englishessay文晗力

外语08.1文啥力20080541124CulturaldifferencesbetweenSpringFestivalandChristmasIntroduction：InChina,themostimportantfestivalisSpringFestival,alsoknownasNewYearDaywhileChristmasisthechieffestivalinwesterncountries・SpringFestivalandChristmasarebothpopularfestivalsaroundtheworld・Peoplecelebratetheminvariousways・Theyarefestivalsfulloflaughterandhappiness.TherearemanycommentsonSpringFestivalandChristmas.However,manyofthemareaboutthesimilaritiesbetweenthetwofestivals,suchasYanBirfs^TraditionalfestivalsinChina'andRenZhongfa's'TheoriginofChristmastree9.TheymainlytalkaboutthatbothSpringFestivalandChristmasarecelebratedfornewyear,botharewell-preparedbeforecelebration,tocreateajoyousatmosphere,bothofferafamilyreunionwithabigfeast,bothsatisfythechildrenwithnewclothes,beautifulpresentsanddeliciousfood・Actually,despitethesesimilarities,therearestillsomedifferencesbetweenthem・InSuYarfspaper'ComparisonofSpringFestivalandChristmas：wecangetsomeofthedifferences,suchasdifferentdate,differentwaysofcelebrationandsoon.Besides,Ithinktheyhavedifferentoriginsandculturalconnotations・Ithinkagoodunderstandingofthedifferencesisnecessary.Becausefestivalcanrepresentculture,knowingthedifferenceswillhelpusunderstandwhytheyaredifferentandwhatarethedifferencesbetweenChineseandWesterncultures.Discussingthedifferencesisnottheonlypurposeinthisessay;therealpurposeisthatsinceSpringFestivalandChristmasaresodifferent,whatattitudeshouldbetowardsSpringFestivalandhowweshouldtreatourtraditionalculture?WeknowthatChristmasismoreandmorepopularinChina;peopletendtocelebrateforeignfestivalinsteadofourtraditionalfestival.Theythinkitisuninterestingtocelebratethesetraditionalfestivals.SpringFestivalisnotanoption,itmustbedone.1Wecannotforgetourtraditionalfestivalsonwhichourcultureisbased.What'smore,itisourdutytohaveacorrectattitudetowardstraditionalcultureandforeignculture.Weshouldsparenoeffortstoprotectourtraditionalcultureandmakeitlastlong・Thatisquiteimportant.TheoriginoftwofestivalsATheoriginofSpringFestivalChineseNewYear,usuallycalledChineseLunarNewYearisnowpopularlyknownasSpringFestivalbecauseitstartsfromthebeginningofSpring(thefirstofthetwenty・foui・termsincoordinationwiththechangesofnature).Moreover,SpringFestivalistheliteraltranslationoftheChinesename"ChunJi*Thedateofthisannualfestivalisdeterminedbythelunarcalendar,itfallsonthefirstdayofalunaryear,sothedateoftheholidayvariesfromlateJanuarytoearlyFebruary.SpringFestivalstartswiththeeveofthelunarNewYearnsDayandendsonthefoilmoon15dayslater.The15lhdayoftheNewYeariscalledthelanternFestival,whichiscelebratedatnightwithlanterndisplaysandchildrencarryinglanternsinaparade.TheChinesecalendarisbasedonacombinationoflunarandsolarmovements.Thelunarcycleisabout29.5days.Inordertoucatchup^withthesolarcalendai;theChineseinsertanextramonthonceeveryfewyears(sevendaysoutofa19-year-cycle).Thisisthesameasaddinganextradayonleapyea匚AndthisiswhyChineseNewYearfallsonadifferentdateeachyearaccordingtothesolarcalendar.ChineseNewYearnsEveisadayforfamilyreunionwhichisalsocalledChuXior“Eveofthepassingyearv・TheoriginofSpringFestivalistooancienttobetraced・Opinionsonthismattervaryfrompersontopersons.However，mostpeopleagreethattheNian,whichmeans“year"illmodemChinese,wasoriginallythenameofaman-eatingbeast,whichcameoutevery12monthssomewhereclosetowintertopreyonhumansthemightbeforethebeginningofanewyear.HavingfoundtheNianwassensitivetoloudnoisesandthecolorred,peoplescareditawaywithexplosionswithfireworksandtheliberaluseofthecolorred.AllthesehadledtothefirstNewYearcelebrations・"TraditionalChinese”,whichmeanstocelebratetheNewYear,literallymeansthePassoveroftheNian.ThereisalegendgoingthatthebeastNianhadbigpowertoswallowagreatmanypeoplewithonebigbite・Itwassoterriblethatpeoplewereseriouslyscared・Oneday,anoldmancameupandofferedtotheirrescue・HeovercameNianbysaying,UIknowthatyouarecapableofswallowingpeople,butcanyouswallowalltheotherbeastsofpreyonearthinsteadofpeoplewhoarebynomeansofyourworthyopponents?”Asaresult,Nianacceptedthischallengeanddidswallowmanyofthebeastsofpreyonearththatalsobulliedpeopleandtheirdomesticanimalsfromtimetotime.Sttheendofthelegend,theoldmandisappeared.Heturnedouttobeanimmoralgod.Consequently,Nianisgoneandotherbeastsofpreyoneartharescaredintohidingintheforests.Itisgreatthatpeoplebegantoenjoytheirhappyandpeacefullifeagain・Beforeliving,theoldmanhadtoldpeopletoputupred-papereddecorationsontheirdoorsandwindowsateachyearnsendtoscareawayNianincaseitwouldcomeback,becausewhatNianfearedthemostisthecolorofred.Fromthenoil,thetraditionalofavoidingNiaifscomingbackliasbeenearnedonfromgenerationtogeneration.Thetenn“GuoNian"whichalsomeans“SurvivetheNian"hasbecome"celebratetheNewYear"・TodaybecausethewordUguonhasthemeaningofboth"pass-over"and“observe"inChinese.Thecustomofputtingupredpaperonwindowsanddoorsandthecustomoffiringfire-crackerstoscareawayNianisstillaround・However,mostpeopletodayhavelongforgottenwhytheyaredoingallthis;theyonlyknowthattheredcolorandthesoundoffire-crackerscanaddalotofexcitementstothefestival.Wliafsmore,redisaveryluckycolorinChinaandfiringfire-crackersmeanssomethinggoodtohappen・BTheoriginofChristmasChristmasalsocalledNavidadinSpanishandWeihnachteninGermany,isthetimewhenprofessingChristiansaresupposedtofocusonJesusChrist・UnlikeSpringFestival,ChristinasDayhasafixeddate・ItiswidelyknownthatDecember25isChristmasDayandDecember24isknownasChristmasEve.TheoriginofChristmasisthebirthofJesusChristasrecordedinBible.Accordingtoit,JesuswasborntotheVirginMary,underthehelpofherhusbandJosephitthecityofBethLethem.TheinfantJesuswaslaidinamanager,andShepherdsfromthefieldssurroundingBethlehemweretoldofthebirthbyanangel,andwerethefirsttoseethechild・ManyChristiansbelievethatthebirthofJesusfulfilledmanypredictionsmadehundredsofyearsbeforehisbirth.AndfortodayChristian,theoriginofChristmasisstillthebirthofJesusChrist.Thereisnothingmoreandnothingless・However,mostofwhatwedoandwhatweseeonDecember25lheachyearhavenothingtodowiththatblessday,whichmanyoccurinlatesummeroreailyautumnabout2000yearago.Actually,mostofthecustomsandtraditionsofChristmassetthebirthofJesusaheadoftime.ThedateofDecember25thmayoriginatewiththeancient“birthday”oftheSun-god,Mithra,whohadwidespreadinfluenceintheRomanEmpireduringthefirstfewcenturiesAD.MithrahadsomethingtodowiththeSun-god,Shamash,andhisrespectspreadthroughoutAsiatoEurope・Asweknow,Romewasfamousfortakinginthepaganreligiousandritualsofitswidespreadempire.Underthiscondition,Romeconcertedthispaganlegacytoacelebrationofthegod,Saturn,andtherebirthofthesungodduringthewinterperiod・ThewinterholidaybeganaweekpriortoDecember25th・VariationsofthispaganholidayflourishedthroughoutthefirstfewcentiinesafterJesusClmstbutitwasiftuntil336ADthatEmperorConstantineofficiallycon\-ertedthispagantraditionintothe“ChristiaiFholidayofCliiistmas.Infact,thetrueoriginofChristmasisfullofcontroversyandcompromise.Afurtherstudywillrevealvariouspuzzlingroots・Inaword,theChristmastodayisanindicatorofChristianity'swillingnesstoabsorbtheworld'scustomsandtraditions,andforgetitssimplerootsinthehistoricalrealityofJesusChrist.Thefestivaltodayisfilledwithgift-giving,singingChristmassongs,feastinganddecorations.ChristmasshouldbenothingmorethanasimplereminderofJesusChristbutatimeforshowinglove,respectandexcitement.Weshouldgraspeveryminutetoreleaseourpassionandexcitementforthefestival・ThecelebrationsofthetwofestivalsANecessaryitemsofthetwofestivals1.SpringFestivalCoupletandthecharacteristic“fu"TheSpringFestivalCoupletwhichisgenerallywritteninredpaperconsistsoftwoverticallinesandonehorizontalline・Andallthelinesconveytheideaofgoodluck,constitutingauniqueformintheChineseliterature・Itoriginatedinthepeachwoodchaniisagainstevil(hungonthegateonNewYearnsEve)inancientChina・Alegendhasitthatlonglongago,twobrothersnamedShenTuandYuLeilivedinastonehouse・Theyweretwocelestialbeingwhowereconquerorsof-denionsandgoblinsarewrittendownonpiecesofpeachwoodtobehungonthegatetoprotectafamilyfromevilanddisaster.What'smore,itisgoodtogreetthecomingofanauspiciousyea匚Lateron,peoplesimplydrewtheimagesofthetwobeingsontheirdoorsbythemselves・Withferociouseyesandsharpweapons,theywereableenoughtoscareawayalltheevilsandmonsters・Eventoday,somepicturesofthetwogodscanstillbeseenonthedoorsinoldbuildings・Moreover,peoplewritecoupletsonthepeachwoodtogiveexpressiontotheirbestwishes.Atbeginningtime,itwasaprivilegetoputSpringFestivalCoupletsonthedoorsforaristocraticfamiliesbywhichtosingpraiseoftheirancestor^deedsandshowofftheirwealth・LaterSpringFestivalCoupletsbecamepopularamongcommonpeople・IthadbecomepartoflocallifesincetheSongDynasty.Itisbynomeanseasyjobtocomposeagoodcoupletbecauseitrequiresstrictsymmetryineveryfield:sentenceforsentence,nounfornoun,verbforverb・Wliafsmore,ifswouldsoundpoeticandreflecttheactualsituationofafamily・Whatevercontents,aremarkedbyauspiciousness,andinstructiveness・Forexample,wecanoftenseethiscoupletonthedoorsofapeasantshouse,uJoyfiiltoseeonethousandbushesofSpringflowers,Beamingtodrinkonecupofwineofagoodyear",wliichwelldescribesthecountryside^prosperityandthepeasantsjoy.Illshort,SpnngFestivalcoupletisfilledwithgoodluckandgreathopeforbetterlife.Today,ithasanewmeaning:IthasbecomeafolkformtopraseSocialdevelopmentandpeopledbetterlife・BesidesSpringFestival,'isanothernecessaryitem・Itcanbeputupeitherinanormalwayorupsidedown.BecauseinChinese"reservedfu"means6fucomes",itcanbringaboutluckandhappiness・2ChristmastreeandSantaClausThemodernChristmastreeoriginatedinGermanyintheearly19thcentury,butthetraditionofdecoratingatreetomarkwintercelebrationscandatebackhundredsofyearstoRomantimes,whenRomansdecoratedeverygreentreewithsmallpiecesofmetaltocelebratesaturnalia・ThefollowingdemonstratesiswhatthebabylolouiansbelieveabouttheoriginoftheClmstmasfree:"AnoldbabylonishfabletoldofaneverygreentreewhichSpringoutofadeadtreestump・TheoldstumpsymbolizedthedeadNirnrod,theneweverygreentreesymbolizedthatNimrodhadcometolifeagaininTanumuz!AmongtheDruidstheoakwassacred,amongtheEgyptiansitwasthepalm,andinRomeitwasthefir,whichwasdecoratedwithredberriesduringthesaturnalia!^2Illmedievaltimes,the"ParadisePlay”wasperformedeachyearon24December,whichdescribedthecreationofManandthefallofAdamandEvefromtheGardenofEdenandalwaysincludedaneverygreenhungwithapples,whichrepresentedtheappletreeoftemptation.ItwassaidthatMartinLutherwasthefirsttodecorateanindoortreewithcandlesinthelate16thcentury.ThefirstmentionofdecoratingtreescameinGermanywhichhasalongChristmastreehistory.Atfirstthetreesweredecoratedwithfruitsandsweets.Thenlater,GermanChristmasMarketsbegantosellornaments,sopeoplecantookthemhomeandhangthemonthetrees.Inthe1880s,artificialtreescameintobeing,becausepeoplewantedtostopthedamagesthatbroughtontherealtrees・InordertoownChristmastrees,alargenumberoftreeshadtobecutdown,itgotsobadinGermanythatlawshadtobecarriedouttopreventpeoplehavingmorethanonetree.PrinceAlbert,husbandofQueenVictoriamadegreatcontributionstointroducingthecustomofChristmastreetotheBritishPublicin1841.Duringthefirsthalfofthe20lhcentury,theChristmastreebecamepopularinBritain.Asaresult,Christmastreesbecamebiggeranddecoratedwithbells,starsandribbons・However,therewasinbanoncuttingdowntreesbecauseoftheSecondWorldWar.Thelargetreeswereerectedinmanypublicplaces,amongwhichthetreeinTrafalgarsquareisthemostfamous・ItisanannualgiftfromtheNorwegiangovernmenttogivethanksforthehelptheyreceivedfromBritainduringthewar.SantaClaus,alsoknownasSaintNicholas,issaidinwesterncountriestodelivergiftstogoodchildrenduringthetimeinChristmasEve.Itisgenerallydescribedasajoyful,white-beardedmanwearingaredcoatwithwhitecollar,redtrousers,blackleatherbeltandboots・TheimageofSantaClausisverypopularinUnitedStates.WhentalkingaboutChristmas,wecannotignoreSantaClaus.BFoodofthetwofestivalsTraditionalChineseNewYearfoodsAsNewYearissupposedtobethemostimportantfestivalamongallothers,itisalwayswell-preparedbeforecelebration.NewYeai^sEveandNewYearnsDayareconsideredasatimeforfamilyaffair,atimeofreunionandthanksgiving.Sopeoplevalueitverymuchandalwayspresentontheirbestandmostabundantfoods・Beforedinner,thecelebrationwastraditionallyhighlightedwithareligiousceremonygiveninhonorofHeavenandEarth,thegodsofthehouseholdandthefamilyancestors.Thedepartedrelativesarerememberedwithgreatrespectbecausetheyareresponsibleforlayingthefoundationsforthefortuneandgloryofthefamily.AtNewYearEve,almosteverymemberofthefamilywillsittogetheraroundthetabletoenjoythebigfeast.Itisnotsousualforthewholefamilytoeattogetherformostpeople・Formanypeoplehavetoleavehomeforwork・ThetraditionalChineseNewYearfoodisalwaysincludingfish,chicken,duck,meatandvariousvegetables,amongwhichfishisthenecessityforitsymbolizesabetterlife・OnNewYeai^sDay,thepeopleinNorthChinawilleatdumplingsforbreakfastwhilethepeopleinthesouthwilleatanothersnackcalleduTangYiian'\whichsymbolizesfamilyreunionandhappylife.Once,peopleonlyatethesesonNewYearnsDay,butnowtheycaneatatanytimeoftheearaslongastheywantto.OtherNewYearfoodsincludeawholefish,whichrepresenttogethernessandabundanceandachickenforprosperity.Andthechickenmustbepresentedwithahead,tailandfeettosymbolizecompleteness.Moreover,noodlesshouldbeuncuttorepresentlonglife.Althoughallthesearealittlesuperstive,Chinesepeopleprefertobelieveit.InSouthChina,themosttypicalandfavoritedishisNianGao,becauseitalsohasgoodandluckymeanings.Whileinthenorth,peopleprefertothesteamedwheatbreadcalledManTouanddumplings.Actually,differenceplacesmayhavedifferentfoodsforNewYeardinner,nomatterwhatthefoodis,itcanbringpeople・Withhappinessandtogetherness・Thevariousfoodspreparedatthistimearemeanttosymbolizeabundanceandwealthforthehousehold・2.ChristmasdinneraroundtheworldClmstmasisalwaysconsideredtobeforeignersNewYear.AsChi'istmasiswidelycelebratedintheworld,theChristmasdinnermaydifferfromcountrytocountry.Butturkeyisservedasamealalmostineverycountry.InAustralia,Christmasdinnerisfilledwithham,turkey,chicken,sidesaladsandsometimeseafoods・OnChristmasEve.thetreeisdecoratedandlitwithrealcandles,peoplebegintoenjoytheirChristmasfeast・InBrazil,Christmasmealisreallyafeast(servedonChristmasEve)includinglargequantitiesoffood,suchaswidevarietyofdisheswhichincludefreshvegetablesandBrazilnuts・Besides,bowlsofcolorfulriceandplattersfilledwithhamandsaladarealwaystogetherwith.OtherChristmasitemsincludevariousdessertssuchasNutspie,chocolatecake,andlemontartandsoon.InDenmark,ChristmasdinnerisalsoservedonChristmasEveconsistingofroastpork,withduckandgoose・Andthemeatisservedalongwithpotatoes・Thenitisadessertfollowingwhichricepuddingisservedwithcherrysauceorstrawberrysauce.Itisquitedelicious・IntheUnitedStates,theusualChristinasdinnerincludesroastturkey,beef,ham,pork,roastedrootvegetablesandmashedpotatoes.Whichpumpkinpie,Christmaspudding,fruitcakeandapplepiearethecommondesserts.Allthesedishesarewell-preparedanddelicious.Itissurethatthemealvariesonthetastesofthehostbutcanstillbeham,roastbeef,andturkeyisthemaincourseprobablysincetheAmericanholidayofThanksgivinginNovember,aroundonemonthearlier.InGermany,Christmasdishesarealwaysroastgooseorroastduck・Thetypicalsidedishesincluderoastpotatoesandvariousformsofcabbage・Insomeregions,ChristmasdinnerisservedonChristmasDayratherthanChristinasEve,sodinneronChristmasEveissimple,consistingofsausagesandsalad・Christmasdinnervariesaroundtheworld,peopleindifferentregionshaveacommonhope,thatis,tohaveafeastonChristmasEveandsparenoefforttocelebrateChristmasDay.ItisafestivalforNewYearandforfamilyreunion・Thus,eachpeoplevaluetheChristmasalot.CTheactivitiesoftwofestivalsLActivitiesofSpringFestivalaActivitiesbeforeSpringFestivalBeforetheSpringFestivalpeoplewilldoalotofpreparationsfortheimportantfestival,suchasbuyfoodsthatareneeded,doathoroughcleaningandmakeadecoration.ThecelebrationofChineseNewYearisofregionalcustomsandtraditions.Beforethefestival,peoplewillsendtheirmoneyonbuyingpresents,decoration,foodandclothing・Itisatraditionthateveryfamilywillholdathoroughcleaningtosweepawayanyill-fortuneinhopestomakewayforgoodincomingluck・Windowsanddoorswillbewipedanddecoratedwithredcolorpaper-cutsandSpringFestivalcoupletswithpopulai*meaningsofwealth","happiness，'andulonglife^.bActivitiesduringSpringFestivalOntheEveofNewYear,supperisreallyafeastforfamilyreunion・Traditionalmealisfilledwithsuchitemsaspigs,ducks,chicken,fish,andfreshvegetables.Whilehavingdinner,peopleliketowatchTVandchatwithfamilies.Themightisfulloflaughsandhappyhours・Earlythenextmorning,childrenwillgreattheirgrandparentsandparentsbywishingthemahealthyandhappynewyearandtheywillreceivemoneyinredpaperenvelopes.ItisprobablythehappiestthingforchildreninNewYear,becausethisbindofchancewillonlybeonceayear.Withthemoney,childrenwillbuywhattheywant.ChineseNewYearistraditiontoforgetallgrudesandsincerelywishpeaceandhappinessforeveryone・Thefollowingisthe15-DaycelebrationofChineseNewYear.ThefirstdayoftheLunarNewYearisthedayfor"welcomingofthegodsoftheliea\-enandearth.vPeoplehopetoensurelongandhappylives.TheseconddayisthetimeforChinesetopraytotheirancestors・Thethirdandfourthdaysarethedaysforsons-in-lawstovisittheirparents-in-law・Onthefifthday,peoplewillstayathometowelcometheGodofWealth・Fromthesixthtothe10thdays,Chinesepeoplecanvisittheirfriendsandrelativesfreely.Besides,theyliketovisittemplestoprayforgoodfortuneandhealth・TheI0lhto12lharethedaystoinvitefriendsandrelativesfordinner,atthattime;peoplewillhaveafeastandpromotetheirrelations.The13lhand14tharedaystomakepreparationsfortheLanternFestivalonthe15lhday.DuringtheSpringFestivalpeoplearebusybuthappyatthesametime,nowadays;peopleindifferentregionsmayhavedifferentcelebrationsfortheNewYear,butthefacethatSpringFestivalisourmostimportantfestivalwillneverbechanged・Weshouldvaluetheannualfestivalandgraspeveryminutetoenjoythehappinessitbringsabout.2.ActivitiesofChristmasaActivitiesbeforeChristmasSimilartoSpringFestival,Christmasisthechieffestivalinforeigncountries.Peoplearelookingforwardtoitscomingverymuch.Foritmeanstheendofthisyearandthestartofanewyear.BeforeChristmaspeoplewillmakeenoughpreparationsforthefestival.ItisagoodopportunityformostshopstomakeprofitbecausealltheChristmasgoodsarethebest-seller.Usually,everyfamilywillhaveaChristmastreewhichismadefromagreentree.Theywillbuyalotofitemstodecoratethetree,suchasstars,hats,colorfulribbonsandsomefamilieswillputupreallightswhichwillmakethetreemuchmorebeautiful.'ThedecorationsofChristmasarefarmoreabundantthanthatofSpringFestival・Westernsliketobuyvariousitemstodecoratetheirhouses,especiallytheChristmastree.AlmosteachfamilywillhaveaChristmastree,andthenitisdecoratedbysmalllights,colorfulribbons,presentsandsomeotheritems.Astotheirhouses,theyalsowilldecorateitwithvariousinterestingitems.Whenitcomestonight,thehouseisquitebeautifulandwarm,fortherearemanycolorfulsmalllightsinthehouse・Besides,peoplewillbuyalotoffoodstohaveabigfeast.bActivitiesduringChristinasOnChristmasEve,familymemberswillgettogethertoenjoytheirfeast,theusualmealincludesturkey,boastedbeeforpork,freshvegetablestogetherwiththesweetssuchaspumpkinpie,puddingandsalad・Itisgreattosittogetherfortheabundantmeatformostofthemarebusyforworkandthiscanmakethemrelaxed.Afterthemeal,peopleliketodanceandsingChristmasSongsaroundtheChristmastree,什】isbehaviorcanhelpthemgetridofalltheunhappinessinthepassingyearandholdnewhopeforthenextyear.Soyoucanimaginehowhappyandenjoyabletheydie.Formanyschools,therewillbelotsofpartiesandballsforstudents.Theyarewellmadeupandattendtheinterestingpartiesandballs.ThetimeduringChristinasEveisreallyhappyhours・EarlyinChristmasDay,childrenwillfindtheirsocksarefilledwithgifts,whichareputinbySantaClaus・ItisapopulartalethatSantaClausasthejollyroundmanwhoslidesdownthechimneyonChristmasEveleavinggiftstothegoodlittleboysandgirls.Actually,thegiftsintheirsockareputinbytheirparents.Peoplewillvisitneighborstogetherwiththeirsincerehopesandgreetrelativesandfriendsbytelephones・ChristmascardisanecessityinChristmasDay,usuallythecaidwillbesentouttogetherwithafamilyphotoandasentence:HappyNewYear!Thiscanpromoterelationstoothers・Inaword,althoughtherearedifferentcelebrationsaroundtheworld,thethemeofChristmasisforgettingthepastandhopingforthefuture.Christmasisafestivalfilledwithhappinessandreunion・DifferencesandreasonsA.DifferentculturalheritagesFromabove,wecanconcludethatSpringFestivalisdifferentfromChristmasinthatduringS