OndifferencesofChrismasandSpringFesivalbeweenWesandChina_开题报告

The Chinese New year, pronounced in Chinese as “xin nian”, is the most important national holiday which always falls on the date of marking the beginning of the spring according to the lunar calendar and thus it is also called the “Spring Festival”, “Xin”means “new” and “nian” means “year”. It originated in the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC-c. 1100 BC) from the people’s sacrifice to gods and ancestors at the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one. The Chinese meaning of this festival is Guo Nian. Guo means “pass over” and Nian means “year”. The origin of the Chinese New Year Festival can be traced back thousands of years through a continually evolving series of colorful legends and traditions. There are many stories about the origin of “nian”.

The first one is china's traditional festivals have evolved through the centuries from past major events. For instance, long ago when people had a bountiful harvest， they gathered and celebrated their good fortune with gala performances. When natural disasters struck, they offered sacrifices to the gods and their ancestors, hoping for a blessing. The change of the seasons, flowers in spring, and the bright moon in autumn could all arouse their longing for a more beautiful life. Thus, creative activities were held to signify these events, gradually these activities developed into festivals.    The second one is said that the Spring Festival evolved from an activity known as the Winter Sacrifice. It was a custom practiced by the people of primitive society.The third one, as the cold winter began to recede and the warm spring was about to begin, the people of an entire clan gathered together. They brought out their bounty from hunting, fishing and the field. They thanked the gods for the blessings of nature, including the mountains, rivers, the sun, moon and stars, they thanked their ancestors, then they shared and enjoyed the sumptuous bounty of the land, sea, air and fields as they ate, danced and sang heartily.

In the beginning, their activity had no fixed date. But usually it was held at the end of each winter. Gradually, through the years, it was celebrated at the end of the old year or the beginning of the new. With the changes and disintegration of primitive society, the form and content of the Winter Sacrifice also changed. Ultimately, it became a festival to bid farewell to the old year and welcome in the new years. So it came to be called the Spring Festival.

According to the bible, the holy book of Christians, God decided to allow his only son, Jesus Christ, to be born to a human mother and live on earth so that people could understand God better and learn to love God and each other more. “Christmas”-meaning “celebration of Christ”-honors the time when Jesus was born to a young Jewish woman named Mary.    Now most of people celebrate Christmas Day-December 25th as the birthday of Jesus Christ, the founder of the Christian religion. Love, family, and togetherness are important themes. Then Rome was a great Empire ruled by Caesar Augustus and Israel was governed by King Herod. Joseph and Mary lived in the village of Nazareth. Joseph was a carpenter and Mary was his wife. Mary told Joseph of a dream in which she was visited by an angel who told her she had been chosen to bear the Son of God and his name was to be Jesus. One day the emperor sent notice that all persons were to register for a new tax. They were instructed to return to the towns of their birth. Joseph and Mary left Nazareth for Bethlehem.

Mary, who was with child, and close to the birth, rode on a donkey while Joseph walked beside her. They traveled for many days and only rested at night. When they reached Bethlehem it was night. They looked for a place to rest but there were no empty rooms when they reached the inn. As they were being turned away Joseph mentioned his wife was with child and close to birth. The inn keeper took pity on them and told them of some caves in the nearby hills where shepherds would stay with their cows and sheep. So Joseph and Mary went up into the hills and found the caves.   In one cave was a stable room. Joseph cleaned it and made beds of fresh hay. He found a feeding trough which he cleaned and filled with hay to use as a crib. The next night Mary gave birth to a son, and they named him Jesus, as the angel had said. When the child was born, a great star appeared over Bethlehem that could be seen for miles around. In the fields nearby shepherds were tending their flocks. An angel appeared to them surrounded by bright light. The shepherds were frightened and tried to run. “Fear not,” said the angel, “For I bring you tidings of great joy. For unto you are born this day in Bethlehem-a Saviour who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly the sky was filled with angles, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men.” After the angels departed the shepards set out for Bethlehem. When they reach the cave, they found the stable and inside was the child wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Outline 

Introduction

Differences between Spring Festival in China and Christmas in the west

The Symbolisms 

The Customs 

The Ways and Contents of Celebrations in Spring Festival 

The Ways and Contents of Celebrations in Christmas

The Uses of Colors

Differences between National Cultures Reflected in Spring Festival and Christmas

The Religious Beliefs

Ethical Cultures

Tourism Cultures

Conclusion

References 

References

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