Chinese Culture and Modern Life (Festivals)

1. Chinese Culture and Modern Life(Festivals) Form 5 Liberal Studies 2013-2014

2. Learning Activity 1 • Holidays in PRC and Hong Kong • Compare Sources A and B, what are the similarities and differences of the holidays between PRC and Hong Kong in 2014? • (Hint: what are the characteristics of the holidays in HK?)

3. Suggested Answers • Similarities • Both PRC and HK have traditional Chinese festive holidays such as Lunar New Year holidays, Ching Ming Festival and Mid-Autumn Festivals with very special way of celebration (e.g. Lai See, Rice Dumpling) • Chinese people will take the chance to have a ‘good’ meal with family members and we usually treat this as a priority, especially for Lunar New Year • Some holidays also carries special meaning to Chinese, e.g. Lunar New Year is for the family members & relatives to meet, Ching Ming Festival is a chance for grave-sweeping to memorize our ancestors and show filial piety

4. Suggested Answers • Similarities • International holidays such as Labour Day was available in PRC and HK • Due to the takeover in 1997 for HK, National Day was available for PRC and HK (1 October)

5. Differences • Hong Kong holidays comprised characteristics of both traditional Chinese culture such as Ching Ming Festival and Mid Autumn Festival and westernized ones (colonial history) such as Christmas and Easter • The Birthday of Buddha was recently included in order to respond to the increasing request of various parties in the societies.

6. Learning Activity 2 • Think about your most preferred festive holidays in Hong Kong. • Complete and discuss with your group mates.

7. Learning Activity 3 • It was generally considered that Western festivals are imposing threat to the popularity of Chinese festivals • Quote some examples • Discuss the factors in terms of the following aspects • Economic • Social (e.g. education) • Cultural

8. Examples • Even carrying similar meaning or background, western festivals are more popular than Chinese ones, especially among young generation • E.g. Halloween vs Ghost Festivals, Valentine’s Day vs Chinese Valentine’s Day

9. Economic Factor • Reform and opening up, joining WTO  economic activities will enter into China together with cultural activities • Chinese people are also curious about the western culture • Festivals is one of the presentation of Chinese culture and thus also faces challenges/threat by the increased exposure to western culture

10. Popularity of Western festivals was also largely established by the intensive advertising and promotion • Valentine’s Day, Christmas or even Halloween are also very popular and well received by young generation • Examples such as the full booking by restaurants are being witnessed

11. Social Factors • Learning English is more popular in the education system in China, especially among young generation • Knowing more about the Western festivals • Internet – exposure to the global culture

12. Cultural • The differences between Western and Chinese festivals can be: • Chinese – more relating to culture such as seasonality (節氣) , celebration (慶賀), offering sacrifice (祭祀) • Western – young people may prefer the style as they would like to have some fun in the activities, e.g. flowers and chocolates in Valentine’s Day, taking a chance to show the love and care in a romance way

13. Cultural • They do not care too much about the meaning (文化內涵) of the western festivals. E.g. good food, nice decoration and presence will be a happy occasion for most young generation at Christmas • Lunar New Year – just watching TV, meeting relatives (not very familiar) of their parents, eating Chinese radish cakes are not that enjoyable

14. Cultural • The modern way of presentation – more explicit among young people, e.g. presenting flowers in Valentine’s Day instead of an implicit way of Chinese one (guessing the lantern riddles 猜燈謎) • The story of some Chinese festivals are not too good, e.g. separation of lovers in 七夕節 • The atmosphere is also frightening, e.g. ghost festivals(Unlike Halloween)

15. Traditional Tomb-sweeping

16. Modern Tomb-sweeping

17. Learning Activity 4 • Discussion : Ancient Chinese Graveyard Ritual Goes Online ?

18. Agree • Eco-friendly • Meeting modern ‘busy’ life • Much lower cost of ‘funeral’ plots (high land cost) • online memorial also paying respects to ancestors by burning virtual incense and pouring virtual tea. • Should treat ancestors (or parents) well when they are with us, not after-death

19. Agree • Geographical consideration for China: a convenient way for Chinese working faraway from home to pay their respects without having to travel.

20. Disagree • Traditionally, it is a ritual used to appease and show respect to deceased ancestors and loved ones. Families would get together to visit grave sites with food and wine. They would sweep and clean the grave marker, burn some incense offer a quick prayer and burn some paper money or tokens.  not showing respect to ancestors by going online; should pay efforts in showing the respect • Also a chance to group family members together • Contradictory to filial piety  not showing respect

21. Extended Articles • Teachers to go through key ideas on: • Article1 : “ 傳統節日假日化的意義“ (2008) • Article 2: “傳統節日，如何“對接”現代？ “ (2007)

22. Q&A