Festivals in China and America
外文学院2001级3班 郑晓韵 NO.010214321
Festivals are days or time of religious or other celebrations. Although some festivals are shared and celebrated in many countries all over the world, how people celebrate them and what people do during the festivals are usually different from one country to another. In addition, every nation of the world has its own traditional festivals. Such traditional festivals are closely related to the historical development, custom and folkway, religious belief and moral principles of a nation. Thus, knowing a little bit about festivals and customs and origins of a country is a good way of understanding better what the people of that country find important in their lives and communities.
As English majors, we should not only study the language, but also know something about the culture of the English-speaking countries. United States of America is one of the major English-speaking countries. Therefore, from the comparison between festivals of China and America, maybe we can find something new and interesting, which may help us with our English learning.
Though China and America have their own festivals and holidays, festivals in different cultures have some similarities. What almost all the festivals have in common is that they provide an opportunity for families and friends to get together to visit, eat, exchange good wishes and enjoy each other’s company and hospitality. Just take some of the most famous and typical festival Spring Festival and Chrismas for examples.
In China, the oldest and most important festival is the Spring Festival, more commonly known in the West as the Chinese New Year. People in China male preparations for the Spring Festival during the last few days of last moon: cleaning the houses, having hair cut and buying new clothes. Doors are decorated with vertical scrolls of characters on red paper whose texts seek good luck and praise nature. On New Year’s Eve, all...