Modern social etiquette and eloquence

Chapter 28 Etiquette and eloquence of Chinese and foreign nationalities (1)
As the saying goes: "Do as the Romans do." The Chinese nation has always advocated unity, friendship, and mutual respect among all nations in the world. Knowing about taboos is conducive to mutual communication and understanding, and promotes peace and common progress.

[-]. Chinese folk festivals

China is a multi-ethnic country, and all ethnic groups have their own festivals. When these major festivals come, major activities are held to celebrate them.But in general, the festivals celebrated by all ethnic groups are as follows.

1. Spring Festival
The Spring Festival is the Lunar New Year in my country, and it is the most solemn and grand festival in China.It is in the slack season between autumn harvest and spring sowing. It is used to celebrate the harvest of previous years and pray for prosperity in the coming year.The folks call it "New Year". The name of "Spring Festival" began after the Revolution of 1913. In [-], Zhu Qizhen, the then Minister of Internal Affairs, said in a government report: "It is proposed that the New Year's Day of the Qing family's lunar calendar be the Spring Festival...all our citizens must rest."

Although "Spring Festival" refers to the Lunar New Year's Day, the New Year's activities start from the "send the stove" on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month (the twelfth lunar month).Every household contributes to the Stove King the sweet and very sticky stove candy.Legend has it that the Stove King reports his merits and demerits to the heavens on this day every year. On the [-]th night of the twelfth lunar month, he returns to bless or reduce disasters.

After sacrificing the stove, the courtyard of the home should be thoroughly cleaned, which symbolizes the removal of bad luck from the past, which is called "sweeping the year".Paper-cutting, hanging New Year pictures are also pasted, and Spring Festival couplets and the word "Fu" are pasted on the door to avoid evil and seek good luck.

New Year's Eve, also known as "New Year's Eve", is the day before the Spring Festival. It is the most important time during the Spring Festival. On this night, the Kitchen God will be brought back and the whole family will have a New Year's Eve dinner.There are also differences in the types of New Year’s Eve dinner in different regions. Most places are used to eating dumplings; some places are happy to eat noodles to wish longevity; Can't finish eating, to show "every year is more than enough"... The whole family is happy to observe the new year together, bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. Firecrackers), the festive atmosphere reached its climax.

On the first day of the new year, men, women and children will all wear new clothes, and the elders often distribute "lucky money" to children to wish them healthy growth.Government agencies, unit leaders, etc. usually organize group worship activities to wish employees well.

The second day of the Lunar New Year is the day when a married daughter returns to her natal home to pay New Year's greetings.Until the fourth day of the lunar new year, people are busy visiting relatives and friends, which is very lively; the fifth day of the new year is called "Bao Wu".Don't break the bowls and dishes during the festival. If you hit them, you must say "Sui Sui (Sui Sui) is safe".Taboos such as not being able to use scissors have now been lifted, shops are open, and farmers can start cooking again.

During the Spring Festival, temple fairs are organized in many places, and recreational activities with ethnic characteristics such as lion dance and stilt walking are held, which add a lot of rich content to people's festival.

2. Lantern Festival

"Yuan" means first, and "Xiao" means night.The Lantern Festival refers to the fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar calendar, which is the first full moon night of the year, so it is also a very grand day.Emperor Wen of the Western Han Dynasty officially established the "Lantern Festival" to celebrate the rebellion of Zhulu. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Ming, because of his advocacy of Buddhism, ordered the common people to hang lanterns to worship Buddha on this night. It is called "Shangyuan Festival" and "Lantern Festival".

On the 15th day of the first lunar month, people eat "Yuanxiao" or "Tangyuan".

On the evening of the "Lantern Festival", villages and towns are decorated with lights and festoons everywhere.Grand lantern festivals are held all over the country, and all kinds of ingenious lanterns make the night of the Lantern Festival extraordinarily splendid.In recent years, ice lanterns and garden tours have also sprung up in some cities in the north, adding to the splendor.In addition to the large-scale lantern festivals, every household also hangs colorful lanterns at the door.

While enjoying the lanterns, there is often the activity of "guessing lantern riddles", that is, to write riddles from all over the country into colored strips and tie them on the lanterns for people to guess for fun. people's knowledge.

During folk festivals, there will be "prosperity" (or "Lantern Festival" and "Stove Fire"). In spacious places, Taiping drums are played, Yangko dances are performed, stilts are walked, dry boats are run, and various songs and dances are performed, which is very lively.

3. Ching Ming Festival

Tomb-sweeping Day is the fifth of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. It usually falls around April 5th in the Gregorian calendar. At this time, the weather in most parts of my country is warming up, the air is fresh and the sun is shining. day.According to legend, in the Spring and Autumn Period, Chong Er, the son of Jin, went into exile in the state of Wei, where he was trapped and hungry.Jie Zitui, a loyal man under him, saw it, so he secretly cut off a piece of meat from his own thigh, roasted it for Chong'er to eat, and saved Chong'er's life.Later, when Chong'er returned home and ascended the throne, he became Duke Wen of Jin Dynasty, but Jie Zitui was omitted when he awarded the reward.Jie Zitui didn't resent. He carried his mother on his back and lived in seclusion in Mianshan, Shanxi.After Chong Er woke up, he immediately sent people to look for it, but he couldn't find it, so he set fire to the mountain, thinking that the filial Jie Zitui would definitely carry his mother out of the mountain.Unexpectedly, the mother and son had strong bones and would rather be burned to death than come out.Duke Wen of Jin was very regretful and sad, so he ordered that no fire be made on this day, and only cold food can be eaten, which is called "Cold Food Festival".

The main activities of Qingming Festival are tomb sweeping and outing.

In the old days, people went to the tombs of deceased relatives and friends to repair, worship, commemorate, and pray during the Qingming Festival; now, people often go to cemeteries, martyrs' tombs, and martyrs' monuments to conduct sacrifices and sweep activities to mourn and remember the martyrs and receive patriotic education.

Tomb-sweeping season, everything is in spring, people gather in groups to go outing in spring together to relax their muscles and bones. According to traditional customs, they also play on swings, fly kites, and plant willows and flowers. It is said that this can avoid evil and drive away evil spirits. It can predict the weather and eliminate disasters.

4. Dragon Boat Festival

The fifth day of the fifth lunar month is the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanyang Festival or May Festival.

In ancient times, people believed that May was a bad month, because the weather was getting warmer, "the five poisons are awakened, and there is no peace." The "five poisons" refer to scorpions, centipedes, poisonous snakes, toads, and geckos.Humid climates are prone to breed diseases, so people hang calamus, mugwort or garlic on the door during the Dragon Boat Festival, which is said to purify the air and drive away viruses.People wear sachets with realgar, wormwood and other medicinal materials inside. Adults drink realgar wine, while children rub the wine on their foreheads, ears, and noses, and hang five-color silk threads on their hands, feet, and necks. Avoid evil.

The habit of eating zongzi on the Dragon Boat Festival originated from commemorating the great patriotic poet Qu Yuan.According to legend, the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar is the day when Qu Yuan threw himself into the river. The people of Chu State could not find Qu Yuan's body, so they threw zongzi into the river, hoping that the dragons, fish and turtles in the water would eat the zongzi so as not to hurt Qu Yuan's body.This custom was passed down to later generations, and the habit of making and eating zongzi was formed.

Dragon boat racing is also an indispensable activity of the Dragon Boat Festival.It is said that King Goujian of Yue was defeated by the King of Wu. After suffering for several years, he returned to his motherland, trained his sailors on the fifth day of May, and wiped out the State of Wu in one fell swoop.To commemorate his victory, later generations choose young and strong young people to hold dragon boat races on this day every year.

There is also a saying that the Dragon Boat Festival is a sacrificial activity of the ancient nation in the clan society period, and dragon boat rowing is a kind of "totem sacrifice", and it is necessary to row boats while beating drums to worship gods.

No matter what kind of legend, the Dragon Boat Festival entrusts the Chinese nation's love for dragons and pride in being the descendants of dragons with integrity, as well as showing confidence in overcoming natural hazards.

5. Mid-Autumn Festival

The original name of Mid-Autumn Festival is "Zhongqiu", and "Zhong" means to be in the middle. The seventh, eighth, and ninth months of the lunar calendar are autumn, and the fifteenth day of the eighth month happens to be in the middle of autumn, so it is called "Zhongqiu".

"From the moon to the mid-autumn equinox, it is bright." Firstly, it is because the autumn is high and crisp, and the air is fresh. In addition, because it is around the autumnal equinox, the day and night are of equal length, and the moon is directly exposed to the sun, making it look round and bright, which is pleasing to the eye.

The full moon symbolizes the reunion of relatives and family, which is a unique aesthetic tradition of the Chinese nation.On the night of Mid-Autumn Festival, the whole family sits together to enjoy the moon, puts autumn crabs, pomegranates and candies, drinks, laughs, recites poems and paints, and spends the festive season together.

Eating moon cakes is also an indispensable custom. Moon cakes are round like the moon, also called "reunion cakes", which entrust people's good wishes and blessings.

Since ancient times, poets have often chanted the moon, "raise your head to look at the bright moon, bow your head to think about your hometown", "I hope you will live a long time, and you will share the beauty of the moon." Nowadays, people who are studying or traveling abroad have to write letters or call to greet their families during the Mid-Autumn Festival. I miss my family and hope to be reunited.

6. Other festivals
There are also traditional Chinese folk festivals such as the "Flower Festival" on February [-], the "Qiqiao Festival" on the seventh day of July, the "Double Ninth Festival" on the ninth day of September, and the "Laba Festival" on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.After the founding of New China, there were "New Year's Day", "March [-]th Women's Day", "May [-]st Labor Day", "May [-]th Youth Day", "[-]st Children's Day", "August [-]st Army Day", "Teacher's Day" and "May [-]st Labor Day". ", "National Day" and other new festivals, generally organize social celebrations.

The Chinese nation is a multi-ethnic family, and each ethnic group has its own unique festivals, such as the "Bird Hunting Festival" of the Yao nationality, the "Kao Festival" and "Song Market Festival" of the Zhuang nationality, the "Sisters' Festival" of the Miao nationality, and the "Water Splashing Festival" of the Dai nationality. Festival", "Eid al-Fitr" of the Hui people, "Modun Festival" of the Tibetan people, "Torch Festival" of the Yi and Bai people, "Nadam Festival" of the Mongolian people, etc. have an important position.

[-]. Social etiquette and taboos of ethnic minorities in China
China is a multi-ethnic country.The various ethnic groups in China have always advocated national unity, and all ethnic groups live in friendship and respect each other.With the economic and cultural exchanges and exchanges between various ethnic groups, we need to understand each other's customs, etiquette and taboos, which is conducive to mutual communication, understanding and promotion of unity.

1. Hui nationality
The Hui nationality is an ethnic group with the widest geographical distribution among the ethnic minorities in my country.Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and the adjacent areas of Gansu and Qinghai provinces are the most concentrated areas of Hui people.

The Hui people believe in Islam, and its religious rules and national customs have been integrated, mostly derived from the provisions of the Koran.The Hui people like to eat cattle, sheep, camel meat, chicken, duck and other poultry; they like to take a bath, and they must do small cleansing (that is, wash the face, hands and feet) or big cleansing (that is, wash the whole body) before each prayer. All mosques have baths room.The Hui people love cleanliness very much, and pay special attention to the cleanliness of water sources. Livestock are not allowed to drink from wells and springs for human consumption, and no one is allowed to wash their hands or wash clothes nearby.

The most important taboo of the Hui people is not to eat pork, not to sit with people who eat pork, and even taboo about anything and topics related to pigs.At the same time, horses, donkeys, mules, dog meat, ferocious animals and fish without scales are also forbidden, and the blood of all animals and self-dead things are forbidden.

Hui people must wear hats when they go out, and avoid showing their tops; Hui people have a tradition of respecting their elders and avoid speaking rudely.

The traditional festivals of the Hui people include Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and Shengji Festival, all of which are religious festivals.October 10st in the Islamic calendar is the Eid al-Fitr. Both men and women bathe, dress up, fry "oily fragrance", prepare brown sugar and scented tea, and go to the mosque to attend worship; , People want to slaughter the animals they like to eat, entertain guests or give them away; during the holy season, people go to the mosque to commemorate Muhammad, the founder of the religion.

2. Mongolian

The Mongolian people are a hospitable, simple and unrestrained people who are good at singing and dancing. The Mongolian people respect the elders, and they have to bend down or kneel on one leg to receive gifts.The Mongolians respect their guests very much, and there are several etiquettes for meeting guests, such as presenting hada, handing snuff bottles, filling cigarettes and greeting guests.When offering a khata, you should hold it with both hands and bow your body forward, and the recipient should also adopt the same posture.Distinguished guests are treated this way, and they often enjoy the hospitality of whole sheep banquets.

Gifts to Mongolians must not be rejected casually, they must be accepted and expressed gratitude.Mongolians like to eat dairy products, meat, milk tea and fried rice.Even if you are not used to their traditional food, you cannot refuse it. You can taste it symbolically and nod your head in praise, which is in line with their national etiquette.

Go to the yurt of the Mongolian people as a guest, and the children have to walk around to the yurt before dismounting.After entering the door, men need to walk from the right to sit under the altar, while women must walk from the left. It is taboo to sit mixed with men and women.

Mongolians believe in Tibetan Buddhism (ie Lamaism). "Nadam Conference" is the biggest annual festival, often held in July and August.There will be archery competitions, as well as horse racing, wrestling, song and dance performances, etc. The scene is grand and lively.

3. Uighur
The Uyghurs are the main ethnic group in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, accounting for about 46% of the population of the autonomous region, mainly living in southern Xinjiang.The Uighurs believe in Islam and avoid pork, donkey, dog, mule, and camel meat. In southern Xinjiang, horse meat and pigeon meat are also forbidden.

The religious customs and taboos of the Uighurs are similar to those of the Hui people.

Uighurs are very particular about etiquette, and they must give way to the elders first when walking, talking, sitting, and eating.The etiquette of meeting is usually to press your right hand on your chest, bow your body forward and take a half step back to greet: "Aximses!" Do not use one hand when accepting gifts, especially the left hand; do not spit or blow your nose when talking , yawning, etc.; tea generally has a special cup.The same is true for other supplies, which cannot be tampered with without permission.Uighurs don't sleep with their heads in the east and feet in the west.

"Pilaf" is a unique eating habit of the Uighurs. It is a food full of flavor that is fried with beef and mutton, vegetables and dried fruits, and then cut into rice.Wash your hands 3 times before meals, dry them with a cloth, sit cross-legged on the mat when eating, put the pilaf into a large plate, and eat with your hands.Kebabs are a world-renowned snack that Uighurs are proud of.

The Uyghurs are known as the "Nation of Song and Dance". Almost everyone can dance, with graceful postures, brisk or enthusiastic, which fully embodies the passionate and unrestrained national style.The more popular ones are Daolang dance, Sai Naim dance, Sama dance and so on.

4. Tibetan
Tibetans are a nation with a long history. They first lived in the Yarlung Zangbo River area of ​​Tibet, and later spread to Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan and other places.Tibetans are upright, sincere, and loyal. The plateau environment and nomadic life have formed their unique living customs and etiquette.

Tibetans believe in Tibetan Buddhism, and the main festivals are Tibetan New Year and Wangguo Festival.After the death of Tibetans, "sky burial" is practiced. At that time, there will be special celestial burial masters chanting sutras to save the dead.

When Tibetans meet each other, they are used to stretch out their hands, palms up, and bow to salute.Some Tibetans have the habit of sticking out their tongues. If we meet them, we should smile and nod in return.When meeting and treating distinguished guests for the first time, Tibetans will present a pure white hada, hold it up with both hands, and hold it high above their heads.The wider and longer the hada, the more respectful it is.

Tibetans must treat their guests with buttered tea.According to the local custom, the guest drinks the tea in the cup to express that he does not want to drink any more; if he wants to continue drinking, there is only a little left in the cup.

Tibetans are taboo about others covering their noses in front of them.It is extremely disrespectful to fart indoors.When there are patients or pregnant women at home, it is taboo for strangers to enter.

The staple food of the Tibetans is tsampa, they like to drink buttered tea, and eat beef, mutton and dairy products, which are rich in variety.Tibetans are fond of drinking and smoking.

Tibetan youth can fall in love freely.When a man courts, he takes away the girl's hat and returns it after a few days. If the girl agrees, she accepts it, and if she doesn't agree, she doesn't want the hat.When a girl courts, she presents the accessories she wears as a gift, and the man expresses his willingness if he accepts it.

5. Other ethnic minorities
There are many ethnic groups in our country. When interacting with friends of ethnic minorities, you must pay attention to their ethnic taboos, and don't offend or hurt the other party's feelings.

The Manchus taboo eating dog meat and wearing dog fur hats.Because it is said that in ancient times, a Manchu was in danger and was rescued by a righteous dog, so there is this taboo.It is forbidden to sit on the Xikang (bed) in the Manchu family, because that is the direction of worshiping the ancestors.

Koreans are not allowed to drink or smoke in front of their elders; Koreans do not like to eat mutton, fatty pork, river fish, and sweet and peppery dishes.

The Kazakhs are very particular about cleanliness and sanitation. Guests are not allowed to sit on the bed of the owner or elders, let alone lie down; guests are tabooed from sitting on the right side of the stove; guests are tabooed from saying their children are fat; Dismount only in front of the door, because this is only possible when reporting a funeral.

The Tajiks are very polite, and guests on horseback must dismount behind the yurt.Don't dismount at the door of the house; don't take off your hat when talking.

The Bai people should bring the word "A" when addressing people; it is forbidden to pour tea for guests.Bai people advocate "six", and they must bring six when giving gifts.

The Dong people have the custom of treating guests with camellia oleifera.When serving tea, the host said that the guests can only eat after the guests are invited, and only one chopstick can be used when eating.You must eat more than 3 bowls of camellia oleifera, otherwise it is impolite: if you don’t add more, put the chopsticks horizontally on the bowl.

The Hezhen people are forbidden to step over the fire or speak ill of the fire. To put out the fire, they must first say: "Please move the feet of the god of fire."

Wa people are taboo to hang things on the pillars in the middle of the house; taboo to bring green items such as bamboo leaves into the house; taboo to touch other people's heads and ears; taboo to give ornaments and cigarettes to unmarried girls.

The Dai people resent others whistling or cutting their nails in their house.

The Hani people resent others from borrowing furniture from the mother's home.

The Jingpo people are taboo to shake a sleeping person by hand.

The Xibo people are taboo to eat dog meat.

The Oroqen people are taboo to say the names of their elders and the dead.

It is taboo for Nu people to refuse gifts and food.

Achang people are taboo for men to hold women's shoulders.

The Blang people are taboo to pass in front of others or step over their legs while walking.

When the Benglong people meet, men are taboo to pat their shoulders, and women are taboo to touch Baotou.

[-]. Social etiquette and taboos in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan

With the return of Hong Kong and Macau and the development of the political and economic situation, we have more and more contacts with compatriots in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan in our daily lives. Understanding their social customs and taboos will help us to communicate more deeply with each other.

1. Food etiquette in Hong Kong and Macau
Hong Kong and Macau are located at the estuary of the Pearl River. Due to their geographical environment, historical reasons, and social characteristics, their customs and customs have both the local characteristics of Guangdong and the characteristics of Western countries such as Britain and Portugal.

Compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao are very particular about food, and there is a saying that "eat in Hong Kong".The diet is mainly based on Cantonese cuisine, which emphasizes color and aroma, and pays attention to cooking techniques. It has the characteristics of "raw, crisp, fresh, light, and tender".Because it is close to the sea, people in Hong Kong and Macau are taboo to turn over the side. It is said that it indicates that fishermen will capsize.Drink the first glass of wine to be dry, and then take a sip each time.Putting oranges means that the banquet is over, guests can eat or take a little, but don't stay on the table for too long.

2. Digital taboos in Hong Kong and Macau
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