1. 西方節日對中國文化的影響
Nowadays, people in China are increasingly interested in celebrating foreign festivals, especially those western festivals. The reason why I choose this topic is that the coming Christmas and the whole holiday phenomenon make me wonder the factors that contributing to this craze.
Some critics are arguing that people are loosing their traditional values and the respect of historical heritage. They insist that the popularity of foreign festivals should warn sociologists and ecators nation wide.
However, I do not completely agree with them.
I think the truth about today』s foreign-festival enjoyment is composed of various factors and backgrounds more than the 「western world chasing」
So come my research in which I want to tell the truth about the subject, the whole truth..
Importance of the subject
All of us have been familiar with festivals ever since our childhood. There are all kinds of festivals, from conventional ones such as spring festivals, Midautumn Day to national holidays like the Labor Day. These days more and more people are turning into some festival animals whose targets are shifting toward foreign festivals ------San Valentine』s Day, Christmas…
Still, to most Chinese people wonder the necessity to celebrate foreign festivals even in the cost of ignoring our traditional festivals. What』s the problem?
So I think it is essential to find something exclusively reasonable to explain the strange phenomenon at hand. To discuss all the factors relating to this festival bizarre.
I would like to begin this part with a survey concted recently by sina.com. In it the host ask surfers about their attitudes toward Christmas. There are 18222 of them among which the majority 63.90% said celebrating Christmas is just another way of recreation, nothing serious while 17.85% surfers termed the festival as a fashion act, showing they were not 「out」. This two parts clearly indicate the general opinion of the young. 10.45% people involved said the celebration of a religious western festival with so much enthusiasm is sheer ridiculous fantasy of foreign goodness. Only 7.80% of people define Christmas as a kind of festival colonization.
The arising of celebrating foreign festivals apparently has something to do with the advancement of china』s economy. When a major festival arrives, the business are trying every means to boost the atmosphere, thus finding opportunity to attract every possible customers. The atmosphere raised by the businessmen however, stimulate the public and raise their desire to celebrate the foreign festivals. They give people certain assumption that it is definitely necessary to be part of the celebration.
During the middle of the 90』s, the enthusiasm for Christmas and other foreign festivals are limited among high school and college students in big cities. These young people studied English in class, had their own English names and possessed certain knowledge and understanding of the western culture.. They haunted McDonald』s and KFC, drank coke, watched Hollywood films while they knew little about traditions of midautumn day---they even complained that the moon cake tasted awful and should be deserted! But they did remember Christmas, San Valentine』s Day and April Fool』s Day
Then the campus culture spread to the so-called 「middle class」. Celebrating foreign festivals seems to be a fashion and a trademark of the wealthier class. From this point of view, western festivals begin to show their strong influence on people』s values and thoughts. The combination of the acceptance of western culture and the desire of western world happened long before the business world enters this field.
Why is that?
In my point of view, the Christmas and other festivals celebrated in china have difference from the origin. They loose their religious background and turn into a big occasion to have fun and enjoy life. Retailers』 pockets have been filled, public』s hunger for happiness filled, and that is enough. Foreign festivals in china are more like carnivals giving people pleasure and enjoyment
The crisis of traditional Chinese festivals who are loosing their attraction may be contributed to the culture heritage and background of the festivals. Most Chinese festival culture is related more or less with real life. 「The country is based on its people while the people are relied on their food」. So Chinese festivals always have certain relationship with food. Every festivals we know, have several particular kinds of 「festival」 food, such as the moon cake for midautumn day.
But the western culture shows much of romance and endearment. Some festivals have their religious background while others have much to do with culture and people. At this point, food seems to be too plain. Flowers and chocolates are more welcomed.
Major foreign festivals in china
Christmas
Obviously the most popular and most widely celebrated one, Christmas has been part of Chinese holidays culture especially in Shanghai.
I would quote another survey concted by the 「sina inspection」 about people』s attitude toward Christmas in different cities.
Beijing
It has been said that Beijing have enjoyed white Christmas since 1998. large shopping malls will prepare a lot for the Christmas. Trees and lights are set several days before the Christmas Eve. Discounts are given in the name of 「Christmas celebration」.
No holiday is given for Christmas, so the celebrations mainly take place at night. The majority of people actively in the part are students and white collars. Also, Christmas is 「the second valentine』s day」 for young lovers, especially college students. Those who have been so busy with their study will spend the Christmas Eve with their loved ones happily.
But the statistics also shows that 67.2% students choose spending their Christmas eve quiet and alone studying, like every ordinary day.
Comparatively speaking, Beijing is a very traditional city containing a lot of historic colors. So the number of people celebrating Christmas there is no more than 50%
Shanghai:
On the other hand, Shanghai is a very open-minded city with tolerant attitude toward foreign cultures. Although Christmas is not a traditional festival, it has become part of the fashion trend, drawing people into it unconsciously.
According to the statistics, 70%of people aged 14 to 30 will choose to go out at Christmas eve to eat, drink, celebrate and enjoy. Among them 90% will go to large discos to stay the whole night.
88.3% of love couples will go to foreign restaurants to have a romantic dinner, 10.8%choose to stay at home watching TV enjoying being together.
People over thirty generally choose to go to church to spend the Christmas eve where they can listen to holiday songs and enjoy the better and quieter atmosphere.
What young people look for is to try a new way of living, a new set of culture in the foreign festivals. Christmas in Shanghai is viewed with an international sight. The acceptance of Christmas here is over 70%.
Other southern cities
To most enterprises, Christmas is not only a big business opportunity, but also a perfect occasion to please the clients and the staffs. Hotels make full use of the chance to offer luxurious Christmas dinner, the price of which is 300%of the normal one. Still, these luxuries are sold out in seconds.
Some shopping centers redecorate their little gifts such as doll bear and chocolates to sell at special prices. Some travel agencies make 「Christmas lines」. Even cinemas are providing something different. The Christmas economy is graally walking out of its infancy.
We have no Christmas
Whether a city celebrate Christmas is largely depend on the culture infrastructure of the city, the economical conditions and the extent of openness. In big cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, Christmas has become the matter of every ordinary people. But in some inland cities, especially those in the west part of China, the situation is quiet different. No one really care it and no one celebrate it ,not to mention value it as another major event.
Valentine』s day
Though the business welcome a lot this special day as they expect lovers to spend a lot of money buying flowers, chocolates and gifts, usually at a higher price than they really worth, San Valentine』s day has not yet received as high a status as Christmas in china.
Maybe most Chinese people are reserved; so they do not think it necessary to show their love in so direct a way as to be shared by the public. The younger generation is more open-minded, but their money is limited. So the business cannot really enjoy the big festivals as they may previously hope to do.
Still, the atmosphere of Valentine』s Day is quiet observable. Roses are emerging at any place supposed to gather a lot of love couples, such as shopping centers, squares, metro stations and so on. The advertisement of chocolate and other gifts are at their peak of the year. Newspapers and fashion magazines boost a lot of the festivals, giving all kinds of tips from how to send suitable gifts to your loved ones to how to write a special and romantic love letter, even how to arrange a surprise night. But from what I can see, the mature the couples are, the less they take those matters seriously.
In college, the extent to which the Valentine』s Day is celebrated depends on the popularity of college romance.
Comparison
The attitude toward foreign festivals varies a lot from person to person. In the following paragraph, I will discuss several groups of people』s different foreign festival celebrating habit.
The young and the old
From what I can see, foreign festivals are popular mainly among the younger generation while the seniors show little interests to them. As I have previously stated, the young people today are growing in the atmosphere of well acceptance of foreign cultures and increasing tolerance toward foreign festivals. They enjoy happily sending greeting cards at Christmas, DIY chocolate to their beloved ones on valentine』s day, make jokes on April fool』s day and hug their parents on Mother』s day and Father』s day. To them, foreign festivals enrich their lives, giving them more occasions to have fun and appreciate love.
While, on the other hand, the older generation show quiet indifferent attitudes toward foreign festivals. They still prefer traditional Chinese festivals, ring which the gathering of family is still greatly emphasized. They regard the young people』s craze about Christmas and Valentine』s Day as deceived by business』 tricks. The money spent on gifts and flowers are, in their eyes, nothing but waste.
Coastal cities and inland cities
As foreign festivals today still go with some economical interests, the people in poor places care little about them, or even do not know them. While among coastal cities, which are equally open-minded, the differences do exit. The more westernized a city is, the more popular foreign festivals are. The more wealthy the city is, the more festival atmosphere could be seen there.
Foreign festivals in china today are celebrated for fun. They give people occasions to relax and celebrate, to show appreciation and gratefulness. The acceptance of foreign festivals generally depend on the openness of the public, the familiarity with the western culture, and most importantly, on people 『s economical status.
So, the critics really do not have to worry about the phenomenon. People in china are celebrating foreign festivals for merely fun and curiosity; the fear of culture colonization is nonsense.
2. 外國習俗對中國的影響
現代社會是多元的社會，文化多樣性，帶來了文化的豐富性，我們可以享受新節日與西方節日，但不大可能替代我們的傳統節日，雖然有一部分人熱衷於過洋節，這是他們的個人的選擇。
但在中國十幾億人口中，所佔比例甚小。傳統節日有著強大的生命力，就連元旦這樣一個世界性的節日，在中國民眾生活中地位極為普通。只要我們的政府不持續強制推行元旦節日，春節的地位它是撼不動的，即使強制改變了春節的日期，讓人們過元旦，人們也會將春節習俗照搬到元旦。在現代社會民族國家要有自立的本錢，不僅是經濟的強大，同時也要文化的強大。傳統節日文化就是傳承與表現民族文化的重要手段。
我們應該重視對傳統節日文化的研究，從中尋找傳統節日文化運行的文化規律，為今天的社會建設服務。在提倡假日經濟的時候，應該多考慮傳統節日文化的因素，讓民眾充分享受到民族節日的溫馨。
3. 西方節日對中國傳統節日的影響
時下流行過「洋節」
——如何看待中國人的「洋節」情結
情人節、愚人節、母親節、父親節、萬聖節、感恩節、聖誕節……
一方面，當一些專家、學者紛紛動議要將中國沿襲了幾千年的傳統節日——春節改到2月4日，在社會上引起軒然大波的時候，另一方面，國人中卻有相當一部分摩登的、前衛的、新潮的新新人類，在趕西洋人的時髦，紛紛過起了洋節！面對這些光怪陸離、異彩紛呈的社會眾生相，一些有識之士禁不住發出了這樣的疑問：源遠流長的中華民族怎麼了？善良智慧的中國人民怎麼了？歷史悠久的中國傳統文化怎麼了？到底該怎樣看待中西文化交流？中國人該不該鍾情於西洋節日？西方人是否也像我們一樣崇拜中國節日？
帶著這些問題，我利用寒假半個月的時間，到圖書館、閱覽室翻閱資料，到網上搜索相關信息，到社會上走訪了各行各業的人士，現將主要觀點整理報告如下：
一、 隨著社會的發展，中西文化交流勢不可擋，作為文化重要組成部分的節日文化的交流融合理所當然，自然而然。
現代社會的發展日新月異，高新科學技術尤其是網路通訊技術的發展更使「地球村」變得越來越小了。隨著中國政治、經濟、外交事業的發展尤其是中國加入WTO之後，在諸如香港、上海這些東西方文化水乳交融和劇烈碰撞的國際大都市裡，西方文化理念和東方傳統道德，在人們日常生活中融合得是那麼自然。隨著時間的推移，這種融合在更大范圍的地域內擴展開來。受了西方文化理念影響的人們在歡天喜地的過著各式洋節的同時，中華民族的傳統節日春節、端午節、中秋節，他們也過得熱鬧非凡。由此可見，中國人多一些暢快抒發心情的洋節有什麼不好呢？不是有越來越多的年輕人在走近聖誕節、情人節的同時，也學會了在母親節、父親節給老人獻上一份祝福了嗎？誰說現代物質文明和精神文明不是相輔相成、多元文化共存的綜合體呢？
二、 對待一系列西方洋節的正確態度，應該是堅持魯迅先生的「拿來主義」原則：運用腦髓，放出眼光，取其精華，棄其糟粕，自己來拿！
在如何繼承民族文化遺產這個問題上，毛澤東同志早就指出，我們既不能全盤否定，也不能照單全收，我們要運用馬列主義歷史地、辯證的哲學眼光和態度，去批判的吸收。在如何借鑒西方外來文化這個問題上，早在上世紀三十年代，魯迅先生就在他的政論名篇《拿來主義》中明確指出：我們要運用腦髓，放出眼光，自己來拿！綜其兩端，我認為，對待一系列西方節日的正確態度，應該是：不盲目崇拜，不迷失自我；既不全盤西化，照單全收，也不全面否定，刀槍不入；而是取其精華，棄其糟粕！西方節日受歷史宗教文化的影響，大都帶有明顯的宗教色彩，如萬聖節、感恩節、聖誕節等。盡管宗教大都是勸人向善的，但畢竟在我們這個國度里崇尚宗教信仰自由，因此就不好對這些節日做出什麼硬性規定。對於那些帶有一定的西方生活情趣的節日如情人節、愚人節等，則完全可以隨興所至，「悉聽尊便」，畢竟它可以給我們緊張、枯燥的生活帶來一定的生活情趣，注入一絲活力。而對於那些既帶有西方濃郁的浪漫情調又符合我們中華民族尊老愛幼傳統美德的節日如母親節、父親節等，我們則要大力提倡，努力推廣，以不斷提高民族素質，加快社會文明進程！
三、 在崇尚西洋節日、熱熱鬧鬧過好洋節的同時，千萬不要忘了弘揚中華民族悠久的、優秀的節日文化傳統，千萬不要在盲目崇拜中迷失了自我。
中華民族是一個歷史悠久的民族，中國人民是文明、智慧的人民，中國文化是博大精深的文化，尤其是許多傳統的節日文化，都積淀著厚重的民族文化的精華：春節是中華民族傳統的喜慶團圓節日，人們辛勤忙碌了一年，在新的一年開始的時候，走親訪友，互致祝福，回顧過去，展望來年，老老少少，團團圓圓，全家幸福，和諧美滿，該是多麼愉快的節日呀！清明節，我們可以踏青、掃墓，緬懷革命先烈的豐功偉績，寄託我們對已逝親人的哀思；端午節，是專為紀念偉大愛國詩人屈原的，這一天，我們可以劃龍舟、吃粽子、……一舉兩得，何樂不為？中秋節是繼春節之後的又一個舉家團圓的節日，我們可以再一次全家團圓在花前月下，賞菊花，吃月餅，品美酒，話別離，孝敬長輩，關愛晚輩，其樂融融，喜不自勝！……從某種意義上說，這些節日文化，彰顯的不僅僅是某時某地的民情風俗，更重要的是它彰顯了中華民族尊老愛幼、勤勞善良、勇敢智慧等傳統美德和古樸純正、博大精深的民俗文化。這些都是不可或缺的！而隨著時代的發展，西風東漸，這些傳統和文化或漸被遺忘，或日漸式微，或慢慢湮滅，若不及時加以搶救性的繼承、弘揚、挖掘和開發，那麼，真等到它徹底消亡的那一天到來的時候，我們這些炎黃子孫還有何面目去見我們的老祖宗？同時，世界文化遺產的寶庫中，也將留下難以彌補的缺失和遺憾！所以，每一個有責任心、有正義感、有遠見卓識的炎黃子孫都必須站在歷史和世界的高度，去認識這個問題，古為今用，洋為中用，既不崇洋媚外，也不固步自封，而是在適當吸收西方節日文化精華的同時，也不迷失自我，是中華傳統美德和悠久民族文化著兩朵奇葩並蒂開放，香飄世界！
4. 外國的節日對我們的影響
現在越來越多的國人受外國文化影響，現在越來越多的人過上了外國的節日。中國的外資專企業也越屬來越多，不免帶過來外國的風俗。人們每天都在追求新的花樣，新的刺激。 其實過外國節日對很多方面都有影響，從經濟上講，過外國節日的人多了，比如說情人節、聖誕節，商家的營業額就會劇增，生產節日禮物的公司也多了商品得銷售途徑。對經濟還是有一定的促進作用的。從這點看，我們可以而且應該支持過國外節日。 另一方面崇洋的過程中往往丟掉了我們傳統的節日，這是很不應該的，我們應該在追求時尚的道路上不忘了中國原本就有的文化。這是很讓人痛心的。 不過現在國家把這些傳統節日定為法定節假日，讓我們有時間去過這個節日，是很不錯的，不會丟了傳統節日
5. 西方節日對中國傳統節日的影響
西方節日對中國傳統節日的影響有：
6. 外國文化節日對中國經濟的負面影響
西方節日來勢兇猛，但硬要說它們像當年的堅船利炮那麼可怕或許有點誇大其詞。回西方世界的節慶文化答雖然在基督教誕生之前就開始萌芽，其真正壯大則是在基督教君臨天下之後。自利瑪竇於萬曆十年(公元1582年)利用儒學經典在中國傳播聖經算起，基督教來中國已經四個多世紀了。
相比之下，中國傳統節日卻沒有得到有力保護。1949年以後，大多數節日都被視為封建殘余而廢除，倖存下來的也只有春節、端午和中秋，其中只有春節被列入了法定節假日。1949年以來我們的全民放假日只有7天，直至1999年國務院發布《全國節及紀念日放假辦法》才增至10天。這樣的水平與中國宋代的69天、 日本的15天、 韓國的16天、澳門的22天和美國的23天相比，明顯過於低下。傳統節日的被貶與洋人節日的囂張構成了這個時代最戲劇化的景象
7. 關於西方節日對中國傳統節日的影響
中國現在過的洋節日，基本上都是娛樂性質、商業性質的，雖然名義上與基督教有關，但現在基本看不到任何信仰的實質內容。比如，你說的萬聖節，基督教會是從來不過的。聖誕節，如果你到教堂去會發現，教會在宣講福音的信息，這與外面的商業氛圍是完全不同的。
至於你說的，「宗教一般來說都是為政治服務的」這句話我不認同，現在都是政教分離的時代了。
中國宗教的主導是什麼？在一個經濟文化日趨全球化的今天，你還認為佛教、道教是主導嗎？且不論此，大凡世界性的宗教，其教義都有普世性的意義，因此，宗教信仰與宗教文化還是區分來看比較好。
最後，從信仰上論，人多未必比人少來得本真，隆重未必比簡陋來得虔誠。
8. 西方節日對中國不好的影響
中國人自90年代以來，突然對過洋節很感興趣，國外的情人節、愚人節、風情節、感恩節、母親節等等，年年十分紅火，而對本國的傳統節日如寒日節、元宵節、端午節、七夕節、重陽節等卻反倒漸漸冷淡。「洋節」盛行，土節「遇冷」這是什麼原因?過洋節究竟好不好?在媒體上眾說紛紜．各抒已見，筆者在此略作分析，綜述如下：
當今「洋節」盛行有其必然因素：其一，我國改革開放後，外國的文化滲入其中，各國互相交融。這是很自然的現象；其二，全球經濟一體化，加速了外國文化對我國的影響，許多外國人在中國工作，遇上節日慶賀一番，這也是人之常情；其三，媒體和商業的炒作，促使過「洋節」不斷升溫，在其後面主要是巨大的商業利潤；其四，我國人民的生活開始富裕，追求精神生活豐富多彩，這也是必然的；其五，許多年輕人、大學生追求時尚、趕時髦．趁外國節日來臨，熱鬧娛樂一下，而且國外節日講求人性化，比較輕松浪漫，注重情調，比如情人節送玫瑰、聖涎節過平安夜．容易受年輕人喜愛接受。
而我國傳統節日，由於一般都有教育意議，形式單調，有的還帶有封建色彩，同時又不被官方重視，由此種種原因，造成了「洋節熱土節冷」的局面。
其實，中國人體驗一下外國人的節日，領略一下異國文化，這沒有什麼不好，國外不是也有過中國節的？對端午節、潑水節也很感興趣。因此，大可不必說過洋節是崇洋媚外，背宗忘祖，在節日溫馨過後，一切也就煙消雲散了。
不過還是要提醒國人，凡事有個度，過分渲染、過分炒作，真正搞成洋節的天下，那就變味了，要記住只有民族的才是世界的，這是永恆的真理。聖誕節將要來臨之際，國內10位博士生聯名呼籲民眾慎對聖誕，來自武漢大學、北京大學、清華大學、南開大學、中山大學和中國科學院等名校或科研單位的十位哲學或教育學博士發出聯合署名倡議書，號召慎對聖誕節。他們認為」聖誕狂歡」是中國傳統文化主體性喪失後，國人的一種集體無意識行為。
十博士聯名抵制聖誕節
近日，這個名為《走出文化集體無意識，挺立中國文化主體性——我們對「聖誕節」問題的看法》的倡議書，出現在各大網站的醒目位置，文章第一句話就是「西洋文化在中國已由微風細雨演變成狂風驟雨，最為直接和集中的體現，莫過於聖誕節在中國的悄然興起與日趨流行。」自稱「民間學者」的起草者、哲學博士王達山在文章中認為，國內每逢聖誕節，商場、飯店、賓館擺放「聖誕樹」，員工們戴「小紅帽」，學校里「聖誕舞會」的海報占據了搶眼的位置；人們相逢互祝「聖誕快樂」等，是一種集體無意識的行為，其根本原因在於中國文化的主位性缺失和主體性沉淪。
因此，博士們呼籲「國人慎對聖誕節，走出文化集體無意識，挺立中國文化主體性」。文章還建議，相關政府部門應在尊重宗教信仰自由和法律框架允許的范圍內，重新審視和合理規范在商場、媒體、學校等部門和行業日漸流行的「聖誕狂潮」。
「孔子」被指為「聖誕老人」
作為倡議書的發起人之一，武漢大學哲學院2005屆中國哲學專業的博士生陳喬見說，自己在網路上看到，今年9月28日孔子誕辰時，在浙江衢州「南孔廟」，一名老師帶領小學生們在孔子像前參拜孔子時，竟有小學生指著白須飄飄的聖人說：「這位老爺爺是聖誕老人！」這件事對他影響挺大，聯想到現在許多大學生熱衷於過聖誕節，更有中小學教師組織學生搞各種各樣的聖誕活動，更促使他思考。「我們也知道我們力量有限，沒有期望什麼立竿見影的效果，」他說，「只是督促國人認真反省一下自己的生活，自己做得合不合適。」
學者網友看法不一
華中科技大學社會學系副教授鄭丹丹認為，聖誕節等洋節日的盛行發生於全球化或者西方文明在全世界滲透的背景之下，是不同文明交融的結果。過洋節往往是個體身份建構的手段。因為西方文明的強勢地位，過洋節日可能被貼上有品位、時尚、時髦等標簽。從某種意義上說，這是一種文化霸權。
截至昨晚9時40分，某網上共有17334人參與調查，反對過聖誕節認為中國人過洋節是西方文化入侵的結果的人佔53.8%，贊同認為民眾只是找機會輕松，並不是被西方文化洗腦的人佔29.68%，無所謂的人佔17.24。