With the acceleration of world cultural integration, some western festivals are increasingly favored by many people in China. At the same time, China Spring Festival is being accepted by more and more people in the world with its unique charm. How do foreigners who are born and bred and have never been to China celebrate the most traditional festivals in China in their homeland?
Americans: Love to join in the fun
In this cultural melting pot of the United States, with the increasing number of overseas Chinese and the improvement of China's status in the world, more and more Americans are increasingly interested in the traditional culture of China represented by the Spring Festival.
In recent years, every Lunar New Year, from the president to the local elected officials in areas where there are many Chinese people, they will use different occasions to extend New Year greetings to Chinese people and pay tribute to Chinese people who have made important contributions to American society. After New York State designated the Lunar New Year as a public holiday a few years ago, Chinese lawmakers in California and Washington, D.C., are also preparing to propose that the Spring Festival be a local public holiday. There are even calls in the Chinese community to make the Lunar New Year a national legal holiday in the United States as soon as possible.
Americans who like to join in the fun like to watch parades and set off fireworks, and naturally they will not miss the opportunity of the Spring Festival. Most Americans who celebrate the Spring Festival want to be happy with China culture and find a chance to taste China cuisine. There is also a situation worthy of attention: at present, thousands of American families adopt orphans from China every year. In order to make these children from China not forget their national culture, these families have become one of the most interested groups in the Spring Festival. Whenever the Lunar New Year comes, they decorate their homes with China-style decorations, such as Chinese knots, red lanterns and Spring Festival couplets. Many parents also buy Chinese clothes for themselves and their children to wear during the Spring Festival, and they also show unusual enthusiasm for various Spring Festival celebrations held by Chinese communities.
Englishman: "Congratulations on getting rich"
During the Spring Festival, many Chinese New Year things will be added to the streets of Britain. Non-Chinese restaurants will also add several "Special Meal Deals for Chinese New Year" (dishes specially prepared for China Spring Festival), and British newspapers will launch "China Week" to teach Chinese. The atmosphere of celebrating the Spring Festival is also everywhere in Britain. Take London as an example: on the first day of one year, 3, people (most of whom are not Chinese) shouted "Congratulations on getting rich" in unison in Trafalgar Square, London. At that time, the scene made all Chinese feel extremely proud. Celebrations such as dragon and lion dances, firecrackers, fireworks, costumes, parades and cultural performances are dizzying. There are also cultural performances and fireworks shows in the two squares. The London police turned all the relevant blocks into pedestrian streets, and the celebration that lasted for a whole day was unprecedented.
On this day, London was almost China-like, with happy children holding rattles and balloon pigs; Men and women who like China cuisine are crowded into Chinese food in Chinatown. In the city center, young people have used cameras, mobile phones and cameras to keep the beautiful images of dragon and lion dances; Some British people simply put on China's Tang suit ... London has become a city of China. Previously, London had held two Spring Festival lantern parades. Last year, 1, people took part in this activity, and its distinctive and rich cultural characteristics in China made the parade a great success.
Why does the Spring Festival have such a great influence in London? According to statistics, there are more than 8, Chinese in London, including more than 6,3 overseas students, who have provided indispensable basic support for China culture to settle in London. According to the data of the London Investment Authority, Britain is the country that receives the most direct investment from China in Europe, and about one third of China's investment in Britain is in London. In the past five years, the number of China people coming to London has increased by 45% every year, and their consumption has increased by 66%. Therefore, the Spring Festival in China has been paid special attention by the British government. The active participation of the mainstream society in Britain, the spread of China culture and the high enthusiasm of the British people have made the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival in China spread rapidly in Britain in recent years.
French: I sincerely love it
In recent years, with the increasing and frequent economic and cultural exchanges between China and China, the French people have become more and more familiar with the Spring Festival in. It is no exaggeration to say that the Spring Festival has quietly entered many French families, and the Spring Festival customs have become a part of their daily lives.
On the eve of the Spring Festival, all the streets and alleys in France are decorated with colorful flags. Not only the Chinese-inhabited areas, but also the Paris Municipal Square will be hung with red lanterns, and their eyes are full of jubilant red. The festive atmosphere of welcoming the new year is quite rich.
Carrefour and other well-known French supermarket chains will open special counters to sell China food on the eve of the Spring Festival, and dumplings are naturally well-deserved best-selling champions. Chinese restaurants will also usher in the annual peak of ordering food at this time. "French people like to spend the New Year with China people. On New Year's Eve, the restaurant must be full, and even make reservations in advance." Mr. Ye, the owner of a Chinese restaurant in the 15th arrondissement where the middle class in Paris gathers, said.
French people celebrate the Spring Festival not only out of curiosity about oriental culture or simply joining in the fun, but also because of their love and admiration for China culture. On the eve of last year's Spring Festival, former French President Jacques Chirac sent a message to all overseas Chinese living in France and Europe: "On February 18th, we will celebrate the traditional Chinese New Year in China." The simple word "we" undoubtedly shows President Chirac, a well-known "China hand", his recognition of the Spring Festival and China's traditional culture and customs. Other French politicians, including the current President Nicolas Sarkozy, have also said similar things.
Germans: They like greeting cards
Compared with the French people's high acceptance of the Spring Festival in China, the Germans show their moderation and prudence in this respect. What they hold is a curious but cautious attitude towards oriental culture and China Spring Festival. Strangely, German teenagers have a strong interest in the Spring Festival in China, and their parents are optimistic about it, even with some encouragement and support.
In recent years, whenever the Spring Festival comes, there will be a strong festive atmosphere on the streets of Germany. In the shopping malls in Berlin, colorful Chinese and German New Year cards are always prominently displayed on the eve of the Spring Festival. One kind of greeting card is favored by German customers because of its novel and beautiful design. The top left corner of the card cover is printed with two golden Chinese characters "Ping An", the bottom left corner is "Good luck, all goes well", and in the middle is the Chinese translation of western names written in Chinese regular script. When you open the greeting card, there is a flying phoenix on the left page and a German explanation of the cover name on the right. For example, the German name Christine means a beautiful woman who is good at thinking and thinking about others everywhere. At the bottom is the words of Confucius written in German: "Parents are here, don't travel far." On the back of the greeting card is the symbol of the Chinese nation-the dragon pattern.
On the eve of the Spring Festival, many Germans rushed to buy such greeting cards, or gave them to friends as a blessing, or collected them personally. German teenagers also like to exchange such greeting cards to show their individuality.
In addition, the Spring Festival in China also appears in the textbooks of German primary school students. In the English textbook of the fourth grade of primary school, there is a special lesson about the Spring Festival in China, which is taught just before the Spring Festival according to the teaching schedule. The teacher's curriculum is also quite interesting. After introducing the Spring Festival in China, each student is given a questionnaire printed with the zodiac "Congratulations on getting rich" and the chronology of the zodiac, so that students can deepen their understanding of the Spring Festival in China by answering questions.