A Comparative Study of Chinese Festivals and American Holidays.doc

毕业论文(设计)Acknowledgements I wish to express my thanks and appreciation to my tutor, Miss Yang Yingchun, whose careful reading and suggestions have been invaluable to me throughout my thesis writing. My thanks should also be given to all the teachers who have taught me my BA courses. Without their enthusiasm and support, this work would not have been possible. I am also grateful to my classmates and roommates for their psychological support and encouragement. AbstractCulture is the soul carrier of human being, is the core of one country. Different countries have different cultures. Festival, which reflects the most delicate and representative respect of culture, is the essence of humans daily life. Being comparing American Christmas with Chinese New Year, Thanks Giving Day with Mid-autumn Festival, Valentines Day with Double-Seventh Day, Halloween with Tomb Sweeping Day and Easter with Dragon Boat Festival, we find out cultural differences between China and America. Thus, we know different cultures and histories and environments will result in different festivals and reflect different social values in different countries, which have a great influence on peoples mind and behavior. It is convenient to absorb the outstanding foreign cultures sensibly by summarizing the differences, in order to protect and promote the cultural essence of the Chinese nation. This article first elaborates the cultures from different five aspects on the Chinese festivals and American holidays. In order to expound the effect of cultural in both countries commerce activity, we analyse both countries core culture values, consanguinity, their manner towards love, the educational mode and memorial service from a cultural angle. Nowadays, by generally accepted, the culture is one kind of soft strength, and only using it in positive way can minimizes losses and reduce the nonessential misunderstanding and friction and gains the victory in the Chinese and American intercultural communication. The culture is the double-edged sword, only has danced this sword well, can both countries activities mutually benefits and develop harmonious.Comparing the Chinese festivals culture with the American festivals culture, we can get a conclusion that the main factors of the culture are religion, value and material, peoples daily behavior code of conduct and the custom which accumulated over a long period. These factors mutually affect each others. What is more, from the comparison, we have got another conclusion: only treating the foreign culture rationally and absorbing the essence and discarding the dross of the culture discrepancies, can one make full use of the advanced culture of the foreign countries and make a great progress in his cross culture ability.Key Words: discrepancies social values Chinese history and culture Chinese festivals American history and culture American holidays摘 要文化是人类灵魂的载体，是一个国家的核心。不同的国家拥有不同的文化。节日是人类日常生活的浓缩和精华，反映出一个民族文化中最精致，最具有代表性的一面。我们拿美国的圣诞节，感恩节，圣瓦伦丁节，万圣节，复活节和中国的新年，中秋节，清明节，端午节，七夕节五个节日作对比，从而我们能够发现中美不同的文化。我们能知道不同的历史，文化导致了节假日风俗的差异，揭示了不同的价值观念。这些价值观念也能影响人们的思维和行为。研究差异有助于更好的较理性的借鉴和吸取外来文化中的优秀成果，借鉴西方人的积极价值观，保护和弘扬中华民族的文化精髓。本文首先从不同的五个方面来论述比较美国和中国的节假日，并做具体比较，然后从文化角度比较分析两国的核心文化价值观，血缘观，对爱的追求方式，教育方式以及悼念方式等方面的差异，来阐明文化在两国具体生活中的影响。 当今世界，文化已经被默认为一种软实力，只有积极的利用它趋利避害才能在中美跨文化交际上减少不必要的摩擦和误解。 文化是把双刃刀，只有舞好这把剑，中美双方才能在两国的交际活动中互惠互利，和谐发展。在对节假日文化的详细比较中，我们不难看出对文化具有影响的几个主要因素：宗教，物质和价值观，行为准则以及在节假日中沉淀下来的风俗。 这几个因素相互影响，相互作用。也通过比较分析，我们最终得出一个结论：理性的对待文化差异，充分运用国外先进文化，吸取精华，弃其糟粕，只有这样才能更好的提高跨文化交际能力。关键词：差异 社会价值观 中国历史文化 美国历史文化 中国节日 美国节日ContentsAcknowledgementsiAbstract（English）iiAbstract(Chinese)ivContentsvi1.Introduction12. Festivals are the cream of life12.1 The typical festival: Spring Festival and Christmas22.1.1 Overview22.1.2 Culture diversities: consanguinity influence on the family32.2 Mid-autumn Day and Thanks Giving Day52.2.1 Overview52.2.2 Culture diversities: the way to express thanks72.3 Double-sevenths Day and Valentines Day82.3.1 Overview82.3.2 Culture diversities: manner towards love92.4 Tomb Sweeping Day and Halloween102.4.1 Overview102.4.2 Culture diversities: educational mode112.5 Dragon Boat Festival and Easter132.5.1 Overview132.5.2 Culture diversities: memorial service143. Culture influence on the different between China and America153.1 The religion influence on the festival culture153.2 Values and materials influence on the festival culture163.3 Code of conduct influence on the festival culture173.4 The custom influence on the festival culture184. Conclusion19References2122A Comparative Study of Chinese Festivals and American Holidays1. Introduction Men not only need food and material for survival, they also require a spiritual prop in their lives. They have tried a lot, but these all fell into pieces for the limited of the subjective and objective factors. Thus, human beings have to find another way out to keep a balance between the nice dream and the hard practice. Festival is one of the ways they balanced themselves. No matter where you are, or no matter what kind of people you are, festivals survive in your daily life. For human being, religion has been an important part of culture and history. Everywhere in the world has the trace of religion, China and America are not the exception. About one third American people are Christians; many important holidays are based on the religion, which reflects that the influence of the religion on American culture is rather deep. This thesis will introduce some American holidays and Chinese festivals, and then analyze the cultural differences between China and America, which would help us to improve the ability of cross-culture communication. 2. Festivals are the cream of lifeCulture is the core of one country. Different countries have different cultures. Festival, which reflects the most delicate and representative respect of culture, is the essence of humans daily life. Being comparing American Christmas with Chinese New Year, Thanks Giving Day with Mid-autumn Festival, Valentines Day with Double-Seventh Day, Halloween with Tomb Sweeping Day and Easter with Dragon Boat Festival, we find out cultural differences between China and America. 2.1 The typical festival: Spring Festival and ChristmasBoth Chinese Spring Festival and American Christmas are the most important festivals in China and western countries, and it is a typical exploration of the cultural differences between the Chinese and western festivals. They mainly mark the end of the past year and the beginning of a new year. If Chinese New Year is the most joyous festival in China, Christmas is the merriest and most loved holiday in the United States.2.1.1 OverviewIt is said that the spring festival evolved from an activity known as the Winter Sacrifice. It was a custom practice by the people of primitive society. New Years Eve is the most important time for the family. Every member is present at the New Years Eve feast. Traditional festival food is served, such as whole chicken symbolizing family reunion and whole fish representing surplus in family income. Usually children get lucky money from their parents and grandparents, which are believed to bring good fortune to the children. They explode on New Years Eve to scare away the evil spirits and sweep out what is old; they also lit up fireworks in Chinese lunar New Years Day to welcome the new coming year. It is believed that dragon and lion dances are also performed to ward off evil sprits and bring in wisdom, power and wealth in the year to come (Net. 1).On the first day of Chinese lunar New Years Day, visiting begins. It is traditional for married couples to visit their parents first, and perhaps have lunch or dinner with them. Many people also visit their close friends or relatives in the afternoon. Throughout the festivals, friends and relatives keep coming and going, catching up on what they had not been able to share in the past year. In this sense, Spring Festival, the Chinese lunar New Year, is a festival for family reunion and gathering of friends.As to the Christmas in America, it is on December 25-exactly one week before New Years Day. Christmas, a religious day is observed in Christian countries to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Green Wreaths and poinsettia-red ribbons are put up on the doors of buildings and houses. Stores are filled with people buying Christmas cards and gifts for families and friends (Peng Ying, 2002).On Christmas Eve, most families gather around to trim their Christmas trees. Young people get together and go out to sing carols in church activities in the morning and have family dinner in the evening. Perhaps the most joyful event on Christmas is giving and getting gifts. The legend about this custom says that Santa Claus, an old man, loads the toys into a sled and slides down the chimney of each house to put gifts under Christmas tree or into their stockings which are hung by the children on Christmas Eve. 2.1.2 Culture diversities: consanguinity influence on the familyConsanguinity have different influence on different country, the society is the representative of the consanguinity influence. One can see that a lot of American people run in the streets, cheer and squeeze tightly with strangers, celebrate the festivals wildly with the strangers. But you never see this kind of view in China. For the Chinese, mutual dependence is the essence of all personal relationships, whereby compliance and subordination of ones will to that of the family and kin are of paramount importance. So when the spring festival is near, a lot of people will put down their work and crown to the train station, take on the train back to home, no matter how far they are away from home. And that is also why New Years Eve is the most important time for the Chinese family. And this festival is for their family, their relatives and friends, not with the strangers. The core of Confucius opinions is the “Xiao”, that meant perform ones filial duty. In the daily life, the adult children must show their filial respect to their parents and so did his children. What is more, in the old society, the official and subjects of a feudal ruler should obey the monarch, and the “Xiao” serves the“Zhong”. Therefore, “Xiao” is encouraged by the monarchs. In this way, the nature Consanguinity and the advocate of the ruler have run deep into Chinese peoples heart. While in America, it seems to be quite a different story, the influence on the family from the consanguinity is quite small. A lot of American parents envy the Chinese parents good luck and happiness which are from their children and grandchildren. As to the Americans, individualism, competition and winning are core values of the U.S. society. That is to say the great influence of the American family and society is the competition and individualism, instead of the consanguinity and family member dependence. American children are rather independent, covering college tuition on a loan with their parents. They have not been trained to see themselves as members of a close-knit, interdependent family, religious group, tribe, nation, or other collectivity. The American adult children live alone and create lives that are separate and will pay for the meal if they go back to their parents home to have dinner. This is not meaning that American does not care about their family and their relatives. The differences between America and China are that American adult children may be thought to be “immature”, “tied to the mothers apron strings”, or otherwise unable to lead a normal independent life, their parents will also feel ashamed for their children, if the adult children can not live independently. Chinese family mutual dependence and American individualism are two kinds of views which result from the different consanguinity or blood relations influence.2.2 Mid-autumn Day and Thanks Giving DayBoth Mid-autumn Day and Thanks Giving Day are the traditional festivals in each country. These festivals mainly expressed their thanks to the god or the nature and extend their missing to their family; the difference is that they expressed their thanks in different ways. 2.2.1 OverviewMid- Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, and the celebrations date back more than 2,000 years. In feudal times, Chinese emperors prayed to Heaven for a prosperous year. In Mid-autumn, farmers have just finished gathering their crops and bringing on fruits from the orchards. They are overwhelmed with joy when they have a bumper harvest and at the same time, they feel quite relaxed after a year of hard work. So the 15th day of the eighth lunar month has gradually evolved as a widely celebrated festival for ordinary people. Special foods for the festival include moon cakes, cooked taro, edible snails from the taro patches or rice paddies cooked with sweet basil, and water caltrop, a type of water chestnut resembling black buffalo horns (Net. 2). Night falls, the land is bathed in silver moonlight. Families set up tables in their courtyards or sit together on their balconies, chatting and sharing offering to the moon. Together, they enjoy the enchanting spell of the moon. Thanks Giving Day, which is observed on the fourth Thursday in November, is the most truly American national holiday and is most closely connected with the earliest history of the country. It was first celebrated in 1621 by English settlers of Plymouth colony. The settlers, or Pilgrims, left the native England because they had been denied the right to separate from the established church to worship in their own way. They first fled to Holland and in 1620 they sailed to America on the Mayflower, seeking a place where they could have freedom of worship. Their original destination was Jamestown Virginia, but storms forced them to sail to the north and after a tempestuous two-month voyage they landed on what are now Plymouth, Massachusetts, in icy November. Many of them died of starvation or epidemics. The friendly Indian did them a favor. To thank the Indian for their help and friendship, the pilgrims held a thanksgiving feast. And that day is now the Thanks Giving Day (Harper, 2001).A national thanksgiving day came only after the thirteen colonies had been united. On the dinner table, people find apples, oranges, chestnuts, walnuts and grapes. There is pudding, mince pie; most attractive among them are roast turkey and pumpkin pie. They have the most traditional and favorite food on Thanksgiving Day throughout the years. It is a day for giving thanks for the help from family and friends and for a plentiful harvest.2.2.2 Culture diversities: the way to express thanks The moon cake is served in the Mid-autumn day. It has two meanings: first, people send round moon cakes to their relatives as gifts in expression of their best wishes of family reunion; second, its looks like moon. The moon is the symbol of the great nature, which shows their appreciation to the nature. For thousands of years, the Chinese people have related the vicissitudes of life to changes of the moon as it waxes and wanes; joy and sorrow, parting and reunion. Because the full moon is round and symbolizes reunion, the Mid-autumn Festival is also known as the festival of reunion. In this way, Chinese people have its complex feeling towards the moon. Whenever the festival sets in, people will look up at the full silver moon, drinking wine to celebrate their happy life or thinking of their relatives and friends far from home and extending all of their best wishes to them. All family members try to get together on this special day. Those who can not return home watch the bright moonlight and feel deep longing for their loved ones.This kind of feeling towards the moon is such complex that American people can not understand it. For Chinese people, everything in silence is the best and families or friends can feel it with their heart. Meanwhile, for the American people, they will express it out publicly if they miss someone.2.3 Double-sevenths Day and Valentines DayBoth these two days are the lovers festivals, though they have different stories and have different results of the loves right. As the times went by, young people have the trend towards pursuiting what they love. The freedom of love is the right we want. 2.3.1 OverviewDouble-sevenths Day refers to the seventh day of the seventh month on the Chinese lunar calendar. Almost everyone in China, young or old, is very familiar with the story behind this festival. Niulang, a poor cowherd, with the help of his old ox, get married the granddaughter of the heavens king-Zhinv. The couple was deeply in love and gave birth to twins. Times went by, the king and queen of the Heaven fount out that their little granddaughter had gone to the world of man and taken a husband. They were furious. The queen flew down to earth with some her soldiers to take the Zhinv away. Niulang flew to catch his wife, but the queen of the heaven was so angry that she waved her arm and a raging torrent immediately appeared between her group and Niulang. The poor couple became stars and they can meet only in Double-sevenths Day every year. This is a sad story about our Chinese love. The Double-sevenths Day is not a public holiday in China. Not surprisingly, many people consider the Double-sevenths Day as the Chinese Valentines Day. Valentines Day is a day for lovers, husbands and wives, children, and anyone else who wants to remember this day. It is celebrated annually on February 14th, the feast day of St. Valentine, the patron saint of lovers. This day is named for a Christian saint who was an example of love. The day is usually observed by