中西方节日饮食文化之差异

中西方节日饮食文化之差异

Differences of Cuisine Culture on Festivals in China and Western Countries

Abstract

Food is the necessities in people’s daily life. Each country you are from has their own festival food culture customs, these customs are inherited for centuries. The holiday diet is an important part in the festival activities. This paper begins with the diet causes of the traditional festivals between Chinese and western countries and it reveals that the Chinese festivals are mostly related to solar terms, while Western has been the influence of religion. Then both of them form a variety of holiday eating. And then by listing some of the important traditional festivals to further explain the eating habits of the traditional Chinese and Western festivals such as Chinese New Year and Christmas. Finally, the cultural connotation of dieting on traditional Chinese Festivals and Western Festivals is made that Chinese people is in pursuit of good health while the West is for personal enjoyment and personal values

Key words: Traditional festivals; Cuisine culture; Chinese and western difference

Introduction

A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the festival.

Among many religions, a feast is a set of celebrations in honor of God or gods. A feast and a festival are historically interchangeable. However, the term “feast” has also entered common secular parlance as a synonym for any large or elaborate meal.

Festivals, of many tapes, serve to meet specific needs, as well as to provide entertainment. These times of celebration offer a sense of belonging for religious, social, or geographical group. Modern festivals that focus on cultural or ethnic topics seek to inform members of their traditions. In past times, festivals were times when the elderly shared stories and transferred certain knowledge to the next generation. Historic feasts often provided a means for unity among families and for people to find mates. Select anniversaries have annual festivals to commemorate previous significant occurrences.

There are numerous types of festivals in the world. Though many have religious origins, others involve seasonal change or have some cultural significance.

Seasonal festivals are determined by the solar and the lunar calendars and by the cycle of the seasons. The changing of the season was celebrated because of its effect on food supply. Ancient Egyptians would celebrate the seasonal inundation caused by the Nile River, a form of irrigation, which provided fertile land for crops. In autumn the return of the cattle from the mountain pastures to the stables in the valley is celebrated as Alabastrine. A recognized winter festival, the Chinese New Year, is set by the lunar calendar, and celebrated from the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice. An important type of seasonal festivals is those related with the agricultural seasons.

Cuisine is a characteristic style of cooling practices and traditions, often associated with a specific culture. Cuisines are often named after the geographic areas or regions that they originate from. A cuisine is primarily influenced by the ingredients that are available locally or through trade. Religious food laws, such as Islamic dietary laws and Jewish dietary laws can also exercise a strong influence on cuisine. Regional food preparation traditions, customs and ingredients often combine to create dishes unique to a particular region.

Global cuisines can be categorized by various regions according to the common use of major food stuffs, including grains, produce and cooking fats. Regional cuisines may vary based upon food availability and trade, cooking traditions and practices, and cultural differences. For example, in Central and South America, corn (maize), both fresh and dried, is a staple food. In northern Europe, wheat, rye, and fats of animal origin predominate, while in southern Europe olive oil is ubiquitous and rice is more prevalent. In Italy the cuisine of the north, featuring butter and rice, stands in contrast to that of the south, with its wheat pasta and olive oil. China likewise can be pided into rice regions and noodle & bread regions. Throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean there is a common thread marking the use of lamb, olive oil, lemons, peppers, and rice. The vegetarianism practiced in much of India has made pulses (crops harvested solely for the dry seed) such as chickpeas and lentils as significant as wheat or rice. From India to Indonesia the use of spices is characteristic; coconuts and seafood are used throughout the region both as foodstuffs and as seasonings.

1 Formation Background and Reasons for Traditional Festivals

1.1 Traditional Festivals in China

1.1.1 Spring Festival

Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. In China, it is known as "Spring Festival," the literal translation of the Chinese name 春节 (Chunjie),since the spring season in Chinese calendar starts with lichun, the first solar term in a Chinese calendar year. It marks the end of the winter season, analogous to the Western Carnival. The festival begins on the first day of the first month ( pinyin: Zhengyue) in the traditional Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day. Chinese New Year's Eve, a day where Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner is known as Chuxi (除夕) or Eve of the Passing Year. Because the Chinese calendar is lunisolar, the Chinese New Year is often referred to as the "Lunar New Year".

1.1.2 Dragon Boat Festival

Duanwu Festival, also known as Dragon Boat Festival and the Double Fifth, is a traditional and statutory holiday originating in China and associated with a number of East Asian …… 此处隐藏：34558字，全部文档内容请下载后查看。喜欢就下载吧 ……