中西方传统节日文化差异英语
中西方节日文化差异
Questions
1. What kind of festivals do you know? (Including Chinese and Western) 2. Which festivals do you like most?
Part One
Festival Prevue
节日的概说
节日是指一年中被赋予特殊社会文化意义并
Origin of Christmas Day
December 25th which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ,the founder of the Christian religion(基督教),is the biggest and best-loved holiday in the western countries. According to the Bible(圣经),the holy book of Christians,God decided to allow his only son,Jesus Christ,to be born to a human mother and live on the earth so that people could understand God better and learn to love God and each other more."Christmas" meaning "celebration of Christ " honors the time when Jesus was born to a young Jewish woman Mary.
Rule of law （法治） Emphasis on: Character Money Entrepreneurial spirit Unorthodox etc.
中西方传统节日文化的差异-英语教育131张明艳修改后
Culture Differences of Chinese and Western TraditionalFestivalsIntroductionCulture is the soul carrier of human beings, and it’s the core value of one country. Different countries have different cultures. Among all the elements that consist a nation’s culture, traditional festival culture is the most essential and richest one. As we all know, Chinese and western traditional festivals are two different cultural forms evolved from comparatively independent cultural systems, which possess peculiar characteristics and varied manifestation. So there must be lots of differences. Through comparing Chinese Spring Festival with Western Christmas Day, Tomb Sweeping Day with Halloween, Double-Seventh Day with Valentines’Day, Mid-autumn Festival with Thanks Giving Day, this thesis tries to find out and make a rough analysis on the similarities and cultural differences between Chinese and Western countries.The thesis consists of four parts. The first part would focus on the main important traditional festivals both in China and western countries. After brief introduction in the form of comparison to the main festivals, there would be an analysis on the similarities and differences of traditional Chinese and western festivals in the second and third parts. In the last part of the thesis, there would be a brief conclusion.Key words:Traditional festivals; Chinese and western culture; different cultural .ContentsIntroduction1. Important Traditional Festivals in China and Western Countries Respectively1.1 Spring Festival vs. Christmas Day1.2 Tomb Sweeping Day vs. Halloween1.3 Double-Seventh Day vs. Valentine’s Day1.4 Mid-autumn Day vs. Thanksgiving Day2. Common ground of traditional Chinese and western festivals 2.1 Similarities in perspective of the functions of the festivals3. Differences of traditional Chinese and western festivals 3.1 The differences in perspective of forms3.2 Difference in perspective of inner meaning4. ConclusionReferences1.Important Traditional Festivals in China and Western Countries Respectively1.1 Spring Festival vs. Christmas DayThese two are the most important festivals in their own cultural systems. The Spring Festival is the chief holiday in China while Christmas is the most important red-letter day in the western world. People attach great attention to the celebration of these two festivals.The Spring Festival is the most important festival for the Chinese people and it is an occasion for all family members to get together, just like Christmas in the West. All people living away from home go back to enjoy the family reunion. The Spring Festival falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month, often one month later than the Gregorian calendar. But strictly speaking, the Spring Festival starts every year in the early days of the 12th lunar month and will last till the mid 1st lunar month of the next year. Of them, the most important days are Spring Festival Eve and the first three days.Many customs accompany the Spring Festival. For example: On the 8th day of the 12th lunar month, many families make laba porridge. The 23rd dayof the 12th lunar month is called Preliminary Eve. People usually offer sacrifice to the kitchen god on this day. Most families make delicious food to enjoy themselves nowadays. After the Preliminary Eve, people begin preparing for the coming New Year. This is called "Seeing the New Year in". Before the New Year comes, people completely clean their homes as well as their clothes, utensils, etcs. Then people begin decorating their clean rooms featuring an atmosphere of rejoicing and festivity. All the door panels will be pasted with Spring Festival couplets, highlighting Chinese calligraphy with black characters on red paper. The content varies from house owners' wishes for a bright future to good luck for the New Year. Also, pictures of the god of doors and wealth will be posted on front doors to ward off evil spirits and welcome peace and abundance.Christmas Day is a holiday held on December 25 to commemorate the birth of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity, even though the date is not known to be the actual birth date of Jesus. Although nominally a Christian holiday, Christmas is also widely celebrated by many non-Christians, and many of its popular celebratory customs have pre-Christian or secular themes and origins. Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, music, an exchange of greeting cards, church celebrations, a special meal, and the display of various decorations, including Christmas trees, lights, garlands, etcs. In addition, Father Christmas (or Santa Claus) is a popular folklore figure in many countries, associated with the bringing of gifts for children.Christmas Day is celebrated as a major festival and public holiday in most countries of the world, even in many whose populations are not Christian majorities. In some non-Christian countries or areas such as Hong Kong, former colonial rules are introduced to the celebration, Christian minorities or foreign cultural influences have led populations to observe the holiday. Around the world, Christmas celebrations can vary greatly in form, reflecting different cultural and national traditions. Countries such as Japan and Korea, where Christmas is popular despite there being only a small number of Christians, have adopted many of the secular aspects of Christmas, such as gift-giving, decorations and Christmas trees.1.2 Tomb Sweeping Day vs. HalloweenTomb Sweeping Day and Halloween are two different festivals which have the similar functions. They are celebrated in China and mainly America respectively. Both of them are festivals for commemorating the dead people.Tomb Sweeping Day is one of the few traditional Chinese holidays that follows the solar calendar—typically falling on April 4, 5, or 6. Its Chinese name "Qing Ming" literally means "Clear Brightness," hinting at its importance as a celebration of Spring. Similar to the festivals of spring in the other cultures, Tomb Sweeping Day celebrates the rebirth of nature, while marking the beginning of the planting season and other outdoor activities.In ancient times, people celebrated Tomb Sweeping Day with dancing, singing, picnics, and kite flying. Colored boiled eggs would be broken to symbolize the opening of life. In the capital, the Emperor would plant trees on the palace grounds to celebrate the renewing nature of spring. In the villages, young men and women would court each other. With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a day to the honor past ancestors. Following folk religion, the Chinese believed that the spirits of deceased ancestors looked after the family. Sacrifices of food and spirit money could keep them happy, and the family would prosper through good harvests and more children. Today, Chinese also visit their family graves to commemorate the ancestors on this day. Weeds are pulled, and dirt swept away, and the family will set out offerings of food and spirit money. Unlike the sacrifices at a family's home altar, the offerings at the tomb usually consist of dry, bland food.Halloween is an annual holiday celebrated on October 31. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holy day of All Saints, but is today largely a secular celebration.Halloween is not celebrated in all countries and regions of the world, but among those that do have the traditions, the form of celebration vary significantly. Celebration in the United States has had a significant impact on how the holiday is observed in other nations. This larger American influence, particularly in iconic and commercial elements, hasextended to places such as South America, Europe, etcs.Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and attending costume parties, carving jack-o'-lanterns, ghost tours, bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, pranks, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.1.3 Double-Seventh Day vs. Valentine’s DayDouble-Seventh Day, also known as Magpie Festival, falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month on the Chinese calendar, thus its name. It is based on the story of the cowherd and the weaver girl whose true love moved magpies.Young girls traditionally demonstrate their domestic arts, especially melon carving, on this day and make wishes for a good husband. It is also known by the following names:The Festival to Plead for Skills (乞巧节)The Seventh Sister's Birthday (七姊诞)The Night of Skills (巧夕)Saint Valentine's Day (commonly shortened to Valentine's Day) is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 500 AD. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards.1.4 Mid-autumn Day vs. Thanksgiving DayThe Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, Zhongqiu Festival, or in Chinese, Zhongqiujie, is a popular harvest festival celebrated by people in the Chinese influenced world, dating back over 3,000 years to moon worship in China's Shang Dynasty. It is also celebrated by the Vietnamese, Koreans, and Japanese in different forms. TheMid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar, which is usually around late September or early October in the Gregorian calendar. The traditional food of this festival is the mooncake, of which there are many different varieties.The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the few most important holidays in the Chinese calendar, and is a legal holiday in several countries. Farmers celebrate the end of the summer harvesting season on this date. Traditionally on this day, Chinese family members and friends will gather to admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon, and eat moon cakes under the moon together.Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Traditionally, Thanksgiving is associated with giving thanks to God for the harvest and expressing gratitude. While historically religious in origin, Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as a secular holiday.In the United States, Thanksgiving is usually celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November and has been an annual tradition in the United States since 1863.In Canada Thanksgiving occurs on the second Monday in October and is an annual Canadian holiday to give thanks at the close of the harvest season.mon ground of traditional Chinese and western festivalsThrough the introduction to the main important festivals of the two cultural systems in pairs, the points that can be compared are quite obvious. In the following parts of the thesis, there would be the analysis.2.1 Similarities in perspective of the functions of the festivalsNo matter the traditional Chinese festivals or the Western ones, the meaning and functions people attach on them are more or less the same. They express their good wishes for the happy life on festivals, and some very important festivals are celebrated for family reunion. The similarfunctions between the festivals of the two cultural systems can be listed as below.The yearning and pursuit for a happy and bliss life.The continuity of the traditional virtue and the respect to the dead people.The Desire for eternal love,The admiration of historical heroes.The occasions for family reunion.2.2 Similarities in perspective of the origins of the festivalsThe traditional Chinese and western festivals also have common points in the perspective of origins. They both celebrate for customs, although the customs may differ with each other. For example the Spring Festival and Christmas Day have their own customs, but people celebrate them every year. Some of them celebrate for the harvest such as the Chinese Mid-autumn Day and the Western Thanksgiving Day. Religion as a kind of ancient cultural phenomenon has a close relationship with all kinds of festivals both in China and western countries. So this can also be one part of the similarities of the origins of Chinese and western festivals.3.Differences of traditional Chinese and western festivalsAlthough there are many similarities between traditional Chinese and western festivals, there are still lots of differences because the natural environment, historical background and the cultural atmosphere out of which the festivals were formed are different. The main differences can be listed as follows:3.1 The differences in perspective of formsThey have different periodicity. Chinese traditional festivals are mainly based on lunar calendar, while the western ones are mainly based on the solar calendar.The influential areas of the two sets of festival cultures are different. Chinese festivals mainly influence the Asian countries including Japan,Korean, Thailand, etc. The western festivals mainly influence the Christian world. Although in the modern multi-cultural world the influences of western festivals such as Christmas Day are much wider than Chinese Spring Festival, the traditions which have been formed in many countries still exist.3.2 Difference in perspective of inner meaningChinese and western countries have different background of traditional festival culture. The traditional Chinese festival cultures are under the background of farming culture, while the traditional western festival cultures are under the background of Christianity.They also have different contents of festival culture. Traditional Chinese festival cultures are featured by food and wine. While traditional western festival cultures are featured by entertainment.The next difference in the perspective of inner meaning is that they have different value orientation. Traditional Chinese festival cultures are featured by collectivism. Chinese festivals attach more importance to group activity and the passing down of ethics and virtues. But traditional western festival cultures are featured by individualism. They lay great emphasis on the expression of personal emotions and the individual psychological feelings.The national culture mentality can also be different. The Chinese festival culture are Comedy-oriented, they pursuit the happy ending and harmony, while the western festival culture are tragedy-oriented because the ancient Greek culture are tragic-conscious and the Christian culture are sin conscious.4.ConclusionBased on the previous analysis and comparison, we can learn that China and western countries have two different sets of cultural systems which originate from different natural and social environments, and also from different historical development process. They have different features although there are lots of common grounds.Under the current multi-cultural world where Chinese and westernfestivals encounter and integrate with each other, we, as English majors who learn cultures need to adhere to the spirit of our own culture, meanwhile, we need to reveal the intrinsic value of the Chinese and Western traditional festivals from the perspective of modern concepts.References[1]Li Ziyin. from the traditional festival of Chinese and western cultural differences [J], science and education wenhui. 2007 (4)[2] Fang jersey. The comparison of Chinese and western traditional culture festival [M], Shan Dong university, master's degree thesis.[3] Li Mi . Chinese and western festival contrast research [J], Yue Yang vocational and technical college school. 2006 (3)[4] Wang Ju’e. Under the cross-cultural perspective of China's Chinese valentine's day and western valentine's day [J], xi 'an college of liberal arts school. 2009 (6)。
国外节日和中国节日的差异英语作文
国外节日和中国节日的差异英语作文English:The main difference between foreign holidays and Chinese holidays lies in the cultural and historical backgrounds that shape these celebrations. Foreign holidays, such as Christmas and Thanksgiving in the United States, are often rooted in religious traditions and historical events specific to that country. These holidays are typically celebrated with unique customs and rituals that have been passed down through generations. In contrast, Chinese holidays like Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival are deeply rooted in Chinese cultural traditions and folklore. These holidays are celebrated with traditional activities such as dragon dances, lantern festivals, and family reunions. Another key difference is the way holidays are celebrated in terms of food. Foreign holidays often involve specific dishes that hold cultural significance, while Chinese holidays are marked by a wide variety of traditional foods that hold symbolic meanings. Overall, the differences between foreign holidays and Chinese holidays highlight the diverse cultural practices and beliefs that make each celebration unique and special.Translated content:国外节日和中国节日的主要区别在于塑造这些庆祝活动的文化和历史背景。
英语论文中西方传统节日文化的差异
Culture Differences of Chinese and Western TraditionalFestivalAbstractTraditional festivals are the historical products of a nation’s development. Whether in China which has a long history of more than five thousand years or in the newborn America, the origination of traditional festivals in the two countries is similar. Most traditional festivals originated from people’s expectation for harvest in the agricultural production, the worship towards the gods and the nature, sacrifices to the historical characters and etc. After the long-term evolution, traditional festivals have become an indispensable part of the national culture. Through traditional festivals, the distinct cultural characteristics of a people and the national spirits can be observed. Since the ancient time, China has been a large agricultural country, the small-scale economic mode known as “The men plough and the women weave” initiated the agricultural civilization of Chinese characteristics. Chinese traditional festivals are deeply rooted in the agricultural civilization and greatly influenced by Confucianism. To some extent, Chinese traditional festivals have relieved from the primitive taboos and tended to be happy festivals which reflect the concept of harmony and integration in Confucianism. In America, religion plays a very important role in people’s life. With various branches, the religious system of America is quite complicated, among which Christianity is of the greatest importance. Some American traditional festivals are the direct products of Christianity and most festivals haveevolved into the religious festivals later. This paper is designed to discuss the differences in customs, origins and other aspects of traditional festivals with the similar cultural connotation, then analyze the reasons lying behind the differences and finally reflect the cultural differences of the two nations. The paper also analyzes the mutual fusion in tradtional holidays between China and the west.Key words: Traditional festivals; Chinese and American culture; cultural differences; causes; mutual fusion.中西方传统节日文化的差异摘要传统节日是一个民族发展的历史产物。
中西方传统节日比较课件PPT
A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON CHINESE AND WESTERN TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS
COMPARISON
中国都有哪些传统节日？ • 春节
Spring Festival
• 元宵节
Lantern Festival
• 清明节
Ching Ming Festival
久远的历史，醇厚的民俗风情，独特的 民族意蕴，使得端午节的文化影响跨越了地 域条件和民族文化的种种差异，被东亚许多 国家地区广为接受。例如，韩国的“江陵端 午祭”便是来源于中国的端午节。
源于纪念屈原 源于纪念伍子胥 源于纪念孝女曹娥 源于古越民族图腾祭
•悬挂菖蒲、艾草：端午节期间，家家户户 都会在家门上悬挂菖蒲和艾蒿借以避邪。
复活节彩蛋—Easteregg，象征着生命的开 始与延续
复活节兔子 复活节的另一象征是小兔子，原因 是它具有极强的繁殖能力，人们视 它为新生命的创造者
过去，在多数西方国家里，复活节一般要举行盛大的宗教游行。游行者身穿 长袍，手持十字架，赤足前进。他们打扮成基督教历史人物，唱着颂歌欢庆 耶稣复活。
stilt walk（踩高跷）
清明节 CHING MING FESTIVAL
• 清明节是我国的二十四节气之一，也是我国传统节日， 也是最重要的祭祀节日，是祭祖和扫墓的日子。
• 又叫踏青节，按阳历来说，它是在每年的4月4日至6日 之间，正是春光明媚草木吐绿的时节，也正是人们春游 （古代叫踏青）的好时候，所以古人有清明踏青，并开 展一系列体育活动的的习俗。
• 相传圣诞老人是罗马帝国东部小亚细亚每拉城（今土耳其 境内）的主教圣尼古拉的化身。17世纪荷兰移民把圣诞 老人的传说带到了美国。美国英语中的圣诞老人为“圣塔? 克劳斯”（Santa Claus），在荷兰语中原为“圣尼古 拉”。圣尼古拉主教生前乐善好施，曾暗地里赠送金子给 一农夫的三个待嫁的女儿作嫁妆，将一袋金子从烟囱扔进 去，恰好掉在壁炉上的一只长统袜中。所以现在在圣诞夜 有不少天真的孩子都把袜子口朝上小心翼翼地吊在壁炉旁 或床头，期待圣诞老人送来礼物。
英语论文中西方传统节日文化的差异
Culture Differences of Chinese and Western TraditionalFestivalAbstractTraditional festivals are the historical products of a nation’s development. Whether in China which has a long history of more than five thousand years or in the newborn America, the origination of traditional festivals in the two countries is similar. Most traditional festivals originated from people’s expectation for harvest in the agricultural production, the worship towards the gods and the nature, sacrifices to the historical characters and etc. After the long-term evolution, traditional festivals have become an indispensable part of the national culture. Through traditional festivals, the distinct cultural characteristics of a people and the national spirits can be observed. Since the ancient time, China has been a large agricultural country, the small-scale economic mode known as “The men plough and the women weave” initiated the agricultural civilization of Chinese characteristics. Chinese traditional festivals are deeply rooted in the agricultural civilization and greatly influenced by Confucianism. To some extent, Chinese traditional festivals have relieved from the primitive taboosand tended to be happy festivals which reflect the concept of harmony and integration in Confucianism. In America, religion plays a very important role in people’s life. With various branches, the religious system of America is quite complicated, among which Christianity is of the greatest importance. Some American traditional festivals are the direct products of Christianity and most festivals have evolved into the religious festivals later. This paper is designed to discuss the differences in customs, origins and other aspects of traditional festivals with the similar cultural connotation, then analyze the reasons lying behind the differences and finally reflect the cultural differences of the two nations. The paper also analyzes the mutual fusion in tradtional holidays between China and the west.Key words: Traditional festivals; Chinese and American culture; cultural differences; causes; mutual fusion.中西方传统节日文化的差异摘要传统节日是一个民族发展的历史产物。
东西方节日的异同英语作文小学
东西方节日的异同The celebration of festivals is an integral part of human culture, with each culture having its unique traditions and customs. When comparing Eastern and Western festivals, there are notable similarities as well as distinct differences. This essay explores the similarities and differences between festivals in the East and West, focusing on their origins, traditions, and significance.Firstly, let's delve into the similarities. Both Eastern and Western festivals often involve family gatherings, feasting, and celebration. They are occasions for people to come together, share stories, and strengthen their bonds. Additionally, many festivals in both cultures are centered around themes of harvest, thanksgiving, or the celebration of significant events or milestones. For instance, the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and the American Thanksgiving both emphasize gratitude and the importance of family.However, when it comes to differences, the origins and traditions of Eastern and Western festivals stand out. Eastern festivals often have deep historical and religiousroots. For example, the Chinese Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year, is a festival with over 4000 years of history, rooted in ancient agricultural traditions andthe lunar calendar. It's a time for family reunions, fireworks, and the giving of red envelopes as symbols of good luck and prosperity. Similarly, the Indian Diwali, a festival of lights, is a celebration of good over evil anda symbol of hope and renewal.On the other hand, Western festivals often have more secular origins, with many of them evolving from pagan customs or historical events. Christmas, for instance,while now celebrated as a religious holiday by Christians, originated from pagan festivals marking the winter solstice. It's now associated with gift-giving, festive decorations, and the iconic figure of Santa Claus. The American Independence Day, on the other hand, commemorates a significant historical event - the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.Another significant difference lies in the celebration styles. Eastern festivals tend to be more festive andlively, with vibrant colors and loud celebrations. The useof fireworks, dragon dances, and other lively performances are common during festivals like the Chinese New Year or the Indian Holi. In contrast, Western festivals may have a more subdued tone, emphasizing the spirit of giving, reflection, and gratitude. Christmas, for example, is a time for quiet family gatherings, singing carols, and exchanging gifts.Furthermore, the foods associated with these festivals also differ greatly. Eastern festivals often feature a range of traditional dishes that are unique to the culture. Dumplings, spring rolls, and mooncakes are staples of Chinese festivals, while Indian festivals might include sweets like ladoos and jalebis. Western festivals, on the other hand, might involve more of a mix of traditional and non-traditional foods. Christmas, for instance, is knownfor its roast turkey, mince pies, and Christmas pudding, while Thanksgiving is centered around a feast of roasted meats, potatoes, and pies.In conclusion, while Eastern and Western festivals share some similarities in terms of their purpose and the spirit of celebration, they differ significantly in theirorigins, traditions, and celebration styles. These differences reflect the rich cultural diversity of theworld and make each festival unique and memorable. As we continue to learn and appreciate these differences, we gain a deeper understanding of the various cultures andtraditions that make up our global community.**东西方节日的异同**节日的庆祝是人类文化的重要组成部分，每种文化都有自己独特的传统和习俗。
中西方文化的不同中英文对照
The Differences between Chinese and
western Culture
Diet
For one thing, Chinese and Westerners are different concepts in the diet. Chinese people are focus on the taste. They pursue all the Color, flavor and taste. But Western concept of rational diet. They pursue nutrition and they absorb Calorie and protein .Chinese people choice food very carefully. They only use fresh material in order to make delicious food. Western country like English or American, they don't have fresh food because they buy their food from supermarket which only sells stored materials. Chinese have a lot of ideas and techniques for cooking. For example, We can cook a chicken in over ten ways and people can taste all them with relish. Western people do not have many skills for cooking, mostly they only boil, steam and bake the food.