1. 西方节日对中国文化的影响
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. 外国习俗对中国的影响
现代社会是多元的社会，文化多样性，带来了文化的丰富性，我们可以享受新节日与西方节日，但不大可能替代我们的传统节日，虽然有一部分人热衷于过洋节，这是他们的个人的选择。
但在中国十几亿人口中，所占比例甚小。传统节日有着强大的生命力，就连元旦这样一个世界性的节日，在中国民众生活中地位极为普通。只要我们的政府不持续强制推行元旦节日，春节的地位它是撼不动的，即使强制改变了春节的日期，让人们过元旦，人们也会将春节习俗照搬到元旦。在现代社会民族国家要有自立的本钱，不仅是经济的强大，同时也要文化的强大。传统节日文化就是传承与表现民族文化的重要手段。
我们应该重视对传统节日文化的研究，从中寻找传统节日文化运行的文化规律，为今天的社会建设服务。在提倡假日经济的时候，应该多考虑传统节日文化的因素，让民众充分享受到民族节日的温馨。
3. 西方节日对中国传统节日的影响
时下流行过“洋节”
——如何看待中国人的“洋节”情结
情人节、愚人节、母亲节、父亲节、万圣节、感恩节、圣诞节……
一方面，当一些专家、学者纷纷动议要将中国沿袭了几千年的传统节日——春节改到2月4日，在社会上引起轩然大波的时候，另一方面，国人中却有相当一部分摩登的、前卫的、新潮的新新人类，在赶西洋人的时髦，纷纷过起了洋节！面对这些光怪陆离、异彩纷呈的社会众生相，一些有识之士禁不住发出了这样的疑问：源远流长的中华民族怎么了？善良智慧的中国人民怎么了？历史悠久的中国传统文化怎么了？到底该怎样看待中西文化交流？中国人该不该钟情于西洋节日？西方人是否也像我们一样崇拜中国节日？
带着这些问题，我利用寒假半个月的时间，到图书馆、阅览室翻阅资料，到网上搜索相关信息，到社会上走访了各行各业的人士，现将主要观点整理报告如下：
一、 随着社会的发展，中西文化交流势不可挡，作为文化重要组成部分的节日文化的交流融合理所当然，自然而然。
现代社会的发展日新月异，高新科学技术尤其是网络通讯技术的发展更使“地球村”变得越来越小了。随着中国政治、经济、外交事业的发展尤其是中国加入WTO之后，在诸如香港、上海这些东西方文化水乳交融和剧烈碰撞的国际大都市里，西方文化理念和东方传统道德，在人们日常生活中融合得是那么自然。随着时间的推移，这种融合在更大范围的地域内扩展开来。受了西方文化理念影响的人们在欢天喜地的过着各式洋节的同时，中华民族的传统节日春节、端午节、中秋节，他们也过得热闹非凡。由此可见，中国人多一些畅快抒发心情的洋节有什么不好呢？不是有越来越多的年轻人在走近圣诞节、情人节的同时，也学会了在母亲节、父亲节给老人献上一份祝福了吗？谁说现代物质文明和精神文明不是相辅相成、多元文化共存的综合体呢？
二、 对待一系列西方洋节的正确态度，应该是坚持鲁迅先生的“拿来主义”原则：运用脑髓，放出眼光，取其精华，弃其糟粕，自己来拿！
在如何继承民族文化遗产这个问题上，毛泽东同志早就指出，我们既不能全盘否定，也不能照单全收，我们要运用马列主义历史地、辩证的哲学眼光和态度，去批判的吸收。在如何借鉴西方外来文化这个问题上，早在上世纪三十年代，鲁迅先生就在他的政论名篇《拿来主义》中明确指出：我们要运用脑髓，放出眼光，自己来拿！综其两端，我认为，对待一系列西方节日的正确态度，应该是：不盲目崇拜，不迷失自我；既不全盘西化，照单全收，也不全面否定，刀枪不入；而是取其精华，弃其糟粕！西方节日受历史宗教文化的影响，大都带有明显的宗教色彩，如万圣节、感恩节、圣诞节等。尽管宗教大都是劝人向善的，但毕竟在我们这个国度里崇尚宗教信仰自由，因此就不好对这些节日做出什么硬性规定。对于那些带有一定的西方生活情趣的节日如情人节、愚人节等，则完全可以随兴所至，“悉听尊便”，毕竟它可以给我们紧张、枯燥的生活带来一定的生活情趣，注入一丝活力。而对于那些既带有西方浓郁的浪漫情调又符合我们中华民族尊老爱幼传统美德的节日如母亲节、父亲节等，我们则要大力提倡，努力推广，以不断提高民族素质，加快社会文明进程！
三、 在崇尚西洋节日、热热闹闹过好洋节的同时，千万不要忘了弘扬中华民族悠久的、优秀的节日文化传统，千万不要在盲目崇拜中迷失了自我。
中华民族是一个历史悠久的民族，中国人民是文明、智慧的人民，中国文化是博大精深的文化，尤其是许多传统的节日文化，都积淀着厚重的民族文化的精华：春节是中华民族传统的喜庆团圆节日，人们辛勤忙碌了一年，在新的一年开始的时候，走亲访友，互致祝福，回顾过去，展望来年，老老少少，团团圆圆，全家幸福，和谐美满，该是多么愉快的节日呀！清明节，我们可以踏青、扫墓，缅怀革命先烈的丰功伟绩，寄托我们对已逝亲人的哀思；端午节，是专为纪念伟大爱国诗人屈原的，这一天，我们可以划龙舟、吃粽子、……一举两得，何乐不为？中秋节是继春节之后的又一个举家团圆的节日，我们可以再一次全家团圆在花前月下，赏菊花，吃月饼，品美酒，话别离，孝敬长辈，关爱晚辈，其乐融融，喜不自胜！……从某种意义上说，这些节日文化，彰显的不仅仅是某时某地的民情风俗，更重要的是它彰显了中华民族尊老爱幼、勤劳善良、勇敢智慧等传统美德和古朴纯正、博大精深的民俗文化。这些都是不可或缺的！而随着时代的发展，西风东渐，这些传统和文化或渐被遗忘，或日渐式微，或慢慢湮灭，若不及时加以抢救性的继承、弘扬、挖掘和开发，那么，真等到它彻底消亡的那一天到来的时候，我们这些炎黄子孙还有何面目去见我们的老祖宗？同时，世界文化遗产的宝库中，也将留下难以弥补的缺失和遗憾！所以，每一个有责任心、有正义感、有远见卓识的炎黄子孙都必须站在历史和世界的高度，去认识这个问题，古为今用，洋为中用，既不崇洋媚外，也不固步自封，而是在适当吸收西方节日文化精华的同时，也不迷失自我，是中华传统美德和悠久民族文化着两朵奇葩并蒂开放，香飘世界！
4. 外国的节日对我们的影响
现在越来越多的国人受外国文化影响，现在越来越多的人过上了外国的节日。中国的外资专企业也越属来越多，不免带过来外国的风俗。人们每天都在追求新的花样，新的刺激。 其实过外国节日对很多方面都有影响，从经济上讲，过外国节日的人多了，比如说情人节、圣诞节，商家的营业额就会剧增，生产节日礼物的公司也多了商品得销售途径。对经济还是有一定的促进作用的。从这点看，我们可以而且应该支持过国外节日。 另一方面崇洋的过程中往往丢掉了我们传统的节日，这是很不应该的，我们应该在追求时尚的道路上不忘了中国原本就有的文化。这是很让人痛心的。 不过现在国家把这些传统节日定为法定节假日，让我们有时间去过这个节日，是很不错的，不会丢了传统节日
5. 西方节日对中国传统节日的影响
西方节日对中国传统节日的影响有：
6. 外国文化节日对中国经济的负面影响
西方节日来势凶猛，但硬要说它们像当年的坚船利炮那么可怕或许有点夸大其词。回西方世界的节庆文化答虽然在基督教诞生之前就开始萌芽，其真正壮大则是在基督教君临天下之后。自利玛窦于万历十年(公元1582年)利用儒学经典在中国传播圣经算起，基督教来中国已经四个多世纪了。
相比之下，中国传统节日却没有得到有力保护。1949年以后，大多数节日都被视为封建残余而废除，幸存下来的也只有春节、端午和中秋，其中只有春节被列入了法定节假日。1949年以来我们的全民放假日只有7天，直至1999年国务院发布《全国节及纪念日放假办法》才增至10天。这样的水平与中国宋代的69天、 日本的15天、 韩国的16天、澳门的22天和美国的23天相比，明显过于低下。传统节日的被贬与洋人节日的嚣张构成了这个时代最戏剧化的景象
7. 关于西方节日对中国传统节日的影响
中国现在过的洋节日，基本上都是娱乐性质、商业性质的，虽然名义上与基督教有关，但现在基本看不到任何信仰的实质内容。比如，你说的万圣节，基督教会是从来不过的。圣诞节，如果你到教堂去会发现，教会在宣讲福音的信息，这与外面的商业氛围是完全不同的。
至于你说的，“宗教一般来说都是为政治服务的”这句话我不认同，现在都是政教分离的时代了。
中国宗教的主导是什么？在一个经济文化日趋全球化的今天，你还认为佛教、道教是主导吗？且不论此，大凡世界性的宗教，其教义都有普世性的意义，因此，宗教信仰与宗教文化还是区分来看比较好。
最后，从信仰上论，人多未必比人少来得本真，隆重未必比简陋来得虔诚。
8. 西方节日对中国不好的影响
中国人自90年代以来，突然对过洋节很感兴趣，国外的情人节、愚人节、风情节、感恩节、母亲节等等，年年十分红火，而对本国的传统节日如寒日节、元宵节、端午节、七夕节、重阳节等却反倒渐渐冷淡。“洋节”盛行，土节“遇冷”这是什么原因?过洋节究竟好不好?在媒体上众说纷纭．各抒已见，笔者在此略作分析，综述如下：
当今“洋节”盛行有其必然因素：其一，我国改革开放后，外国的文化渗入其中，各国互相交融。这是很自然的现象；其二，全球经济一体化，加速了外国文化对我国的影响，许多外国人在中国工作，遇上节日庆贺一番，这也是人之常情；其三，媒体和商业的炒作，促使过“洋节”不断升温，在其后面主要是巨大的商业利润；其四，我国人民的生活开始富裕，追求精神生活丰富多彩，这也是必然的；其五，许多年轻人、大学生追求时尚、赶时髦．趁外国节日来临，热闹娱乐一下，而且国外节日讲求人性化，比较轻松浪漫，注重情调，比如情人节送玫瑰、圣涎节过平安夜．容易受年轻人喜爱接受。
而我国传统节日，由于一般都有教育意议，形式单调，有的还带有封建色彩，同时又不被官方重视，由此种种原因，造成了“洋节热土节冷”的局面。
其实，中国人体验一下外国人的节日，领略一下异国文化，这没有什么不好，国外不是也有过中国节的？对端午节、泼水节也很感兴趣。因此，大可不必说过洋节是崇洋媚外，背宗忘祖，在节日温馨过后，一切也就烟消云散了。
不过还是要提醒国人，凡事有个度，过分渲染、过分炒作，真正搞成洋节的天下，那就变味了，要记住只有民族的才是世界的，这是永恒的真理。圣诞节将要来临之际，国内10位博士生联名呼吁民众慎对圣诞，来自武汉大学、北京大学、清华大学、南开大学、中山大学和中国科学院等名校或科研单位的十位哲学或教育学博士发出联合署名倡议书，号召慎对圣诞节。他们认为”圣诞狂欢”是中国传统文化主体性丧失后，国人的一种集体无意识行为。
十博士联名抵制圣诞节
近日，这个名为《走出文化集体无意识，挺立中国文化主体性——我们对“圣诞节”问题的看法》的倡议书，出现在各大网站的醒目位置，文章第一句话就是“西洋文化在中国已由微风细雨演变成狂风骤雨，最为直接和集中的体现，莫过于圣诞节在中国的悄然兴起与日趋流行。”自称“民间学者”的起草者、哲学博士王达山在文章中认为，国内每逢圣诞节，商场、饭店、宾馆摆放“圣诞树”，员工们戴“小红帽”，学校里“圣诞舞会”的海报占据了抢眼的位置；人们相逢互祝“圣诞快乐”等，是一种集体无意识的行为，其根本原因在于中国文化的主位性缺失和主体性沉沦。
因此，博士们呼吁“国人慎对圣诞节，走出文化集体无意识，挺立中国文化主体性”。文章还建议，相关政府部门应在尊重宗教信仰自由和法律框架允许的范围内，重新审视和合理规范在商场、媒体、学校等部门和行业日渐流行的“圣诞狂潮”。
“孔子”被指为“圣诞老人”
作为倡议书的发起人之一，武汉大学哲学院2005届中国哲学专业的博士生陈乔见说，自己在网络上看到，今年9月28日孔子诞辰时，在浙江衢州“南孔庙”，一名老师带领小学生们在孔子像前参拜孔子时，竟有小学生指着白须飘飘的圣人说：“这位老爷爷是圣诞老人！”这件事对他影响挺大，联想到现在许多大学生热衷于过圣诞节，更有中小学教师组织学生搞各种各样的圣诞活动，更促使他思考。“我们也知道我们力量有限，没有期望什么立竿见影的效果，”他说，“只是督促国人认真反省一下自己的生活，自己做得合不合适。”
学者网友看法不一
华中科技大学社会学系副教授郑丹丹认为，圣诞节等洋节日的盛行发生于全球化或者西方文明在全世界渗透的背景之下，是不同文明交融的结果。过洋节往往是个体身份建构的手段。因为西方文明的强势地位，过洋节日可能被贴上有品位、时尚、时髦等标签。从某种意义上说，这是一种文化霸权。
截至昨晚9时40分，某网上共有17334人参与调查，反对过圣诞节认为中国人过洋节是西方文化入侵的结果的人占53.8%，赞同认为民众只是找机会轻松，并不是被西方文化洗脑的人占29.68%，无所谓的人占17.24。