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中西传统节日中的文化差异

中西传统节日中的文化差异
中西传统节日中的文化差异

内蒙古民族大学本科毕业论文

中西传统节日中的文化差异

裴海峰

摘要:节日是一种文化现象,它不仅反映着人们社会生活的各个方面,同时也诠释着一个民族的文化。中西方文化存在各个方面的差异,传统节日文化是其中重要的一项。中国的春节和西方的圣诞节分别是东西方最重要的传统节日,它们各有其独特的起源,习俗,社会功能,文化内涵。本文通过对中西方传统节日春节和圣诞节的比较分析,从而深入了解中西文化的差异

关键词:传统节日中西文化差异

On the Cultural Differences Between Chinese and Western

Traditional Festivals

Pei Haifeng

Abstract:Culture is an important cultural phenomenon, it is not only a way of showing the social life of its people, but also a good way of passing on the national cultural. There are aspects of differences between Chinese and Western cultures. Traditional festivals are one of the important differences. The Chinese Spring Festival and the western Christmas are the most important traditional festival for the eastern and western, they have unique origin,custom,social function and culture meaning. This paper demonstrates the cultural differences between Chinese and Western, by analyzing the tradition festival of Chinese and western.

Key Words: traditional festivals Chinese and Western cultures differences

Contents

Introduction (1)

1. The origin of Chinese Spring Festival and Christmas (2)

1.1 The origin of Chinese Spring Festival (2)

1.2 The origin of Christmas (4)

2 Analysis of Chinese Spring Festival and western Christmas (6)

2.1 agriculture and religion (6)

2.2 Ways of expressing feelings (7)

2.3 Religious belief (7)

3 Analysis of Chinese and western traditional festivals (8)

3.1 The way of naming (8)

3.2The way of celebration (8)

3.3The way of feeling (9)

Conclusion (10)

Notes (11)

Bibliography (12)

On the Cultural Differences Between Chinese and Western

Traditional Festivals

Pei Haifeng

Introduction

Every nation has its own culture. On the soil of culture, there grows its traditional festival. Traditional festival is a very important part of culture. Different nation has different culture and traditional festivals. The Spring Festival is the most important festival for the Chinese people, just like Christmas in the West.

There are some differences between Chinese and Western cultures. Traditional festivals are one of the important differences. This essay probes into the differences between Chinese and Western cultures through traditional festivals. First, they are distinctly different in their origins. The festivals in China mainly stem from seasons and solar periods, which are closely related to agriculture. “The festivals in western countries generally stem from religion and its relative events. So they all are influenced with religious features. Second, they are apparently different in their customs. When celebrating the festivals, the Chinese tend to focus more attention on eating and drinking, while the westerners tend to put more attention to the seeking of pleasure and entertainments.” [1]In the era of globalization, due to the development and intensification in economic and cultural exchanges, we can feel the quick step of Chinese-western culture communication from the people’s celebration on each other’s festivals. The people of both sides accept and adore each other’s traditional festivals and there is a new tendency of selecting the superiority and eliminating the inferiority.

Local customs is a charming world, where one can learn the history and culture of the country he/she is staying more profoundly. Local customs find full expressions in the traditional festivals.

Take Chinese traditional festivals for example. Characterized by diverse styles and themes, Chinese traditional festivals are an important part of Chinese history and culture, both ancient and modern. A close relationship exists between many of the

traditional festivals and chronology, mathematics, the Chinese calendar and the twenty-four solar terms. Many of the customs connected with the traditional festivals have links with religious devotions, superstitions and myths. Almost every festival has its own unique origins and customs which reflect the traditional practices and morality of the whole Chinese nation and its people. And it is true with Western traditional festivals.

Chinese and western festivals are a window into their different cultures, including their tradition, their belief and their value. Since culture is so much reflected in the festivals, it is quite meaningful to probe into the origins and ways of celebration, etc, of the different festivals between China and the western countries so as to promote the cross-cultural communication.

1. The origin of Chinese Spring Festival and Christmas

1.1 The origin of Chinese Spring Festival

Spring Festival starts with the new moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. So the timing of the holiday varies from late January to early February. The Spring festival celebrates the earth coming back to life, and the start of ploughing and sowing. In the past, feudal rulers of dynasties placed great importance on this occasion, and ceremonies to usher in the season were performed.

The first day of lunar years called “nian chu yi” (the first day of nian). There is folklore about the monster called “nian”. In fact, the festival stems from the agricultural production. China is an agricultural country and our ancestors have known how to crop in the fields and formed a farming industry thousands of years ago. After accumulating experience during the long-time cultivation, the ancient people find out that the proper seeds planting in springtime leads to a good harvest in autumn. Later, a famous saying comes into being “the whole year’s work depends on a good starting in spring”. Therefore, the springtime becomes the time for the Chinese. Because the Chinese regard springtime as a start of the whole year, no wonder the

Chinese place so much emphasis on the springtime, and Spring Festival is treated as such an important festival. Meanwhile, this festival mirrors are the Chinese attitudes to the relationship between nature and human---keeping harmony. In daily life and work, people find a certain rule in nature; following it, people set the production schedule to help plant in a reasonable way. In nature, people make development and enjoy life.

After the Preliminary Eve, people begin preparing for the coming New Year. This is called "Seeing the New Year in".

Store owners are busy then as everybody goes out to purchase necessities for the New Year. Materials not only include edible oil, rice, flour, chicken, duck, fish and meat, but also fruit, candies and kinds of nuts. What's more, various decorations, new clothes and shoes for the children as well as gifts for the elderly, friends and relatives, are all on the list of purchasing.

Before the New Year comes, the people completely clean the indoors and outdoors of their homes as well as their clothes, bedclothes and all their utensils.

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.

The Chinese character "fu" (meaning blessing or happiness) is a must. The character put on paper can be pasted normally or upside down, for in Chinese the "reversed fu" is homophonic with "fu comes", both being pronounced as "fudaole." What's more, two big red lanterns can be raised on both sides of the front door. Red paper-cuttings can be seen on window glass and brightly colored New Year paintings with auspicious meanings may be put on the wall.

People attach great importance to Spring Festival Eve. At that time, all family members eat dinner together. The meal is more luxurious than usual. Dishes such as chicken, fish and bean curd cannot be excluded, for in Chinese, their pronunciations,

respectively "ji", "yu" and "doufu," mean auspiciousness, abundance and richness. After the dinner, the whole family will sit together, chatting and watching TV. In recent years, the Spring Festival party broadcast on China Central Television Station (CCTV) is essential entertainment for the Chinese both at home and abroad. According to custom, each family will stay up to see the New Year in.

Waking up on New Year, everybody dresses up. First they extend greetings to their parents. Then each child will get money as a New Year gift, wrapped up in red paper. People in northern China will eat jiaozi, or dumplings, for breakfast, as they think "jiaozi" in sound means "bidding farewell to the old and ushering in the new". Also, the shape of the dumpling is like gold ingot from ancient China. So people eat them and wish for money and treasure.

Southern Chinese eat niangao (New Year cake made of glutinous rice flour) on this occasion, because as a homophone, niangao means "higher and higher, one year after another." The first five days after the Spring Festival are a good time for relatives, friends, and classmates as well as colleagues to exchange greetings, gifts and chat leisurely.

Burning fireworks was once the most typical custom on the Spring Festival. People thought the spluttering sound could help drive away evil spirits. However, such an activity was completely or partially forbidden in big cities once the government took security, noise and pollution factors into consideration. As a replacement, some buy tapes with firecracker sounds to listen to, some break little balloons to get the sound too, while others buy firecracker handicrafts to hang in the living room.

The lively atmosphere not only fills every household, but permeates to streets and lanes. A series of activities such as lion dancing, dragon lantern dancing, lantern festivals and temple fairs will be held for days. “The Spring Festival then comes to an end when the Lantern Festival is finished.” [2]

1.2 The origin of Christmas

Christmas to the westerns is compared as Spring Festival to Chinese. It is on

December 25th every year and usually lasts for a week, until a new year. Christmas originated from Europe. How Christmas comes into being must date back to 1A.D.when Jesus came into world. The name Christmas is short for “Christ’s Mass”.

A Mass is a kind of church service. Christmas is the feast of the nativity of Jesus, is on 25th, December every year. It is the day we celebrate as the birthday of Jesus. In Bible, “There is a vivid description of the story about Jesus birth: in a city of Galilee, the virgin’s name was Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Before they came tighter, she was found with a child of the Holy Spirit. While Joseph her husband wanted to put her away secretly, Gabriel, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him not be afraid to take Mary as wife. And Mary would bring forth a son, and he should call him, Jesus, for he would save his people from their sins. Finally, on December 25th, Mary brought forth her firstborn son---Jesus.”[3]

The Feast of Christmas It is not easy to pin-point the origins of the Christmas feast, today the more important feast of the Christmas season in most western Christian churches. One can only say for certain that the birth of Jesus Christ was being celebrated in Rome by the year 336 A.D.; afterwards the feast was celebrated in other Christian churches throughout the world.

December 25th is another question. No date for the birth of Jesus can be found in the New Testament, which is concerned more with the question "Who is Jesus?" than the date of his birth. Early Christian speculation about his birth date was influenced by the symbolism of the changing seasons, then popular in religious thought, which paid careful attention to the equinoxes and solstices of the sun. Christian scholars speculated that Jesus was conceived at the spring equinox (March 25th) and therefore was born on December 25th, the date of the winter solstice. “This is largely because they all believe in God and share similar values.” [4]

In many of the Christian churches, March 25th is still the Feast of the Annunciation, when the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was to be the mother of Jesus.

Possible impulse for the feast of Christmas may have came too from the establishment of the pagan feast of the "Unconquered Sun-God" by the Emperor

Aurelian in 274 A.D. to be celebrated on December 25, the day of the winter solstice in Rome and throughout the empire. In response, Christians could celebrate the feast of the "Sun of righteousness" (Malachi 4, 2), Jesus Christ, who called himself “the light of the world." Father Christmas

It is said that in the year of 300 AD, there was a kind old man and his name was Saint Nicholas. He was always ready to help the poor and often gave presents to them.

Today, Father Christmas is an imaginary figure, but nearly all young children believe in him. They think he is a happy old man with a long white beard and a long red robe.

“On the night of the twenty-fourth of December every year, Father Christmas from some cold northern land comes down the chimney of the fireplace to put presents by the beds of children or to fill their stockings.” [5] So when children go to bed that night, they hang up their stockings, and on Christmas morning they wake to find them full of presents. Of course, it's really their parents who fill the stockings.

Another name for Father Christmas is Santa Claus. Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year! Beautiful dream comes true bring you Good wishes of happiness.

2 Analysis of Chinese Spring Festival and western Christmas

2.1 agriculture and religion

Spring Festival, is formed based on the ancient calendar. According to solar terms and harvest, the date for certain agricultural activities has been fixed. Therefore, the celebration also has close ties with agriculture. Though religions such as Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism play very important role in social life, they never match the far-reaching impact of agriculture on people’s tendency and thoughts. In China, agriculture is always placed in the first position. Through one year’s toil, people expect a joyful moment to have relaxation, after that they have to start a new round of hard working again. Up to now, in countryside, many antithetical couplets on the farmers’ doors read something like a prayer for a good harvest in the next year.

As mentioned above, people take December 25th as “Christ” birthday---Christmas Day. Therefore Christmas is a religious festival. Combined with our common sense, we can draw a brief conclusion that religion must play a dominant role in western society. As a matter of fact, the religion is a center of culture and society. People response their mind on religion, meanwhile religion controls people through people’s belief in God or spirit. It is not exaggerated to say that religion is ubiquitous in all walks of life. And just like the influence of agriculture in China, religion in west is connected with daily life and its impact is obviously to be witnessed in the other festivals, like Easter Day.

2.2 Ways of expressing feelings

Expect the above differences, Spring Festival reflects the feature of the strong localization, whether in its origin or in the way of observation or celebration. The origin is closely related to agriculture. Therefore, the way of observation or celebration is remarked by a lot of agricultural imprint. They are very unique local celebration way of letting off firecrackers, putting on the paper scrolls and having a get-together banquet. On the contrary, Christmas Day is a festival originated from Europe. For the historical reason, the European immigrants moved to America at the same time they brought a batch of European customs, traditions and festivals, including Christmas Day. Consequently, Christmas Day is world-wide, all westerners have this festival.

2.3 Religious belief

The effect of history, which in broadest sense, is the totality of all past events. From the long history of China, we can see Chinese culture is deeply rooted in agriculture and the festivals are localized by the agricultural activities. It is definitely decided by the state situation and people’s living habits in the long history. Spring Festival has close relation with the agricultural activities such as planting and harvest. In fact, other festivals such as Qing Ming and Chong Yang festivals which have not been mentioned in this article are also settled in line with the solar terms and also

connected with agriculture. Western culture is structured on the foundation of religion, thus the festivals have strong ties with Christianity. Apart from Christmas Day, the Easter Day is also connected with religion. The religion has an intensive impact on people’s life.

3 Analysis of Chinese and western traditional festivals

3.1 The way of naming

The first difference between Chinese and western traditional festivals are the way of naming the festivals. By observing the names of the festivals, we can easily find out the difference. “Chinese festivals were mostly named after the season, while western festivals were more often named after the religious figures or events.” [6] As we know, china is a traditional agricultural country. Since weather and season play an important role in agriculture, the traditional festivals, which were originally created for agricultural celebration, were in connection with season. It was easy and helpful for the peasants to remember the festivals named after seasons. Judging from the names, they knew how to deal with their crops at that time. For example, the spring festival is the time to sow the seeds. There is also Mid Autumn Day, Summer solstice and Winter Solstice and so on. Though there are some western festivals named after seasons like Midsummer Day of Finland in history, after the spread of religion, especially Christianity, festivals are mostly named after religion. Unlike china, religion plays a dominating role in western world. Westerners cannot live without religions. God and Jesus Christ are deep ingrained in their mind. It is not startle for us to learn that most of the festivals were named after religions. So, there is Nativity of St. Mary, Christmas, All Saints’ Day and Holy Saturday.

3.2The way of celebration

When we talk about festival, celebration is an indispensable part. Because of culture differences, the celebration activities of Chinese and western traditional festivals are quite different. As known to all, Chinese Diet has a long history. So, it

inevitably became one of the most important factors of festival celebration. One interesting figure is that different festivals have different food and different foods carry different wishes of Chinese people. On the spring festival, people have New Year’s Cake hoping that family members will get promotion in the coming year, have New Year’s Eve Meal wishing the whole family could unite eve ry year. Almost every tradition festival has one special such as glutinous rice dumpling on lantern Festival, Moon cake on Mid Autumn Day. However, western festivals have no fixed menu. They pay more attention to festival gifts, cards and entertainments. According to legend, Santa Clause sends Christmas gifts to children on Christmas Eve. To a certain extent, gifts have become the most important part of Christmas celebration nowadays. Besides, people also give presents to others on other festivals. For instance, on Saint Valentine’s Day, people send roses or chocolates to their beloved persons. Entertainment is another essential part. On festivals, there are a lot of parties and carnivals held by different community. They may go out to the street and dance crazily with strangers. This also reflects that westerners are more open- minded.

3.3The way of feeling

Another difference is that people of different countries can accept western festivals more easily than Chinese traditional festivals. One important reason is that western festivals are based on solar calendar, which is world-wide-used, while Chinese traditional festivals are based on lunar calendar, which is used only in China. For this reason, it is hard for people from other countries to follow us. Besides, western culture shows great respect to human rights and pays special attention to individual development. This sense can be found in western festivals. Take Saint Valentine’s Day as an example again. It has become a worldwide festival. It is a festival for lovers only. On that day, people can show their love to their beloved persons without hesitation. It is human nature. No matter what nationality he or she is, he or she needs love. So, it can be accepted by the whole word. And it was formed in that certain culture. However, under the atmosphere of feudalism, it was impossible for Chinese to develop such kind of festival at that time as men and women were

allowed to touch each other unless they were couples. Since most of the Chinese traditional festivals were developed under the guidance of feudalism, it was difficult for foreigner to absorb the ideas.

Conclusion

Traditional festival is a very important part of culture. Different nation has different culture and traditional festivals. The Spring Festival and Christmas are the most important festivals for the Chinese and western people. Chinese and western festivals are a window into their different cultures, including their tradition, their belief and their value. Since culture is so much reflected in the festivals, it is quite meaningful to probe into the origins and ways of celebration, etc, of the different festivals between China and the western countries During the festivity, the particular and colorful activities preserve the most delicate and representative aspect of national culture. Even though the forms of festivals are various form one another, they all stand for wisdom, experience or a treasure handed down from the ancient people. So we can find the feature of culture through the understanding of the festivals in this country or nation. Festivals belong to a certain nation, and also belong to all the human being. Despite the different origins, backgrounds and social structures, human being always have the same beautiful feeling in pursuit for love and happiness

Notes

[1] 黄健,翁志实主编.节日大观[M].福州.福建科学技术出版社,2004.p264

[2] 乌丙安.中国民俗学[M]. 沈阳.辽宁大学出版社,2002 .p322

[3] 张宪周,张泽琪主编.中外节庆大观[M].南昌.江西高校出版社,1996.p4-5.

[4] 来安方主编.英美概况大象出版社p9

[5]黄健,翁志实主编.节日大观[M].福州.福建科学技术出版社,2004.p9.

[6] 王心洁,肖卫华.中美传统节日之比较[J].东南亚研究2002 .p264

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中西方传统节日差异

一、背景: 节日是指一年中被赋予特殊社会文化意义并穿插于日常之间的日子,是人们丰富多彩生活的集中展现。有这样一句名言: “每个民族的每个节日, 正是反映这个民族文化最真实的一面”。每个民族的传统节日都包含着一个民族历史形成和沉淀下来的性格、心理、信仰、道德情操、审美情趣,以及诸多民族文化深层结构内涵的价值取向,是民族精神在特定的社会土壤上长期孕育的结果和重要载体,是一个民族生存形态最突出、最具特色的展示。 二、中西方传统节日的起源与形成差异 由于中国长期处于封建统治的自给自足的农业社会和自然经济之中,所以其传统节日当然不可避免地保持其农业色彩。中国的主要传统节日,都跟中国作为农业社会所厉行的历法和中国历法中所规定的节气密切相关,具有浓厚的农业色彩。 在西方国家,宗教是文化和社会的中心。人们的思想可以通过宗教来反应。与此同时,宗教通过人类对上帝或精神的信仰控制着他们。自从欧洲大陆被基督教文明浸染后,西方几乎所有影响最大的传统节日都与基督教有关,可以毫不夸张地说,宗教存在于各行各业。 通过对比,我们看到:中国的节日主要与节气有关,祈求自身吉祥幸福,这充分体现了天人合一的中国传统哲学思想。比如我们过春节时有守岁除“夕”的习俗,这就是把自然人格化,追求人的精神消融于自然界之中,人与自然共呼吸的和谐状态。西方的节日主要源于宗教及相关事件,缅怀上帝、求其保佑,以基督教的精神教育感化着民众。比如过圣诞节时人们会感谢上帝,祈祷一切美好的梦想会变成现实。孩子们更为高兴,因为他们会收到圣诞老人送来的礼物。 三、中西方传统节日的习俗的差异 节日习俗则是在节日里出现的风俗习惯和庆祝方式。每个节日都有自己的一些独特的庆祝活动,这一点中西方都相同。但中西方的节日风俗却有着很大的不同, 中国的传统节日习俗主要以吃喝饮食为主题,并且以家庭为单位。中国的传统节日都以具有文化意蕴的饮食风俗:如清明节的冷食与雄黄酒、中秋节的月饼、重阳节的重阳糕与菊花酒、端午节的粽子等等。 西方人对生命的追求是以健康快乐为目的,除必须的饮食营养外,更主要的是通过宗教和娱乐活动来实现,认为人生来有原罪,必须通过信仰上帝,参加宗教仪式和不断忏悔等才能赎罪,从而得到行令净化和快乐,因此西方的节日习俗不仅有浓厚的宗教色彩,而且注重宗教仪式后的一种身心季解脱式的愉悦和快乐。 综上所述,我们可以发现,中西民族在这种节日活动中表现出来的文化差异:中国讲究饮食,体现了“民以食为天”的文化传统;西方则偏好交往,具有游牧文化的遗风和商业文明的特色。 四、中西方传统节日的文化价值的差异 在中国,人们尊重集体并把个人投入集体当中,他们重视集体而不是个人。因为是继承了儒家的集体主义,因此这些节日表现出对整体情况的考虑。而西方人却截然不同,他们尊敬人与自然,强调个人价值,并且追求自由主义和个人主义。从另一方面来说,中国的节日体现着中国人的美德和风尚,尊老爱幼,互叙亲情,这些是我们民族的优良传统,应该继续发扬,所以国人一直坚守着这些中国节的好习俗、好风气。西方的传统节日体现了社会发展的需要、社会前进的必然,体现了人类社会的群体性、众人共同参与性,适应了现代社会人们渴望互相交流、群体参与、共同发泄情绪的愿望。 五、结语 通过上述的分析比较可以看到,中西传统节日文化存在着其起源及习俗等方面的差异性。而在两种文化的交流中,它们彼此渗透彼此交融。中国作为一个文明古国,拥有着多彩的传统文化。然而在当今全球化的时代背景下,只有不断增强综合国力,包括增强文化竞争力,保持传统节日的生命力,才能融入国际社会,又稳住阵脚,从而立于不败之地。

中西节日文化差异英文

中西节日文化差异英文公司内部编号:(GOOD-TMMT-MMUT-UUPTY-UUYY-DTTI-

The comparison between Chinese and Western festivals 中西方节日文化的差异比较 Abstract: the process of comparing the Chinese and Western festivals and studying Western histories and cultures can help people promote the communication and understanding of different cultures. With the further development of society and inter-cultures, globalization will affect many aspects of life in all countries. And western festivals are becoming more and more popular in China. We should respect them and select the essence. China boasts a brilliant history and splendid traditions. In modern times, Chinese tradition should be preserved and promoted. But it seems that young people no longer treasure the tradition. On the contrary, they turn to pursue enthusiastically a seemingly more modern culture. If this trend is allowed to continue, the priceless heritage of our ancestors will be replaced by western traditions. Nobody expects such a consequence. So let’s join hand in hand to protect and carry forward Chinese tradition. Key words: Traditional festivals; Chinese and Western cultures; difference; globalization Introduction: “A holiday of a nation represents a glorious culture and concentrated customs of a nation.” To understand a nation's

浅谈中俄传统节日的文化对比_王阿琴..

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浅谈中西方传统节日文化的差异 (1)

广西教育学院 专科毕业论文(设计) 论文题目浅谈中西方传统节日文化差异系别:外语系 专业:应用英语 年级班级:11F应用英语班 学号:110338F01018 学生姓名:杨慧 指导教师:冯卡梨职称:讲师

广西教育学院 专科毕业论文(设计)任务书 课题名称:浅谈中西方传统节日文化差异 系别外语系 专业应用英语 班级应用英语班 学号110338F01018 姓名杨慧 指导教师(签名)__________ 年月日 教研室主任(签名)_________ 年月日 年月日

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目录 浅谈中西方传统节日文化差异 (4) 中文摘要 (4) 关键词 (4) Abstract (5) Key words (5) 一、中西方传统节日的起源与形成的差异 (6) 二、中西方传统节日习俗的差异 (7) 2、1中国主要传统节日的习俗 (8) 2、2西方主要传统节日的习俗 (9) 三、中西方传统节日的相互交融 (10) 四、结语 (11) 参考文献 (12) 致谢 (13)

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中西方传统节日文化差异比较

最新英语专业全英原创毕业论文,都是近期写作 1 《乱世佳人》中的清教主义思想解析 2 《儿子与情人》中扭曲的爱 3 A Summary of Symbols of The Scarlet Letter 4 论《吉姆老爷》中的英雄主义 5 从功能翻译理论看汉语公示语的英译 6 An Interpretation of A Tale of Two Cities from the Perspective of Symbolism 7 企业文化构建的话语分析路径 8 中美道歉语的跨文化研究 9 (英语系经贸英语)国外对华“双反”的现状、原因及对策研究 10 The Alternation of Language: A Study of Microblogging V ocabulary 11 美国梦的迷失—解析《了不起的盖茨比》 12 《洛丽塔》—时间的悲剧 13 从功能翻译理论看电影《功夫熊猫》的字幕翻译 14 电影字幕英汉翻译中网络流行语的现象研究 15 《傲慢与偏见》和《简爱》中的性别歧视现象和女权主义 16 从精神分析学角度探究《呼啸山庄》中的希斯克里夫 17 中美文化视野中对个人主义的认同差异 18 中外酒文化差异分析 19 中美脱口秀会话分析对比研究(开题报告+论) 20 哈代的女性观在苔丝中的反映 21 《麦田里的守望者》中霍尔顿的反叛和自我救赎 22 中西餐桌礼仪中的文化差异 23 浅析理发师陶德一剧中歌词的妙用 24 从体育舞蹈看中西方社会的审美文化差异 25 英语委婉语的语用分析 26 质本洁来还洁去——解读茶花女玛格丽特的悲情人生 27 我国中小学英语语音教学现存的问题与对策 28 维多利亚时期简爱与苔丝的不同命运 29 海明威的死亡哲学——海明威作品解读 30 英汉委婉语的对比及翻译 31 分析《红字》中的孤独感 32 对《呼啸山庄》中凯瑟琳的悲剧性分析 33 关于爱伦坡诗歌死亡主题的探讨 34 浅谈《认真的重要性》里现实主义和唯美主义的冲突 35 对美国总统就职演说的修辞分析 36 Cooperative Learning in English Interpretation Class 37 解析《喧哗与骚动》中凯蒂悲剧的必然性 38 《名利场》的女性主义解读 39 从影片《刮痧》分析中美文化差异和冲突 40 An Analysis on Cultural Differences in Translation 41 《嘉莉妹妹》中女主人公的服饰所反映的女性意识 42 盖茨比的人物形象分析

中外节日的差异比较

一、中西节日的起源与形成差异中国长期以来处于封建自给自足的农业社会和自然经济中, 其传统节日具有浓厚的农业色彩,包含了农耕文明的社会特征, 主要是从岁时节令转换而来的。我国古代长期以农为本, 在生产力和农业技术不发达的情况下, 十分重视气候对农作物的影响。在春种、夏长、秋收、冬藏的过程中认识了自然时序的复杂规律, 总结出四时、二十四节气, 形成了以节日为主的传统节日。勤劳的中国人民为了更好地生存, 必须大力发展农业, 而农业的发展离不开天气的关照。古人云“春雨贵如油”、“清明忙种麦, 谷雨种大田”。在古代, 春节、清明节( 古代称三月节) 等都是重要的农事节日。西方文化由于长久受基督教的影响, 其传统节日起源带有浓厚的宗教色彩, 如情人节( 纪念名叫瓦丁的基督教殉难者) 、复活节( 基督教纪念耶稣复活) 、万圣节( 纪念教会所有圣人) 、圣诞节( 基督教纪念耶稣诞生) , 这些节日的起源大多与宗教有关系。当然, 西方节日中也有和农业有关的节日, 但他们以农业为主的节日的历史不如中国漫长。 二、中西节日庆祝方式差异中国的传统节日, 基本是封建社会时期形成的, 不可避免地留下封建社会的痕迹: 等级制、家族式, 节日无不以家族内部活动为中心。西方的传统节日就不同了, 更多的是表现出人们的互动性、集体性和狂欢性, 以自我为中心, 崇尚个性张扬。这与中国节日的家族性恰好相反, 体现了西方文化的群体性, 反映了人们渴望互相交流、群体参与的愿望,体现了人人平等、自由表现自我的特点。这里试举两例说明。(1) 春节与新年。作为新一年的开始, 中西方有着极大差异的庆祝方式。春节作为中国最重要的传统节日, 源于秦朝, 定于每年农历的一月一日, 从农历12月23日开始, 人民开始开展各种庆祝方式, 一直持续到元宵节。春节的习俗繁多, 如大扫除、吃团圆饭拜年、放鞭炮, 舞狮子等。总之, 不论是大街小巷, 都笼罩着一股浓浓的喜庆气氛。而西方, 他们崇尚的是过公历新年, 即元旦。相比之下他们过年的方式就浪漫多了, 在12月31日晚, 各地区的人民涌上街道,进行盛大的狂欢, 到了深夜接近零时时, 数十万人会聚集于一起, 诚心地祈祷, 为新的一年的到来倒计时。当大钟敲响12下, 顿时, 优美的乐曲奏响, 揭开了华丽舞会的序幕, 人们通宵达旦地庆祝。可见, 春节与新年各有千秋: 春节, 充满浓厚的传统气息和独有的魅力; 新年, 体现时代的气息和潮流的感觉, 更贴近现代生活。 ( 2) 万圣节与中元节。万圣节作为西方的重要节日之一, 颇受人民的重视。那一天, 每户门前都要挂上一盏南瓜灯, 人人都穿上奇装异服, 据说有辟邪之用。其实, 作为先进的发达国家, 人们对于鬼怪已不再迷信, 他们多半是为了寻开心而已。同时, 人们还举行盛大的化装舞会。他们可以任意去左邻右舍讨吃的, 绝不会受到惩罚。在中国, 传说中元节是鬼门关打开的日子, 这一天, 地府里的小鬼会出来游荡, 迷信色彩浓厚的中国人, 对鬼神是极为敬惧的。那一天, 他们会当街烧香祭祖, 祈求鬼神不要降祸于他们。于是, 中元节这个与时代格格不入的产物逐渐被淘汰了。 三、中西方节日文化比较之饮食差异比较中西传统节日中的饮食特点也有显著的差异。中国传统节日中的饮食是趋于感性的, 讲究色、香、味俱全。尤其是节日性美食, 每个节日都有不同的食品以区别其他的节日。春节是个祥和的节日, 也是亲人团聚的日子, 离家在外的人, 在过春节时都要回家欢聚。除夕晚上, 全家老小都一起熬夜、守岁, 欢聚酣饮, 共享天伦之乐。北方地区在除夕有吃饺子的习俗, 饺子的作法是先和面, “和”字就是“合”; 饺子的饺和交谐音, “合”和“交”有相聚之意,所以用饺子象征团聚合欢。此外, 饺子因为形似元宝, 过年时吃饺子, 也带有“招财进宝”的吉祥含义。南方有过年吃年糕的习惯, 甜甜的粘粘的年糕,

中西节日文化差异英文)

The comparison between Chinese and Western festivals 中西方节日文化的差异比较 Abstract: the process of comparing the Chinese and Western festivals and studying Western histories and cultures can help people promote the communication and understanding of different cultures. With the further development of society and inter-cultures, globalization will affect many aspects of life in all countries. And western festivals are becoming more and more popular in China. We should respect them and select the essence. China boasts a brilliant history and splendid traditions. In modern times, Chinese tradition should be preserved and promoted. But it seems that young people no longer treasure the tradition. On the contrary, they turn to pursue enthusiastically a seemingly more modern culture. If this trend is allowed to continue, the priceless heritage of our ancestors will be replaced by western traditions. Nobody expects such a consequence. So let’s join hand in hand to protect and carry forward Chinese tradition. Key words: Traditional festivals; Chinese and Western cultures; difference; globalization Introduction: “A holiday of a nation represents a glorious culture and concentrated customs of a nation.” To understand a nation's cultural implication s and its cultural characteristics, we must start with its traditional festivals. There exists great difference between Chinese and Western festivals due to their different languages, education, life styles and customs. Recently, western festivals are becoming more and more popular among Chinese. On one hand, it can indeed bring some benefits to our country to some extent. On the other hand, we should pay attention to this phenomenon. The differences in their origin and shaping, celebration, food, banquet manners, color of festive dressing and the attitudes of accepting presents contribute to the great differences of Chinese and Western festive cultures. On the background of globalization, we should pay respect to western festivals, and carry forward our excellent traditional festivals at the same time. “A holiday of a nation represents a glorious culture and concentrated customs of a nation.” To understand a nation's cultural implications and its cultural characteristics, we must start with its traditional festivals. There exists great difference between the Chinese and Western festivals due to their different languages, education, life styles and customs.Recently, western festivals are becoming more and more popular among Chinese people, especially among the young. According to an internet survey, more than half of the thirties prefer foreign festivals.With the further development of society and

中西节日地文化内涵

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