewesettwoexamplesasfollows.*SpringFestivalVsNewYearInwesternnations,theNewYearsDayfallsonJanuary1stinGregoriancalendar.OnthenightofDecember31,particularlyclosetothelatezerooclock,tensofthousofpeoplega

16、therintopraysincerelyandsilentlyforthecomingyearcountdown.Whenthebellsounds12,suddenly,thebeautifulmusicsound,peoplearesinginghappilyandtalkingcheerfully,playingallnightlong.InChina,theSpringFestivalfallsonJanuary1stinlunarcalendarsinceQinDynasty.OntheeveofSpringFestival,wegettogethertoenjoydeliciou

17、sfoodandcuisine,stayingupforthecomingNewYeartobidfarewelltotheoldyear.Thewholefamilywillspendabeautifulnightinthesoundoffirecrackers.TheSpringFestivallastsuntilLanternFestival.Springcleaning,NewYeargathering,firecrackers,liondancearethepopularcustomsduringSpringFestival.Eachofthetwofestivalshasitsst

18、rongpoints:ThewesternNewYearembodiesfashiontrendandmodernlife.WhileChinesepeopleattachgreatimportancetodensenationalcultureandtraditionalatmospheretotheSpringFestival;ithastheglorioushistoryandtheuniquebeauty.*QingmingFestivalVsHalloweenDayInChina,Aprilinthelunaryearisanimportantmonthforghosts.Inthi

19、smonth,thesoulswillbereleasedfromtheHades,andpeoplewillbeorganizedtoholdactivitiestoentertainthemwiththeirhospitalityforthisrareholidays.ParticularlyonApril4th,Qingmingfestival,everyfamilywillprepareforrichofferingstosacrificethesegoodbrotherswhocomefromthenetherworld.Thereremanyotheractivitiesdurin

20、gtheQingmingFestival,suchasvisitingtheirancestorstombs,springhikingandplantingosier.Osiermeansindomitablevitalityandcanwardoffbadluckatthesametime.VisitingancestorstombsinQingmingFestivalcannotonlyshowtheirrespect,whatsmore,itshowspeoplesenthusiasmforlife.Inthewest,thesimilarfestivaliscalledHallowee

21、nday(Oct.11-Nov.7th).ItisthethirdimportantfestivalnexttoChristmasandThanksgivingDay.Itissaidthatpeopleshouldlettheghostseetheirsatisfactoryharvestandpresentabundantsacrificetothem.Boththebonfiresandlightsarenotonlytoscaretheghostsaway,butalsoto川uminatethembacktotheplacewheretheycomefrom.Onthisday,pe

22、oplecandisguisethemselvesfreelyandmaketroubletotheirheartscontent.Onmanypublicoccasionsandhomecompound,peoplelayoutdifferentkindsofdecorationsonthewindowsanddoors,suchaspumpkinlights,ascarecrowandeventheskeleton.Everyfamilywillholdadressingball,andputonfruitandothercropsonthetable.3. thedifferenceon

23、foodChinesetraditionalfoodputemphasisoncolor,smellandtaste.NearlyendlessvarietyofnaturalingredientsandmethodsofpreparationsareemployedinChinesecuisine.Thecarefulcoordinationofsuchaseriesofdelicateactivitiesasselectingingredients,mixingflavors,timingthecooking,controllingtheheatandfinallylayingoutthe

24、foodontheplateforthetablearethetypicalcharacteristicsofChinesefood,especiallythefestivecuisine.EachChinesefestivalischaracterizedbytheirdistinguishedfood.PeopleinnorthernChinaeatjiaoziontheeveofSpringFestival.TheChinesecharacterjiaoinjiaozisoundlikejiaowhichimpliesunion.Besides,jiaoziresemblesagoldi

25、ngotmeaningthegainingofwealth.ThroughoutsouthernChina,niangao(literallymeaningtheyearcake,athicksteamedpuddingofglutinousriceflour)ismadeinagreatvarietyofshapesandflavors.Thecharactergaointhewordniangaoishomonymouswiththewordhigh,suggestinggrowingupandprosperinginthenewyear.WehaveyuanxiaoonLanternFe

26、stival,glutinousricedumplingsonDragonBoatFestival,moon-cakeonMid-autumnFestival.Bycontrast,thewesternfoodtendstobesimplifiedduetotheiradvancedfoodtechnology,suchasthecannedfood,fastfood,etc.KFC,McDonaldistime-savingbutlacknutrition.4. thedifferenceofbanquetmannersInChina,peoplewillsitaroundinthefest

27、ivebanquet.Weoftentakeroundtableforthebanquetwhichcreatefriendlyandunitedatmosphere.Thefoodatthecenterofthetableisnotonlywhatpeopleeatbutalsothemediumofexchange.Peopletoasttoeachother,showingrespectandcourtesyofChina.ItreflectstheinfluenceofheinChineseclassicphilosophyonoff-springs,roundtableisgoodf

28、orgroupcommunication.Inwesternfestivebanquet,foodanddrinksjustserveasdressingwhilecommunicationisthecoreofthebanquet.Ifcomparedtodance,Chinesebanquetisgroupdancing,westernsissocialdancing.ThepurposeofcommunicationonChineseandwesternfestivebanquetisobvious.Chinesefestivebanquetfocusonthecommunication

29、amongallthepeoplepresented.Whilethewesternbanquetemphasizesonpersonalcommunication.5. thedifferenceincoloroffestivedressingTheimplicationsofcolorsThesamecolorsymbolizesdifferentmeaningsinChineseandwesternfestivecultures.RedRedisatypicalcolorinChina.Redlanternsarelit,redcoupletsandfuareputupduringfes

30、tivals.Itsymbolizesbeautyandluck,soredisthefirstchoiceoffestivals.Butinwesternculture,redisaderogatorytermwhichremindsfloodandviolence.WhiteWhiteistabooinChinesefestivalswhichisoftenusedinfuneralswhileinthewest,whiteisatypicalfestivecolor.Itsymbolizespurityandelegance,suchastheweddingdress,whitecand

31、lesduringthefestivals.YellowYellowmeansdignityinChina.Inancienttimes,onlytheroyalmemberscanbeallowedtoyellowdress.IthasbeenthecolorfortheancientChina.Whileinwesternculture,thecoloryellowhassomenegativemeanings,itmainlymeansdespicable,timid(forexample,yellowdog-despicablepeople,yellow-livered,yellows

32、treak).6. thedifferenceinthehabitofacceptingpresentsChineseveiltheirrealthoughtswhileWesternersalwaysrevealtheirmindsfreelyanddirectly.Thewayofacceptinggiftsandtheattitudesaredifferent.Duringfestivals,theChineseandtheWesterncountrieshaveshownverydifferentattitudesaboutagiftforsomeone.Inwesterncountry,peopleoftenaskforagift,andtheywillusuallyopenitinfrontofpeoplesfaceandexpresstheirth