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1、AComparisonbetweentheSpringFestivalandChristmasDayFestivalisaculturalphenomenon,whichhasbeenapartofmanypeople’slife.SpringFestivalandChristmasDayarerespectivelythemostsignificantfestivalsinChinaandtheAmerica.ThesetwofestivalsaretheessencesofthetraditionalChinesecultureandA
2、mericanculture.However,therehasbeendifferentculturalconnotationbetweentheSpringFestivalandChristmas.1TheoriginofthefestivalSpringFestivalisthemostchieftraditionalChinesefestival.Itshistoryspansover4000years.Itisintendedtobringhappinessandgoodluckinthecomingyear.Itoriginall
3、yfallsonJanuary1stinthelunarcalendar.Traditionally,theSpringFestivalbeginsfromaroundtendaysbeforetheLunarNewYearandlastsforfifteendays,thenitcomestoanendwhenLanternFestivalends.TherehasbeenmanytalesandmythsabouttheoriginoftheSpringFestival.InChinese,“GuoNian”meanscelebrati
4、ngtheSpringFestival.Accordingtothetale,“GuoNian”isthecelebrationofpeople’svictoryoverafiercewildbeastnamed“Nian”.Intheancienttimes,“Nian”wassaidtobethefiercestbeastintheworldthatpreyedonpeopleontheNewYearEve.Inthelongprocessoffightingwith“Nian”,peoplegottoknowitsweaknesses
5、,suchasfearofthecolorred,bigsoundsandflames.Therefor,peoplepastedredpaperontheirdoors,constantlybeatdrums,litfirecrackerstokeepNianaway.Nianfledandnevershowedupanymore,butthecustomswereretained.Accordingtoanothertale,theSpringFestivaloriginatedintheShangDynasty.EmperorYaot
6、ookthethroneandledpeopleto4worshiptheheavenandtheearth.Folksofferedsacrificestogodsandancestorsthatblessedagriculturalharvest.Afteralongtime,thisfunctionhasgreatlyweakenedandisbeingreplacedwithentertainmentandsocialinteraction.Christmasisareligiousholidaythatcommemoratesth
7、ebirthofJesusChrist.However,nobodyknowtheactualbirthdayofJesus.ThefirstmentionofDecember25thasthebirthdayofJesusoccurredinthe4thcenturyinanearlyRomancalender.AndthenChristmasisthefeastofthenativityofJesus.ThechurchchoseDecember25thforaChristianholydayinthehopeofgivingChris
8、tianmeaningtoexistingpagancelebrationsofthewintersolstice.Asaresult,manypagancustomsgradu
