Western festivals are increasingly popular in China now, such as Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day. They are getting much more attention from youth nowadays.
Some people think that adopting a Western festival like Christmas is harmful to Chinese culture. The increasing celebration of Western festivals such as Valentine's Day and Christmas reflects the younger generation’s ignorance of or disrespect for traditional culture. Chinese people need to understand their traditional culture through observing the traditional festivals. Nowadays young lovers favor the romantic atmosphere of Valentine's Day, while they seem to take no interest at all in the Double Seventh Festival in China. Due to the attention given to these Western festivals, some traditional Chinese festivals have fallen into decline.
But at the same time it is noted that the youth like Western festivals most because they are more concerned about the human relationship and individual feelings. They can show their affections to their parents and lover passionately and directly which Chinese traditional holidays lack. It’s true that many Western festivals bear religious meaning, like Christmas, which is originally a Christian festival, it is now a cultural festival celebrated by everyone all over the world regardless of their beliefs. It reminds people that life is to be enjoyed and that family, friends, in fact all human beings, are to be appreciated. It gives us a chance to tell our family and friends how much we love them and appreciate them.