中国和美国节日的不同(2)

中国和美国节日的不同

also experienced many similar changes. Of course there are those who participate in memorial events every year, such as performances and speeches, but they are the minority. Most people take a day off to rest and relax, very few will really devote their time to keep alive the memory of those historical figures who made such a large impact. In both China and America, this problem is growing progressively more serious.

Another problem they are both facing is the commercialization of holidays. Both countries celebrate the solar new year, January first, and grant their citizens a day off from work, But the Chinese also celebrate the Chinese (or Lunar) New Year, one of the most important Chinese holidays. The New Year is a time of family reunion, enjoying dinner together and wishing eachother good tidings in the year to come. Another holiday in the same spirit is ZhongQiu Festival. These are both similar to Thanksgiving in America, which is also devoted to celebrating the family. But has the spirit of these holidays diminished? When we speak of the Chinese New Year, we think of red envelopes and gifts; when we think of Thanksgiving, we think of turkey. Are these reflexive associations indicative of the fact that the meaning behind these holidays has become commercialized?

Christmas is a holiday originally meant to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Those who practice Christianity attach a lot of importance to this holiday, but the non-religious members of society who also celebrate it turn it into an occasion for social interaction and the exchanging of gifts. Since the government gives Americans a Christmas vacation, they use the opportunity to invite guests out for dinner, give gifts, travel, etc. Many start to focus on who gives the most gifts, who gives the most expensive ones – they don’t even think about going to Mass. Even more striking are the many fashion conscious, trend-setting Chinese who celebrate Christmas. Of course there are those who really believe in Christianity, but most of them use it as an excuse for amusement, relaxation, and social interaction. If you ask them what Christmas celebrates, they will not be able to explain it clearly.

However, the biggest problem is the emergence of holidays that have no real meaning, that are created by men solely for the purpose of commercial gain. Valentine’s Day is a good example. We all know that on Valentine’s Day, you are supposed to buy chocolate and flowers for your girlfriend, but we do not know why. This is a holiday celebrated by Chinese and Americans alike, but it has not true significance. It is said that in ancient Rome there was an emperor, Claudius II, who wanted to build an imposing army, but no one wanted to join him. He came to the conclusion that this was because the men of ancient Rome were restrained by the love of women, so he issued an edict prohibiting marriage. At the time there was a priest named Valentine, who believed that not even the emperor had the right to restrict love, so he secretly helped many young lovers get married. Because he broke the law, he was captured by Claudius and killed. Our modern society has taken this fairytale and turned it into Valentine’s Day. The tradition of buying candy and flowers is a complete societal fabrication. Merchants have used this opportunity to make profits, and due to the people’s willingness to follow trends, it has continued to exist and expand year after year.

Other types of trendy or socially created holidays include Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, etc. Every year when May rolls around, commercials on television start to advertise diamonds, perfumes, and the like, urging us to “Buy your mother this beautiful necklace, show her how much you care.” The problem faced by China is even more serious, in that

中国和美国节日的不同

it must not only beware of commercialization, but also of blindly submitting to the influences of western culture.

Above is a comparison of the five categories of holidays celebrated by the Chinese and Americans. Their holidays are a reflection of each countries individual character (agricultural and industrial, diverse religions and limited religions, etc.) as well as their similarities (Solar New Year, commemorating ancestors, emphasis on the family, etc.). Through these comparisons we can learn a lot of important information, specifically an ability to accept and tolerate the cultures of others. The most important thing that we have discovered are the similar problems faced by these two countries, namely the dilution of the meanings behind the holidays they celebrate, as well as the growing effects of commercialization. If they do not deal with these issues in timely fashion, holidays will gradually lose their value, and turn into nothing but occasions for gross expenditure. If we want to preserve the spirit of holidays and to continue to be able to treat them as an accurate reflection of the societies they represent, we must make an effort to find their original meanings and ensure that these meanings are passed down to the generations to come.