春节和圣诞节的对比研究 究.doc

标题】春节和圣诞节的对比硏究【作者】赵琼【关键词】春节；圣诞节；文化差异；价值取向【指导老师】程琼张婕【专业】英语【正文】I. IntroductionFestival is defined as a special occasion on which people may celebrate a culture. The festivol customs in different countries are established by usage, with the own distinct national features・ Spring Festival and Christmas are respectively the most important festivals for the Chinese people and western people. There exists a clear division between the two important festivals. Spring festival, which is more commonly known as the Chinese or Lunar New Year, is the most impottemt festival in the Chinese calendar. Spring Festival symbolizes the beginning of the year, and also the signal to another fresh st art in onc? s life ・ Spring Festival forecasts fresh hopes for happiness and prosperity among mankind・ Meanwhile, it is a time for reaffirming family and kinship ties. Family reunion dinners, visitations among relatives and friends serve to remind the Chinese of the central position which the family occupies in their society・ The festival is so deep-rooted that it is celebrated in all parts of the world which has large congregations of the Chinese community.Tn contrast, in most western countries, in particular Anglo-Saxon countries, people emphasize personal freedom, personal rights, and privac y・Western culture lays more emphasis on religion, which has something to do with the history of the westerners. In those days religion played a very important role in their daily life. The most outstanding holiday in the western country is Christmas, which is celebrated in memory of the forefather of them 一 Jesus Christ. As a result, there are a lot of religious activities during the festiva1.Nowadays, with development of globalization, more and more Chinese people know the western countries. The intent ion of this study is to introduce the differences between Chinese and western culture. Therefore, understEmding different cultures and customs contributes to raising the efficiency of intercultural exchange.II. Similarities and Differences between the Spring Festival and Christmas A. Similarities bet ween Spring Fes ti veil and ChristmasOur identities may be ethnic, religious, and occupational. No one has only one cultural idcnlily・ But in every case, the identities are strengthened by a variety of cultural traditions in which we share with other countries. Tt also reflects the festival traditions. Therefore the Spring Festival and Christmas have much in common. The Spring Festival is the most impottemt festival for the Chinese people. Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ・ Both are prepared to create a joyous atmosphere; both offer a fami ly reunion wi th square feast; and both satisfy the children with new clothes, presents and delicious food・ The Spring Festival is the most importemt festival for the Chinese people and all family members get together, just like Christmas in the West. Besides, there are a lot of differences in culLure between China and English-speaking coun tries, yet with time passing and the opening to the out side world, t here are more and more similarities in culture between the countries. The most important one is that people all over the world take the chance of the holiday to get together with the family.B. The Differences between the Spring Festival and ChristmasThe Spring Festival and Christimis have some similarities, but as we know there exist 红 lot of cultural differences between China and western countries. Of all the western culture, individualism is probably the most basic. In contrast, Chinese culture is believed to be collectivism-oriented where the basic unit of society is the family・ Therefore, harmony is highly valued in china. 1 So, festival usually can reflect the cultural recognition. Because of the different cultutes, differences are reflected in many aspects・1. Different Dates of HolidaysThe Spring Festival falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month, often one month later than the Gregorian calendar. Strictly speaking, the Spring Festival starts every year in the early days of the 12th lunar month and will las t till the mid 1st lunar mon th of the nex t year. Of them, the mos t important days are Spring Festival Eve and the first three days・ The Chinese government now stipulates that people have seven days off for the Chinese Lunar New Year. The Spring Festival then comes to an end when the Lantern Festival is finished. Christmas Day is on December 25. People usually have two weeks for this holiday, beginning shortly before Christmas and ending soon after New Year" s Day.2. Different OriginsThe Spring Festival originated in the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC~c. 1100 BC) from the people" s sacrifice to gods and ancestors at the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one. The Spring Festival is also known as “Guo Nianv ・ It is widely accepted that the origin of the word “Niaii” comes from the mythical ferocious monster with a 。