How
should Foreigners Greet Chinese
Most ordinary Chinese residents in tourist cities open to foreigners
can speak a little bit of English. Therefore, a "Hello"
or "How do you do?" is acceptable to most of them. Of course,
a smile or a wave will also elicit a friendly response. At any rate,
a smile is a universal language that needs no translation.
Chinese are getting used to typical western greetings such as nihao
(hello) or jiandaoni hengaoxing (very nice to meet you). As for forms
of meeting, handshakes are popular in the cities.
Chinese normally do not embrace each other. Kissing, whether on the
cheeks or on hands, is usually unacceptable to the Chinese.
What
major Festivals do the Chinese Celebrate
-Spring Festival, the most important festival in China. All
people will come back home to meet family members.
-Lantern Festival: This falls on the 15th of the first lunar
month, an occasion for eating yuanxiao, or sweet dumplings made of
glutinous rice flour, hanging lanterns, visiting lantern shows, performing
the Dragon Lantern and Drum Dances.
-Pure Brightness Festival: This day falls around April 5 of
the western calendar, and it is named after the fifth solar term of
the Chinese calendar. Activities include excursions and tomb- sweeping.
-Dragon Boat Festiva: Falling on the fifth day of the fifth
lunar month, this festival was set aside in memory of the great poet
Qu Yuan, who drowned himself over 2,000 years ago after the emperor
refused to heed his remonstration. The main activity is Dragon Boat
racing. in the countryside, people also carry incense pouches, get
roped up, drink realgar wine and eat Zongzi (a pyramid-shaped dumpling
made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves).
-Double-Ninth Festival: This festival is named because it falls
on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. The main feature is chrysanthemum-admiring
the flower and drinking chrysanthemum wine. A special cake is also
served. in addition, many people go on excursions to lose themselves
in nature.
How Different are Chinese Customs from Western Ones
Take eating for example. Whether at home or in a restaurant, Chinese
will lay the emphasis on the food. Food leftover is a sign that the
host is generous and has gained "face" in front of guests.
in the West, however, a banquet is more for the atmosphere than for
food. "Seeing the bottom" of plates is an ideal ending to
a meal. That is to say, Chinese are more concerned about eating, while
Westerns care more about socializing. But now Chinese is considering
leftover is wasting.
Another noticeable difference can be seen in the way gifts are exchanged.
Most Chinese care more about the quality than the packaging of the
gift. They will insist on reject the gift. Furthermore, they will
wait until the guests have left to open the gift. Westerners, on the
other hand, care a lot about the packaging and usually open the gift
and admire it in the presence of the guest. But now Chinese is keep
open doors and will accept the gift with smile.
How
do Chinese Name Babies
Naming newborn babies is a great event. in the past, people believed
that the name of a baby had magical power on the destiny of the baby.
Therefore, the grandparents would brainstorm for an auspicious name.
A boy's name will contain meanings such as masculine, strong, noble,
honest and refined. A girl's name is given meanings such as pretty,
lovely and fragrant.
What
are the Red and White Festivals
In the past, wedding, funerals, and anniversaries were all called
"red and white festivals". A funeral was considered a "festival"
because death was considered a relief from suffering. Therefore, it
was a blessing for the dead and a solace for the living.
What's
Special about Chinese Folklore
Because of the vast territory and the diverse composition of the Chinese
nation, folklore varies from region to region. As early as in the
Han Dynasty over 2,000 years ago, it was recorded that "customs
varied within a distance of 50 kilometers". Over the long course
of history, the 56 ethnic groups living in China have each developed
their own customs in residence, food, clothing and decorations, marriage,
family, festivals, religions, morals, rites and ceremonies and taboos.
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