Spirit Comparison between the Tomb Sweeping Day And Halloween

Abstract: The festival is an unique carrier of traditions, deeply reflecting the national traditions, beliefs, ideas, thinking modes, aesthetic sentiment and cultural value orientation. It also shows the nation's most outstanding and unique side. There are obvious differences between China and the American holidays. Chinese festival mainly comes from agricultural civilization, while American holiday originates from religions as well as others concerned. It will be more favorable to improve cross-cultural communication by further understanding values embodied in life through national cultural festivals and customs. Therefore, my thesis focuses on the comparative study at the different festivals in China and American, especially at the Tomb Sweeping Day and Halloween. The first part

 studies the cultural differences between China and the United States,The second part is about the different origins of Chinese and American culture.The third part is about the significance of culture .Based on the above analysis of festivals at home and abroad, my thesis attempt to illustrate cultural differences in Chinese and American festivals, and thus can achieve the purpose of promoting cross-cultural communication.

Key words: cultural background；Origin of the festival；Similarities and differences in customs ；Connotation of the festival ； Inheriting the culture

摘要：节庆是传统的独特载体，反映出一个民族的传统、信仰、观念、思维方式、审美情操和文化价值取向，展示了一个民族最突出，最具特色的一面。中国和美国的节日存在明显的差异，中国的节日主要来源于农耕文明，美国的节日组要来源于宗教及相关事件。了解各国的节日及其民俗所体现的价值观，更有利于促进跨文化的,因此，本文将通过对比研究，以中美传统节日为研究对象，尤其是对清明节和万圣节的对比研究，第一部分研究中美文化差异，第二部分讲述中美文化的不同起源，第三部分讲述文化的意义。探讨中美节日中存在的文化差异，进而达到促进跨文化交流的目的。

关键词：文化背景 节日起源 习俗异同 节日内涵 传承文化

1.Introduction to the Differences Culture between China and America

Chinese culture has always been an indispensable part of Eastern culture. Throughout history, Chinese culture has become the strongest voice of the world. In Ming and Qing Dynasty, the Chinese civilization has gradually lost her past glory, especially after the Opium War. If China's near modern history can be explained by " The prosperous agricultural civilization is unable to compete with the new industrial civilization ", then we go into a new China, into a new society, since the reform and open-up, When western culture is becoming a dominant culture in an aggressive trend, we have to be anxious about The living space of traditional culture. As a carrier of Chinese traditional festival, is to be strongly influenced by various Western festivals. As the popularity of Christmas, another example is the traditional Tomb Sweeping day may be replaced by Western Hallowee, today's young people do not even want to admit their ancestral lineage. It is difficult to explain, in front of the western festival, why the Chinese profound traditional festival can’t resist cultural invasion

2. The Origin of Halloween and its Customs

Western holidays have rich fashion elements, having the increasing permeability, praised highly by young people. The feeling just like drinking a cup of cola , is exciting and very enjoyable, which gives a strong sensory stimulation. Chinese traditional festival has a rich cultural heritage, a long history, which likes a cup of tea, delivering a lingering aftertaste, which only can be tasted after experiencing different experiences. However, for most vigorous young people, the traditional festival's disadvantages are obvious. On this occasion, that traditional festivals are in such situation is not surprising. 

In the limited literature data, we learned that the Halloween originated from the Celtic Samhain. In ancient Celtic beliefs, the New Year began on November 1, also known as Samhain, symbolizing the beginning of a new year, but also a symbol of a new day. The annual harvest festival began in the evening on October 31. Celts believed that the god of death Samhain will return to the Earth together with the ghost in the evening on October 31 and to find a substitute.

3.1 Elven Blót

There also has a tradition originated from Norway Christian Holy Spirit Festival. In ancient legends (Norway religion) and now restored traditional research “Ásatrú” mentioned, Halloween was a day of sacrifice holiday blót, slaughtered cattle to sacrifice elves, offerings of food with a blessing.

A poem about the year 1020, Sigvart Þorðarson of Austrfaravísur "Orient Travel Poetry Eastern-journey verses" have this record. The author is a Christian, had refused a pagan in Sweden, where lodging, but also because "Fairy sacrifice" is being held there. But we have more reliable information about the " fairy sacrifice " content. However, like other ritual sacrifice that we have a link dedicated to food, then the Scandinavians also retained animals sacrifice goblin tradition. In terms of the time，we can guess ceremonial nature of these sacrifices is to pay homage to ancestors, and pray for a flourishing population.

There are some customs of Halloween originated from witchcraft and superstition. For example, it dug a large pumpkin face, it said from a man named Jack, because  his behavior is extremely bad, after he die, the heaven or hell do not accept, he had to wander around, he finds a radish and emptied it, put some red burning coal, to find a way in the dark. In addition, Halloween costumes originated from Yin festival rituals, participants scrapping livestock and livestock covering with skin. Also, the participants put on a variety of masks originally in order to avoid evil spirits.

A lot of people and even the people of the East know some habit of Halloween. Since seventeenth Century, the traditional way to celebrate Halloween has gradually disappeared in the southern part of England. It was replaced by the gunpowder plot Memorial in November 5th. However, in the north of England, Scottish are still preserved these traditional celebration. Until recent decades, southern England was gradually restored to celebrate Halloween, but completely Americanized. On the eve of Halloween in October 31st, the streets can be seen everywhere in some performances and magic, lifelike zombies and ghosts, as well as a variety of horror movies show.

Carnival is the origin of this event around 500 BC. People living in Ireland and Scotland, believe that the spirits of the deceased person's will one day return to this place of residence before his death on October 31to get the opportunity to regenerate. Local residents fear that the ghost is to capture his own life, so when the arrival of October 31, all the lights will go out, so that the ghost cannot find the living and dress up as ghosts and goblins to scare away ghosts.

3.2The Origin of Halloween Customs

With the time passing by, the meaning of Halloween has gradually become a good and meaningful festival.today the symbol of Halloween monsters and pictures,has become lovely and funny.for example pumpkin monsters,and witches .Americans love their creativity. On that day all Americans will dress up like a ghost, so that the holiday has become more interesting.

 " Jack-O' Lantern " looks very cute, the practice is hollowed out the pumpkin, outside engraved smiling eyes and a big mouth, and then in pumpkin inserted in the middle of a candle, lit candles, people far away can see the smiling face.

After the kids dressed up, holding their" Jack-O'Lantern", they will run to neighbors' doors, shouting "trick or treat." If adults do not give different candies, coins to them, those naughty children will say: You do not treat me, I'll make fun of you. They sometimes in the soap painted on the doors, or other people's cats painted colors. These small prank make adults feel funny. Of course, most people are very happy for these innocent little guests. So on Halloween night, the children are always full of food,Their pockets are also full of candy. 

In Halloween, the participation of all spirits made Halloween added a lot of illegal lottery tickets, such as pumpkin lights, no head knight, ghouls, ghosts and many small ghost monster.

Like Manson "This is Halloween" in which they sing:

“Boys and girls of every age

Wouldn’t you like to see something strange

(Siamese shadow): Come with us and you will see

This, our town of Halloween”

Indeed, Halloween has been popular, whether no one will forget that October 31 is the beginning of Halloween, which marks the end of the year, also marks the arrival of the New Year. Those ghosts are free-displaced to return to their homeland, little children happy to spend the day at the festival.

For example, the American director John Carpenter directed the movie "Halloween." The film with Halloween as the background, put aside the film in the bloody and confused, carefully think about it, if not the popular Halloween, the director will be the main background of Halloween, but also a continuous shooting of ten? This is the charm of Halloween!

4. The custom and Introduce of The Tomb Sweeping Day

However, as Chinese people, we can not forget the memory of our history. China also has a similar traditional festival： April 5 Tomb Sweeping Day.

Han Yu said, "The folk custom will soon change." ,Su Shi said before, "The length of life is his spirit. The country depends on the social customs." Visible as the foundation and the essence of traditional culture, there is a close relationship between the quality of the country's prosperity and customs. If the traditional culture is a crown, folklore is the jewel in the crown, then t he traditional festival is the biggest and brightest of the jewel. We must as soon as possible and strive to make the traditional festival splendor, make the traditional culture inheritance.The Tomb sweeping day is a combination of sadness and happiness. 

4.1Custom

The customs of the Tomb Sweeping Festival are very interesting. We should pay attention to some special customs like the fire ban, grave, hiking, swinging and playing soccer on that day. According to legend, because during the Tomb sweeping day, people only eat cold foods, can’t use fire, in order to prevent the body from cold food,so a lot of people take part in sports activities, and take exercises. The Tomb Sweeping Day has several important meanings. But the most important is about the meaning of the life. The Tomb sweeping day is to memorize the late life, stimulate existing life, commemorate their own deceased and express our thanks to ancestors. Secondly, the festival is also a "festival of life". It aims to meet and expand the vitality of nature. And Chinese traditional festivals are transformed by the nature of the festival, from the natural to the human, "natural rhythm and, Yun humanistic spirit and abundant". Whenever we can not abandon traditional culture, it is important not to discard the core of traditional culture, according to the life science that is the "gene" can not be changed.

4.2 Traditional Foods

In this festival, we are the same as the west to use of the corresponding food to eat , such as” Sweet Green Rice Ball , Qingming Guo and other cold food. It looks like dumplings in shape, but tastes different from dumplings. The wrapping materials of “Qingming guo” are squeezed worm wood, rice and glutinous rice. Finally, it is stuffed with bean filling and cooked by steaming.instead of sweet fillings, people also use diced bacon, dried bamboo shoot, diced mushroom and dried bean curd.

4.3Festival of Traditional Memorial Activities

Traditional memorial activities during that day are:

Playing on a swing is an ancient custom of Chinese Tomb sweeping day. Play on the swing we can hold leather cord and  shake the swing. It has a long history, the earliest is called Chiaki.The ancient swing, most tree twigs as a scaffold, then bolt on the ribbon. Then it developed into a rope with two plus pedal swing. Swing can not only improve health, but also can develop courage, So far for people, especially being loved by children.

Cuju is a ball, leather ball made of leather, wool plugged in the balls. Cuju looks like soccer playing it with feet. In ancient Tomb sweeping day people enjoy playing a game.it is said that it was invented by Yellow Emperor ,the original target was to train soldiers..

Treading on the greenery: Also known as spring outing. In ancient times called the spring tour and so on. Tomb sweeping day in March, Spring returns to the good earth. Chinese have maintained the habit of Qing ming outing for a long time.

Kites: People love to fly kites during the tomb sweeping day. Kite flying is actually not limited to the tomb sweeping day.. In the past, some people fly a kite on the sky, then cut lines, and let the wind put the kites sent to the ends of the earth. It is said to be able to get rid of the disease and bring good luck to yourself.

It is the ancestral grave. " Reverence for  lose." Its custom has a long history. QingMing sweep graves (commonly known as " Shangfen grave"). The traditional folk custom of Wuxi is more representative

. when visit people’s grave ,people have to pick some new scholar in a heap on the grave, and all the new grave must be sweeped before the Tomb Sweeping Day, the old grave can be sweeped after  that day, but must done before the beginning of summer

 The new wife must go to sweep the graves, commonly known as "Shang Hua Fen". When sweep the grave, people want to use meat dishes, vegetable dish and wine, meal etc. to the memorial. Later, people only use dried fruit cake and other alternatives

 Today, in the martyrs cemetery, cherish the memory of revolutionary martyrs has become a very important content in Tomb-sweeping Day

. In worship Yan Di, Huang Di and their ancestors at the same time, and cherish the memory of martyrs of the great achievements. All these make today's Tomb Sweeping Day activity have a more important educational significance.Today, the rave has become an importance element of the Tomb sweeping day. Aestors at the same time and cherish the memory of martyrs of the great achievements. All these make today's Qingming activity have a more important educational significance.

The door willow and wear willow cap 

Tomb Sweeping Day, inserted wicker in the house next to the door. In some areas, it has become popular with the custom of children wearing willow caps.

This custom is based on sources meson vertebral legend. It is said to be dead in the vertebral meson willow below. Meson vertebral second year after the death of Duke Wen led ministers to” Mianshan memorial”, a pedestrian first Cold Food day in the mountain, the mountain the next day. Willow tree has sprouted green twigs. Duke Wen watched, hearts suddenly have a sense, he stepped forward, pinch a hint, into a circle with their heads. Followers of the subjects read, have also followed his Willow plug. Duke Wen put the willow tree on the Ching Ming Liu, this day as the festival.