Abstract:The field of cross-cultural study has always been a major research topic in foreign language study. Knowing the importance of culture difference is the first and foremost part in the practice of foreign languages. The purpose of this dissertation is to find out how does culture affect traditional festivals in the comparison of Chinese and British culture. The conclusion is based on the result of the desk research and analysis of the origins and customs of Chinese and British traditional festivals, which presents the factors that cause the development of different culture. Results of the study side with the view of previous research that the existence of culture difference between China and the United Kingdom is inevitable due to the influence of different culture backgrounds, which leads the difference in forming the origins and celebrations of traditional festivals. 

　　　The results indicate that more attention should be paid to preserve the elite of our own culture. While we learning foreign cultures, we should try our best to protect our tradition from getting lost in the place of the world’s culture variety. 

Key words: cross-cultural study; traditional festivals; notions; comparison

中文摘要:跨文化交流一直是外语学习研究的主要部分，了解中西文化差异是运用外语的必备条件。本文的主要目的是以中英文化为例，探索文化如何对传统节日造成影响。本文从传统节日文化的起源和习俗展开中英文化的对比，通过文献研究和资料分析法探讨造成中英传统节日庆祝方式差异的原因。研究结果与以往成果相一致：中英文化差异不可避免，受不同文化背景的影响， 传统节日的起源和庆祝方式也存在差异性。

　　　研究结果对生活在文化全球化时代人们的启示是：节日文化交流应求同存异，国人在学习外国文化的同时应不忘维护本国特色传统文化在世界多样文化中的地位。

关键词：跨文化研究、传统节日、观念、差异对比