摘　 要

传统节日在长期的演变和发展中，已经成为民族文化不可或缺的一部分，透过传统节日可以反映一个民族的文化特色和民族精神。中国和美国的传统节日的起源都显示出共通之处，大多来自于当地的农业生产生活，是民族固有的一种文化特色和民族精神的标志。但两国的历史、文化差异明显，各自影响了传统节日的发展：中国的传统节日根植于农耕文化，演变过程中受儒家思想影响，体现了儒家和合思想中欢庆祥和的一种文化状态；美国因宗教地位崇高，影响巨大，其传统节日多为基督教产物，呈现出浓厚的宗教文化。本文以中美传统节日蕴涵的文化为基础，继而分析两国的文化差异。另外本文也探讨了中西方传统节日的相互融合。随着经济全球化趋势的加剧，中国与世界其他国家的交流日益频繁，在人们的社会交往中，尤其是跨文化的交往中，就会常常产生误会或者不理解。传统节日对于一个国家文化，具有很大的影响，因此，了解他们的传统节日的来源、庆祝方式等，做到入乡随俗，对于跨文化交际很重要，可以成功避免产生交际失误，有助于跨文化交际顺利进行。

关键词：传统节日；中美；文化差异；根源

Abstract

After the long-term evolution, traditional festivals have become an indispensable part of a national culture. Through traditional festivals, the distinct cultural characteristics of a people and the national spirits can be observed. The origin of the traditional festivals in China and the United States show similarities. They are mostly from local agricultural production and are inherent in the people a symbol of cultural characteristics and national spirit. But the history and the cultural differences of these two countries are significant. They affect the development of traditional festivals of their own country. Chinese traditional festivals rooted in the culture and the evolution under the influence of Confucian thought, embodied in the Confucian thought of harmony and celebrated a culture of peace. Religion in the United States is respected highly and affected widely. Traditional festivals in the United States mostly are for Christian products, showing a strong religious culture.
This paper analyzes cultural differences between China and the the United States, based on the implication of traditional festival culture. It also explores the mutual fusion of Chinese and western traditional festivals. Along with the economical globalization tendency aggravating, Chinese and other countries in the world communicate more and more frequently. Communication in people’s society, particularly in intercultural communication can have the misunderstanding. The traditional holiday for a national culture has the very tremendous influence, therefore, knowing their traditional holiday origin, the celebration way and so on are very important regarding the intercultural communication. It may succeed in avoiding the failure in communication.

Key words: traditional festivals; Sino-US ; cultural differences; root