As cultural exchanges expand between China and the West, it appears
that the Chinese are more eager for foreign festivals rather than
their own and traditional Chinese festivals will be lost if not
better protected.
This has worried Zhuang Wei, a member of the 10th National
Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference. He proposed to give two more holidays at the Qingming
and Mid-Autumn festivals each year to remind the younger generation
at home and abroad of the traditions of China. This could not only
help traditional Chinese culture to prosper, but enhance patriotism
and a love for the homeland among Chinese offspring.
Since the People' s Republic of China was founded in 1949, public
holidays such as the New Year Day (January 1), Spring Festival (the
1st day of the 1st lunar month in Chinese calendar), International
Women's Day (March 8), International Labor Day (May 1), Youth's Day
(May 4), Children's Day (June 1), Anniversary of the Founding of
the Communist Party of China (July 1), Army Day (August 1) and
National Day (October 1) have all been decided. These holidays have
revolutionary origins but most people think they lack human
concern. At the same time, other traditional Chinese festivals such
as the Lantern Festival (the 15th day of the 1st lunar month),
Qingming Festival (April 5), Dragon Boat Festival (the 5th day of
the 5th lunar month), Mid-Autumn Day (the 15th day of the 8th lunar
month) and Double-Ninth Festival (the 9th day of the 9th lunar
month), which express love between human beings, are not
included.
This is true and why the Chinese need foreign festivals to express
their feelings. "Western festivals pay much attention to sentiment.
For example, people send roses on Valentine's Day and prepare for
the coming of Santa Clause on Christmas Day. It is the emotional
appeal that attracts the young Chinese," said Jiang Yuyuan, a
student of Northeastern University.
Zou Yan, a civil servant, agrees. She thinks foreign festivals
don't go against traditional festivals in China. People follow
Valentine's Day because they can express their love for others
freely on that day, while on Christmas Day, they just have a chance
to relax while enjoying the peace of winter.
Sociologist Wang Xiaozhang believes festivals provide an
opportunity for people to exchange ideas and communicate, narrowing
the gap between them. The long-time oppression and conservation of
feeling amongst the Chinese strengthens their aspiration for
carnival.
Yan Xiaoying, 20, loves all kinds of festivals, whether Chinese or
foreign ones, just because she finds pleasure in them. "I met my
boyfriend on a Christmas eve," she said.
An
investigation by the Social Survey Institute of China (SSIC) shows
that 53.6 percent of youngsters love foreign festivals because of
the joy and pleasure in them. As to the difference between foreign
festivals and traditional festivals in China, 57.1 percent of males
think that Chinese festivals rest on material activities of eating
and clothing, while foreign ones pay much attention to
communication of feelings and ideas. Meanwhile, 60.7 percent of
females think they become too tired during traditional festivals
but feel free and easy going during foreign festivals.
Sun Liqiang, a teacher, thought that foreign festivals met the
demand of some Chinese. "Now some minority ethnic groups follow
such festivals as the Buddha bathing festival or Ullambana (a
Buddhist ceremony held on the fifteenth day of the seventh lunar
month to redeem the souls of one's deceased ancestors). In fact,
they were introduced from India," he said, adding that maybe one
day Western festivals will also become a new custom of China.
Wu
Bing'an, a famous folklorist of China, in an interview with Xinhua,
pointed out that even the Qingming Festival, when people pay
respect to a dead person, is a time for happiness. Spring has just
come, so people go out to play, swing or play football whether in
the north or the south. Also, it is a good time for planting trees.
Similarly, other festivals act as emissaries of happiness.
"In fact, the tradition of celebrating Chinese festivals has not
faded out," Wu said. He suggested the government and cultural
departments at different levels increase investment in traditional
festivals and enrich the activities at these times. For example,
enlarging the scale of the lantern festival and lion dancing at the
Spring Festival and racing at the Dragon Boat Festival.
"Youngsters celebrate western festivals only in form. They don't
even know the real meaning behind them," Wu said. Christmas Eve is
solemn for westerners when they will gather at home or go to mass
in churches but, the young Chinese are roaming the streets at that
time. "In fact, only the folk and local culture can be recognized
in globalization," he said, adding that foreigners hold much
admiration for China's Spring Festival.
According to Wu, only traditional festivals have the most culture
implication for they are closely related with the cultural position
of the whole society. Now China has launched a great project to
protect folk and national cultural heritage, including the
protection of folk buildings and folk music, but the work is still
far from done. "One important reason is the inferiority complex the
Chinese have about their culture," Wu said. "People are trying to
abandon their own culture, hardly expecting or wishing that folk
culture should be cherished the most."
With social development, festival experience changes. Some are
weakened; some are strengthened; while others are endowed with new
meanings or connotations. This is the natural process of cultural
selection. Therefore, it is unnecessary to feel panic about the
bustle of foreign festivals. This is only an aspect of world
culture integration.
As
China becomes better at understanding the culture and society of
foreign countries, it is only natural for the Chinese to accept
them.
(China.org.cn translated by Li Jinhui, April 17, 2003)