Cultural Differences in the Traditional Chinese and Western Festivals

The culture of world is colorful. On the soil of colorful culture, there grows different traditional festivals. They are distinctly different in their origins. Chinese festivals mainly stem from seasons and solar periods, while western festivals are mostly influenced with religious features. Another aspect is apparent different in their customs. When celebrating the festivals, the Chinese tend to focus more attention on eating and drinking, while the westerners tend to the seeking of pleasure. In the era of globalization, the step of Chinese-western culture communication is becoming quicker and quicker and Chinese and westerners will know each other more and more well.

（一）The differences between Chinese and western culture

Chinese culture

China has a very long history. Before very old ages, our predecessors gave us a brief view of culture. Until now, as the development of society, the concepts of culture become broader and broader.

Chinese culture is a fascinating civilization which derives its abiding quality from a culture, dating from several millennia and still determining the underlying character of the country despite the profound changes which are its driving force.

The Chinese cultural tradition is the end-product of the significant periods of historical evolution.

western culture

Western culture is made of many elements, which have gone through changes over the centuries. Western culture began in ancient Greece. There and in the Roman civilization it developed until the start of the Middle Ages when it largely vanished from Europe. During the Middle Ages, Western culture resided, instead, in the Arab world to a modest degree. Then the rediscovery of Western culture in Europe in the Late Middle Ages prompted the Renaissance. Western culture’s continuing development then led to the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, the American Revolution, the Industrial Revolution and to what is considered today as modern, advanced civilization.

Elements of Western culture have had a very influential role on other cultures worldwide. People of many cultures, both Western and non-Western, equate modernization with westernization (adoption of Western culture). Nonetheless, much of anthropology today has shown the close links between the physical environment and daily activities and the formation of a culture.

（二）The Differences between Chinese and Western Traditional Festivals

There are aspects of differences between Chinese and Western CULTURES. Traditional festivals are one of the most important differences. It is not only a way of showing the social life of its people, but also a good way of passing on the culture. With the development of culture interaction, we have got to know lots of western festivals and find out some differences between Chinese and Western festivals.

Because of culture differences, the celebration activities of Chinese and Western traditional festivals are quite different.

The customs of Chinese festivals

When celebrating the festivals, the Chinese people tend to focus more attentions on eating and drinking. Chinese Diet has a long history, so it inevitably became one of the most important factors of festival celebration. What’s more, different festivals have different food and different food carries 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, and have New Year’s Eve Meal wishing the whole family could unite every year. Almost every traditional festival has one special kind of food.