Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - Traditional customs - English Essay: The Difference Between Chinese Holidays and Foreign Holidays

English Essay: The Difference Between Chinese Holidays and Foreign Holidays

Western Holidays Celebrated in China China has become more commercialized and less ideological, and the Chinese are enjoying more relaxed social control. China has become more commercialized and less ideological, and the Chinese are enjoying more relaxed social control. As a result, they have adopted some Western holidays. While Chinese, mostly young people, celebrate them for fun, businessmen see a great opportunity to make money. businessmen see a great opportunity to make money. Valentine's Day 情人节 It has become as big a holiday among the young Chinese as it does in the rest of the world. It has become a very important (or popular) holiday among young Chinese as it does in the rest of the world. Greeting cards and flowers, predominantly roses, are sold in the millions. The Chinese, however, limit the present giving to their spouses, lovers, and sex partners while in the West, candies can be given to friends and colleagues . The Chinese, however, limit the present giving to their spouses, lovers, and sex partners while in the West, candies can be given to friends and colleagues. This difference may be attributed to the mis-translation of Valentine's Day as qingrenjie, in which, qingren means lovers. This is probably due to the mistranslation of Valentine's Day as Valentine's Day as qingrenjie, in which, qingren means lovers. There are cries for replacing this foreign celebration of love with the traditional Chinese Qixi (Seventh Day of the Seventh Lunar Month), a day that commemorizes the legendary Coward's Day. There are cries for replacing this foreign celebration of love with the traditional Chinese Qixi (Seventh Day of the Seventh Lunar Month), a day that commemorizes the legendary Cowherd and Weaving Girl. Christmas The Chinese, particularly the young generation, embrace Christmas without paying attention to its religious background. The Chinese, particularly the young generation, embrace Christmas without paying attention to its religious background. They decorate their homes with Christmas trees and lights, giving their children Christmas gifts, and go to parties to enjoy a carnival-like night. They decorate their homes with Christmas trees and lights, giving their children Christmas gifts, and go to parties to enjoy a carnival-like night. Christmas atmosphere is only too evident in the busy streets of major cities where shops, restaurants, and hotels show their best to allure customers. Christmas atmosphere is only too evident in the busy streets of major cities where shops, restaurants, and hotels show their best to allure customers. Santas, mostly played by young women, are their best "tools" of promotion.