中英主要节日比较

AComparativeStudyofMajorBritishandChineseFestivalsAbstract:Traditionalfestivalsareregardedasakindofculturalcelebrationofanation,whichgreatlyreflectitssocialdevelopment,especiallyfolkcustoms.Traditionalfestivalsnotonlyconveytheheritagecreatedbytheancientpeople,butalsomirrorthewishandthebelieftheypursued.Traditionalfestivalsarethebestbreakthroughpointtolearnanation’sculture.Theyplayanimportantroleinanation’sculture.ThisessaymainlydealswiththecomparisonbetweenmajorChinesefestivalsandBritishfestivals,analyzingtheorigins,formationsanddetailsofthefestivalsaswellastheinteractionsbetweenChinesefestivalsandBritishones.Withaneyetoimprovethequalityofinterculturalcommunicationandhelppeopledevelopcommunicativecompetence,thispaperisdedicatedtothestudyofthecharacteristicsandthedifferencesbetweenChineseandBritishfestivals..KeyWords:BritishFestivals;ChineseFestivals;InterculturalCommunication中英主要节日比较摘要：传统节日是传统文化和历史的凝聚。它深刻的反映社会发展的历史，尤其是反映民间生活的风俗。传统节日即留下古代人民创造的价值，也反映他们的理想冤枉和追求的信仰。传统节日在一个民族的文化中起着重要的作用，是了解一个民族文化的最好切入点。。通过对中英两国主要的传统节日的比较，分析中英的文化差异和特点，对进一步了解中英两国传统节日的特点和差异，改善在中英文化交流过程中跨文化交际的质量和效果,提高人们在跨文化交际中的能力有一定的现实意义。关键词：英国节日；中国节日；跨文化交际CONTENTSIntroduction 11.TheRoleoftheTraditionalFestivals 21.1TraditionalFestivalsinCulture 21.2TheCurrentConditionsofChineseFestivals. 21.3TheInfluencefromBritishFestivals 32.MainFestivalsintheTwoCountries 42.1FestivalsinBritain 42.1.1FestivalsinEngland 42.1.2FestivalsinScotland 52.1.3FestivalsinWales 72.2FestivalsinChina 93.ComparisonbetweenChineseFestivalsandBritishFestivals 113.1Differences 123.1.1TheOrigins 123.1.2TheActivities 133.1.3ThePurposes 143.1.4Ethics 143.2Similarities 153.2.1TheWayPeopleCelebrate. 153.2.2CherishingLifeandHarmonywithNature 15Conclusion 16Acknowledgement 18Bibliography 19中国最大的论文知识平台IntroductionTraditionalfestivalsarethecarriersofanation’sculturalvalues,reflectingthespiritandpursuitofanation.Theformationanddevelopmentofthetraditionalfestivalstrulyreflectthehistoryofsocialdevelopment,especiallythestylesoffolklife.Currently,theactivitiesofcelebratingBritishfestivalsbymanyChinesepeoplereflectanewwayofconsumptioninChina.NewmeaningshavebeenputtotraditionalBritishfestivals,becausesomeChinesepeopleareinterestedincelebratingBritishfestivals.China’sopening-uppolicyandthetrendofglobalizationofferchancesforthepopularizationofBritishfestivalsinChina.ComparedwithtraditionalChinesefestivals,itissaidthatBritishfestivalsaremorelikelytoappealtocertaingroupsofyoungpeople;thereisstillhugespaceforChineseeducationdoingmoreaboutpromotionofChinesetraditionalculture.Therearefloodsofadvertisementsofmoderninformationinmedia;somenewgenerationsdonotagreewithtraditionalculture.Thissituationexertsagreatinfluenceonbuildinguptheseyoungpeople’sphilosophyoflifeandtheirsensesofresponsibility.Itisofadvantagestoholdapositiveattitudetowardsreasonableconsumptionandaproperattitudetowardstraditionalvalues.Aimingatthisphenomenon,societyshouldoffersuitableguidancetotheyounggenerationandletthemknowmoreabouttheinnerspiritsandcultureinChinesetraditionalfestivals,innovatethecontentsandmodalityoftraditionalfestivals,thustohelpbuildtheircorrectattitudestowardsconsumption.Atthesametime,thegovernmentshouldpaymoreattentiontoprotectingtraditionalfestivalsbothinformsandcontents.Asforthemajorfestivals,legalholidaysshouldbepermittedforthem.Reformationinthecontentsoffestivalcultureisalsoindemand,whichhelpskeeptraditionalfestivalsfreshandcolorful.Thesignificanceofleisureshouldbedevelopedinthemanneroffurlough.Thecombinationwithmarketalsohelpsinnovatefestivalculture.Atthesametime,knowingalittlemoreaboutBritishfestivalsandcustomsandtheiroriginsisagoodwayofunderstandingwhatBritonsfindimportantintheirlivesandcommunities.Theirfestivalsreflectthereligious,historical,socialandculturaldiversityoftheircountry.UnderstandingthecharacteristicsanddifferencebetweenBritishandChinese1.TheRoleoftheTraditionalFestivals1.1TraditionalFestivalsinCultureInthelongprocessofhistoricaldevelopment,Chineseancestorscreatedthesplendidspiritualwealthandexcellentculture.TheseculturalheritagesarenotonlytheprideoftheChinesepeople,butalsothatofthepeopleofthewholeworld.Theseculturalheritagesarethespiritualpowerandspiritualdependenceofanation.Amongtheseculturalheritages,thefestivalsplayaveryimportantrole.Thesetraditionalfestivalsreflectthehistoryofsocialdevelopment,especiallythestyleoffolklife.Allofthesefestivalsdevelopedfromancienttimes,whichwitnessedthesociallifeofChineseancestors.Theoriginanddevelopmentofafestivalnotonlyreflectstheprocessofgradualandinvisibleitsformationandperfection,butalsohelpsitsspirittopenetrateintoChinesepeople’slivesandsouls.Everynationhasitsownfestivals,suchasDragonBoatFestivalinChina,EasterinBritain,etc.AsChinaisbecomingamoreandmoreadvancedcountry,theEnglishlanguageisbecomingmoreandmorepopularandwildlyusedinworld,itisnecessarytoknowthecharacteristicsanddifferencesbetweenChinesefestivalsandBritishfestivalforusChinese.1.2TheCurrentConditionsofChineseFestivals.InChina,thereareeightgreattraditionalfestivals,namelySpringFestival,TheLanternFestival,TombSweepingFestival,DragonBoatFestival,QixiFestival,Mid-autumnDay,ChongyangFestivalandLabaFestival.Withthemodernizationofsocietyandthedevelopmentofeconomy,moreandmorepeopleignorethetraditionalfestivals.ThestateoftraditionalChinesefestivalsisbecomingweak.TosaveChinesetraditionalfestivalsandrefreshthetraditionalChineseculture,theStateCouncilofThePeople’sRepublicofChinapromulgatedthemeasuresonhavingaholidayforNationalAnnualLeavesandMemorialDays.Itscontentsinclude:Article1:Thesemeasuresareformulatedtointegratethevacationofnationalannualleavesandmemorialdays.Article2:Thefestivalshavingaholidayforallcitizens:(1)Havingone-dayholidayonNewYear(January1);(2)Havingathree-dayholidayonSpringFestival(ThelunarNewYear'sDay,seconddayofthelunarmonthandthirddayofthelunarmonth);(3)Havingathree-dayholidayonMayDay(May1,2,3);(4)Havingathree-dayholidayforNationalDay(October1,2,3).Article3:Thefestivalsandmemorialdayshavingaholidayforpartofcitizens:(1)Womenhaveahalf-dayholidayonWomen'sFestival(March8);(2)YouthFestival(May4).Theyouthabove14yearsoldhasahalf-dayholiday;(3)Children'sDay(Jun1).Thejuvenileunder13yearsoldhasaone-dayholiday.(4)TheMemorialDayoffoundingofthePeople'sLiberationArmy(August1).Militarypersonnelinactiveservicehasahalf-dayholiday.Article4:theholidaydateofaminorityshallbestipulatedbythelocalgovernmentsatthecompactareasofseveralethnicminoritiesbasedonthehabitsoftheminority.Article5:withoutvocationforthefollowingmemorialdaysandholidayssuchasFebruary7,1923MemorialDay,theMay30thMemorialDay,July7WarofResistanceAgainstAggressionMemorialDay,theVictoryofWarofResistanceAgainstAggressionMemorialDay,September18MemorialDay,Teacher'sFestival,Nurse'sFestival,Journalist'sFestival,TreePlantingFestivalandotherfestivalsandmemorialdays.AsforArticle6,itsayswherethevacationshavingaholidayforallcitizenshappentobeonSaturdayorSunday,theyshallhaveadditionalholidaywithworkingdays;wherethevacationshavingaholidayforpartcitizenshappentobeonSaturdayandSunday,theyshallnothaveadditionalholiday.Article7saysthesemeasuresshallenterintoforceasofthedateofpromulgation.（MeasuresonhavingaholidayforNationalAnnualLeavesandMemorialDays2008）.1.3TheInfluencefromBritishFestivalsCurrently,celebratingBritishfestivalsbyChinesereflectanewtrendofconsumption.NewmeaningshavebeenputtotraditionalBritishfestivals.Reasonsareasfollows:someChinesepeoplearestronglyinterestedincelebratingBritishfestivals.ComparedwithtraditionalChinesefestivals,Britishfestivalsaremorelikelytoappealtosomeyoungstudent’sfeelings,especiallyBritishfestivals.Inarecentquestionnaireforeightbigcities(Beijing，Shanghai，Guangzhou，Hangzhou，Xian，Dalian，Suzhou，Qingdao)thereare2143piecesofpapershowingthatupto60%ofsubjectscelebratingtheBritishfestivals,someofwhomdonotevenknowwhattheChinesetraditionalfestivalsareabout.TheycelebratetheBritishfestivalsjustbecausetheyadoretheforeignculturesbutwithoutknowingtheinnermeaningofforeignfestivals.Chinaisatthephaseof2catchingupwiththedevelopedcountries,ChinesepeopleshouldknowtheBritishfestivalscultureininterculturalcommunication.2.MainFestivalsintheTwoCountries2.1FestivalsinBritainBritainisacountrymadebythreedifferentparts,namelyEngland,ScotlandandWales.ItisinthelocalfestivalsofBritain,thedistinctiveculturalandpoliticalidentitiesofthethreenationsoftheUnitedKingdom,namelyEngland,WalesandScotland,canbeseen.Manyfestivalsandcustomshavebeeninvented,adoptedandusedtoservepoliticalandreligiousfunctionsintimesofconflict.Forexample,historicbattlesbetweenProtestantsandCatholicsinthe17thcenturyarecommemorated,oftenbysymbolicmeansorimitation.2.1.1FestivalsinEnglandTheEnglishdonotcelebratetheirfamouswritersorbattlesorpatronsaints,althoughtheyhaveallthesethings.However,onetrulyEnglishfestivalisBonfireNight—sometimescalledGuyFawkesNight—celebratedintheearlyautumn.WhilemanypeopledonotdoanythingspecialonBonfireNight,nearlyeveryoneknowsthispoem:Remember,RemembertheFifthofNovemberGunpowder,TreasonandPlotIseenoreasonwhyGunpowderTreasonShouldeverbeforgotOntheeveningof5November1605,aplantoblowuptheBritishParliamentandkilltheProtestantKingandreplacehimwithaCatholickingwasdiscovered.Oneoftheconspirators,GuyFawkes,wasfoundinthecellarsofWestminsterswith36barrelsofgunpowder.Heandtheothermembersofhisgangwerearrested,torturedandkilled.ProtestantpoliticiansdecidedthattheGunpowderPlothadfailedbecauseGodwantedtheProtestantstocontinuetoruleEngland.Parliamentpassedalegalactcallingfora“PublicThanksgivingtoAlmightyGod”forrevealingtheplot,tobeheldontheanniversaryoftheevent.Nowadays,Englishpeoplestillcelebratethiseventinthetraditionalway.InearlyNovember,gangsofsmallchildrenappearonBritishstreets,oftenwithastraweffigycalledthe“Guy”.Theybegformoneyfrompassingadults.ThemoneytheyreceiveisspentonfireworkstobesetoffonBonfireNight.ThebiggestBonfireNightcelebrationisheldinthesmallmedievaltownofLewes,wheretorchlightparadeswindthroughthenarrowstreets.Theparadeswearcostumesandcarrymodelsofseveralheadsonpikes,oftendrippingblood,whichrepresentProtestantenemies.WhentheparadesreachtheBonfire,fireworksareusedtofightmockbattlesbetweenCatholicsandProtestants.Attheendofthesebattles,gianteffigiesofthePopeandGuyFawkesareblownupwithfireworks.InLondon,thecellarsofParliamentarestillsymbolicallysearchedbycandlelightbytheBeefeaters.DuringthesearchforGuyFawkesin1605,thelastcellarcontainedawinemerchant.Theguardsaskedhimtoopenhiswinebarrelstoseeifhewashidinggunpowderinthem.TheBeefeatersstillcontinuethistradition,withtheirsearchofthecellarsendingwithadrinkingsession.2.1.2FestivalsinScotlandWhilemostBritishpeoplewelcomethecomingoftheNewYearwithparties,inScotland,NewYear’EvecalledHogmanay(31December)isthemajorwintercelebration,andovershadowsChristmas(calledYuleinScotland)whichisaveryquietaffair.HowHogmanayiscelebratedvariesthroughoutScotland,butonewidelypracticedcustoms“firstfooting”.ThereisasuperstitionthatthefirstpersontocrossthethresholdofahouseholdintheNewYearcanbringluckandprosperity:theappearanceofayoung,preferablydarkhairedandhandsomeman,isconsideredparticularlylucky.Firstfootersoftenbringabottleofspirits,alcohol,alumpofcoalorpeatasagiftandaregivena“dramofwhisky”astheirreward.EachyearScottishpeopleofallovertheworldcelebratetheirmostbelovednationalpoet,RobertBurns(1759—1796),byholdingaBurnsSupperontheeveningofhisbirthday(25January).Burnsnightsarecelebratedwithsuppersofhaggisandwhiskyandhispoemsarerecitedthroughtheevening.Ahaggisisaloafofmutton,spicesandoatmealwhichhasbeenboiledinasheep’sstomachandiscarriedintotheassembleddinnerswithgreatceremony.Abagpiperentersthedinningroom,followedbythechefcarringthehaggis,wholaysitinfrontoftheguestofhonor.ThenthehaggisispuncturedwithadaggerorswordandBurn’s“AddresstoaHaggis”isrecited:fairfa’yourhonest,sonsieface,Greatchieftaino’thepuddenrace.Abovethemallyetakeyourplace…Halloween(31October)nowcelebratedinScotlandisaanIrishfestivaloriginallythatcomesfromthegreatfeastofthepaganCeltswhichmarkedthearrivalofthewinterhalfoftheyear.Halloweenisnotableforshowingthedarker,supernaturalsideofCelticcustom—communionwiththedead,mischief,fortunetellingandmasqueradesarecommonpractices.Childrenmake“pumpkinlanterns.”Pumpkinsarehollowedoutandholesarecuttomakeeyes,noseandmouth.Thencandlesareplacedinsidethepumpkinanditissetinthewindowstoscareawaywitchesandotherevilspirits.TraditionallyontheHalloweentheyoungmenofthevillagewouldwearstrange,sometimestransvestitecostumes,disguisetheirvoicesandgoaboutthevillage,representingthespiritsofthedead.Bonfirestoburnwitchesanddriveawayevilspiritswerelit.Nowadays,thebonfiresandcostumesarestillapartofhalloween,especiallyforchildren.Inthepast,Scottishpeopleusedtohavesuchbelief:forgirls,Halloweenwasanopportunitytousemagicspellstoseeintothefutureandespeciallytofindoutwhotheywouldmarry.Thereweremanymethods:pairsofnuts,peasororangepipswereplacedinafire:iftheyburnedquietlytogether,thecouplewouldbehappy,butiftheysparkedorrolledapart,themarriagewasill-starred.Blindfoldedgirlsdippedtheirhandsintobowlsofwater:ifthewaterwasclean,thehusbandwouldbeafineyoungman;ifdirty,awidower;ifempty,thenthegirlwouldremainunmarried.Magicspellswereusedtodivinetheidentityoffuturehusbands.Inadimroom,anapplewascutintopiecesinfrontofamirror:thegirlwouldholdapieceonaforkovertheshoulder,wheretheghostofthehusbandwouldtakeshape.2.1.3FestivalsinWalesWaleshassomeoftheoldestandrichestliterary,musicalandpoetictraditionsinEurope.PoemswritteninthetraditionalWelshlanguageandstylearegovernedbyancientcodesandconventionswhichcanbetracedbacktotheDruids,whoinstitutedrigidrulesofcompositiontohelpthemtocorrectlymemoriseandpassonpoemsandstories.Inpre-14thcenturyWalesThispoetictraditionhasbeencelebratedforcenturiesineisteddfod,aWelshwordmeaningagatheringwherepeoplereciteversesandsingsongs.In1536,WaleswasofficiallyjoinedwithEngland(ithadbeencontrolledbyEnglandforhundredsofyears)andEnglishbecamethenationallanguage.SpeakingWelshwasseenasabadthing.Asrecentlyasthe19thcentury,WelshschoolchildrencouldbepunishedforspeakingWelsh.TheWelshlanguagebegantodie,butWelshspeakersfoughthardtopreserveit.OnewaytheyaccomplishedthiswastocelebratetheircultureandtheirlanguageeachAugustwithareallylargeEisteddfodwhichwouldremindpeoplethroughouttheUKofWales’specialculturalheritage.Nowabout19%ofWelshpeoplespeaktheWelshlanguageandafteryearsofdecline,thenumberisslowlyrising.Childrennowattendbilingualschools,thereisaWelshlanguagetelevisionstation,officialfunctionsareconductedinWelshorEnglish,andtheEisteddfodisnowthelargestpopularfestivalsofmusicmakingandpoetrywritinginEurope.Thethreenations’festivalstogethermaketheBritishfestivals.However,someofthefestivalsofthreenationsarenotpopulartodayexceptNewYear,ChristmasDay,Easter,Valentine'sDay.InBritain,ChristmasDayisnormallyspentathome,withthefamily,anditisregardedasacelebrationofthefamilyanditscontinuity.Preparationsstartwellinadvance,withthesendingofChristmascardsandinstallationofadecoratedChristmastreeinaprominentplaceathome.Althoughitisnowafirmlyestablishedtradition,theChristmastreewasfirstpopularizedbyQueenVictoria’shusband,PrinceAlbert,whointroducedthecustomfromhisnativeGermanyin1840.Somehousesaredecoratedwithevergreens(plantswhichdonotlosetheirleavesinwinter);awreathofhollyonthefrontdoorandgarlandsofholly,ivyandfirindoors.Bunchesofmistletoeareoftenhungabovedoorways-anycouplepassingunderneathmustexchangekisses!Traditionalfoodisprepared:sweetmincepies,arichChristmascakeandtheChristmaspudding.Everyonehastheirownfavoriterecipe,butthey’reallpackedfullofspices,nuts,driedfruitandbrandy.Presentsareboughtandwrapped,andtraditionallyplacedundertheChristmastreeonChristmasEve.Christmasisbothasecularandareligiousholiday,andmanyfamiliesliketoattendamidnightserviceatchurchonChristmasEve,orcelebrateChristmasinchurchonChristmasmorning.TheexcitementbeginsforchildrenonChristmasEve,whentheyhanguptheirstockings(anoldsockor,moreambitiously,pillowcases)aroundthefireplaceoratthefootofthebedforFatherChristmastofillwithpresents.TheEnglishFatherChristmasorSantaClausisfirstrecordedinhistraditionalredandwhiteoutfitinawoodcutof1653,butthestoryofSantaarrivinginhisreindeer-drawnsleighanddescendingdownthechimneytofillchildren’sstockingswithpresentsderivesfromtheUSA.PracticallyeveryonesitsdowntoaChristmasdinnerintheearlyafternoonofChristmasDay,traditionallyroastturkey,butsomefamiliesprefergooseorroastbeef.TheturkeyisfollowedbytheChristmaspudding,broughttothetableflaminghot.Brandyispouredoverthepudding,thenlit.Thedayendswitheveryonerelaxing,watchingtelevisionorplayingguessing-gameslikecharades.EasterdayisnamedaftertheSaxongoddessofspring,Eostre,whosefeasttookplaceatthespringequinox.EasterisnowthespringfeastoftheChristianchurch,commemoratingtheresurrectionofJesus.ItfallsonaSundaybetween22Marchand25April,accordingtothechurchcalendar.TraditionallyEastereggs,dyedanddecoratedormadeofchocolate,aregivenaspresentssymbolizingnewlifeandthecomingofspring.EggrollingcompetitionstakeplaceinnorthernBritainonEasterMonday;hard-boiledeggsarerolleddownaslope,withthewinnerbeing-accordingtolocalpreference-theonewhichrollsthefurthest,survivesthemostrolls,orissuccessfullyaimedbetweentwopegs!ThebestpublicizedeventtakesplaceatAvenhamParkinPreston,Lancashire.EasterparadesarealsopartoftheEastertradition,withthosetakingpartwearingEasterbonnetsorhats,traditionallydecoratedwithspringflowersandribbons.2.2FestivalsinChinaInChina,thereare11daysofnationalpublicholidayoutoftheyear:TheSpringFestival(usuallyfallinginthelateJanuaryorearlyandmid-February)—3days;TheLanternFestival—1day.TheQingmingFestival—1day;TheDragonBoatFestival—1day;TheMay1st–1day;theOctober1stNationalDay–3days.Itiscustomaryforpeopleto“borrow”weekendstomakeholidaysinto2week—longholidays.FarandawaythemostimportantholidayinChinaistheSpringFestival,alsoknownastheChineseNewYear.ForChinesepeoplethisfestivalisofimportanceasChristmastopeopleintheWest.ThedatesforthisannualcelebrationaredeterminedbythelunarcalendarratherthantheGregoriancalendar,sothetimingoftheholidayvariesfromlateJanuarytoearlyFebruary.TotheordinaryChinese,thefestivalactuallybeginsontheeveofthelunarNewYear’sDayandendsonthefifthdayofthefirstmonthofthelunarcalendar.Butthe15thofthefirstmonth,whichnormallyiscalledtheLanternFestival,meanstheofficialendoftheSpringFestivalinmanypartsofthecountry.PreparationsfortheNewYearbeginthelastfewdaysofthelastmoon,whenhousesarethoroughlycleaned,debtsrepaid,haircutandnewclothespurchased.Housesarefestoonedwithpaperscrollsbearingauspiciousantitheticalcouplet(asshowonbothsideofthepage)andinmanyhomes,peopleburnincenseathomeandinthetemplestopayrespectstoancestorsandaskthegodsforgoodhealthinthecomingmonths."GuoNian,"meaning"passingtheyear,"isthecommontermamongtheChinesepeopleforcelebratingtheSpringFestival.Itactuallymeansgreetingthenewyear.Atmidnightattheturnoftheoldandnewyear,peopleusedtoletofffire-crackerswhichservetodriveawaytheevilspiritsandtogreetthearrivalofthenewyear.Inaninstantthewholecitywouldbeengulfedinthedeafeningnoiseofthefirecrackers.OnNewYear’sEve,allthemembersoffamiliescometogethertofeast.Jiaozi,asteameddumplingaspicturedbelow,ispopularinthenorth,whilesouthernersfavorastickysweetglutinousricepuddingcalledniangaoTheLanternFestivalfallsonthe15thdayofthe1stlunarmonth,usuallyinFebruaryorMarchintheGregoriancalendar.AsearlyastheWesternHandynasty(206BC—25AD),ithadbecomeafestivalwithgreatsignificance.ThroughouttheHanDynasty(206BC—220AD),BuddhismflourishedinChina.BuddhistmonkswouldwatchSarira,orremainsfromthecremationofBuddha’sbody,andlightlanternstoworshipBuddhaonthe15thdayofthe1stlunarmonth.LateritdevelopedintoagrandfestivalamongcommonpeopleanditsinfluenceexpandedfromthecentralPlainstothewholeofChina.WatchinglanternsatnightisanimportantactivityoftheFestival.Lanternsofvariousshapesandsizesarehunginthestreets;childrenwillholdself-madeorboughtlanternsrunningaround.InthedaytimeoftheFestival,performancelicludeDragonLanternDances,LionDances,LandBoatDances,YanggeDances,walkingonstillsandbeatingdrumswhiledancing.EatingricedumplingscalledYuanxiaoonthisdayisanothercustomontheFestival.YuanxiaoisalsonamedTangyuan,madeofglutinousriceflourwithrosepetals,sesame,beanpaste,jujubepaste,walnutmeat,driedfruit,sugarandedibleoilasfilling.Ittastessweetanddelicious.What’smore,TangyuaninChineselanguagehasasimilarpronunciationwithTuanyuan,meaningreunion.Peopleeatthemtovaluefamily’sreunion,harmonyandhappiness.TheQingmingFestivalisoneofthe24seasonaldivisionpointsinChina,fallingonApril4-6eachyear.Thetemperatureisgettingupandrainfallincreases.ButtheQingmingFestivalisnotonlyaseasonalpointtoguidefarming,itismoreafestivalofcommemoration.BoththeHanandminorityethnicgroupsoffersacrificestotheirancestorsandsweepthetombs.Onthatdayallcemeteriesarecrowdedwithpeople.Theygotosweepthetombs,offerfood,flowersandfavoritesofthedeadofthefamily,thenburnincenseandpapermoneyandbowbeforethememorialtablet.TheQingmingFestivalisinthespringwhentreesandgrassbecomegreenerandgreener.PeoplehavethecustomofSpringoutingsandplantingtrees.TheDragonBoatFestival,the5thdayofthe5thlunarmonth,hashadahistoryofmorethan2000year.ItisusuallyinJuneintheGregoriancalendar.Therearemanylegendsabouttheevolutionofthefestival.ThemostpopularisinmemoryofQuyuan(340BC—278BC),China’searliestpoet.HeoncewasministeroftheStateofChu.HecaredmuchforhiscountryandpeopleandcomposedimmortalpoemsincludingLiSao(theLament),TianWen(HeavenlyQuestions)andJiuGe(NineSongs).In278BC,heheardthenewsthatQintroopshadconqueredChu’scapital,hefinishedhislastpieceHuaiSha(EmbracingSand)andplungedhimselfintotheLiluoRiver,claspinghisarmstoalargestone.Thedayhappenedtobethe5thofthe5thmonthintheChineselunarcalendar.Afterhisdeath,thepeopleofChucrowdedtothebankoftherivertopaytheirrespectstohim.PeoplemadeZongzi(pyramid-shapedglutinousricedumplingswrappedinreedorbambooleaves)andthrewthemintothewatertodivertpossiblefishorshrimpfromattackinghisbody.That’swhypeoplelaterfollowedthecustomssuchasdragonboatracingandeatingZongzionthatday.Dragonboatracingisanindispensablepartofthefestival,heldalloverthecountry.FolktalessaythegameoriginatesfromtheactivitiesofseekingQuYuan’sbody,butexperts,afterpainstakingandmeticulousresearch,concludethatdragonboatraceisasemi-religious,semi-entertainingprogramfromtheWarringStatesPeriod(475BC-221BC).Inthefollowingthousandsofyear,thegamespreadtoJapan,VietnamandBritainaswellasChina’sTaiwanandHongKong.Nowdragonboatracinghasdevelopedintoanaquaticsportsitem,whichfeaturesbothChinesetraditionandmodernsportingspirit.In1980,itwaslistedintothestatesportscompetitionprogramsheldeveryyear.3.ComparisonbetweenChineseFestivalsandBritishFestivalsThetraditionalfestivalistheresultoftheculturaldevelopmentofanation’shistory.Theoriginanddevelopmentofthefestivalsisformedslowlyandperfectedgradually.ComparedBritishfestivalswithChinesefestivals,thedifferencesareobvioustobeseen.Therefore,itisimportanttoknowthedifferences,especiallyininterculturalcommunication.3.1Differences3.1.1TheOriginsW