Comparative Study of Cultural Values in Chinese and Western Traditional Festivals: A Case Study of The New Year’s Sacrifice and A Christmas Carol

Abstract

Traditional festivals serve as essential carriers of culture, embodying the values and life philosophies of specific peoples. This paper examines Lu Xun’s The New Year’s Sacrifice and Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol from the perspective of festive narratives. Utilizing Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory, it explores the differing perspectives on life, death, and religion reflected in Chinese and Western traditional festivals. The paper argues that Chinese festivals emphasize familial ethics, collectivism, and acceptance of fate, while Western festivals prioritize individual introspection, spiritual redemption, and transcendental faith. Through textual analysis and cultural interpretation, it reveals the deep cultural structures underlying these contrasting views on life and death and discusses their implications for contemporary cultural exchange.