Culture is everywhere in our lives.
It can be reflected in the food we eat,
the clothes we wear,
the language we use,
the names we bear,
and the festivals we celebrate.
All these can be called cultural items.
By introducing these cultural items,
you can strengthen your cultural identity
and make people from other cultures
appreciate your cultural traditions.
Here are some tips to help you
introduce cultural items more effectively.
When introducing a cultural item,
we should first think about
the cultural values behind the item.
Cultural values refer to a set of beliefs
or convictions
that a community or society holds
as being common and important.
This makes it easier to explain
why this particular cultural item is significant to us.
For example,
the Spring Festival in China
reflects how Chinese people value family reunions.
Cultural values impose strong influences
on food choice
so dishes often have cultural significance as well.
In Episode 2,
for guoqiao mixian
from Yunnan Province in China,
it not only describes how this dish is made
but also tells a story with rich cultural information.
From the story,
we can see how the local people
appreciate the diligence of the scholar
and the wisdom of his wife.
It can also be useful to understand
other people's cultural background,
because if we can,
it would be better for us to relate
our cultural items
to similar items in their culture.
For example,
if you are going to introduce
the Tomb-Sweeping Day (清明节)
to people from Mexico,
you can relate it to the Day of the Dead (亡灵节).
Both festivals are in honor
of the people that have passed away.
In China,
people sweep the tombs of their ancestors,
leaving the dead their favorite food
and other offerings in the graveyard
and mourn the death.
While on the Day of the Dead in Mexico,
people remember their loved ones
in a joyful "celebration" of life and death.
It's believed by the Mexicans
that on that day the souls of the dead
would return to the living world.
Therefore,
the living people have parades
through the graveyard,
singing and dancing for their passing
family members to celebrate the returns.
Though both festivals show people's respect
for the dead,
the Tomb-Sweeping Day
is a day for mourning and memorial,
while the Day of the Dead
reflects a positive attitude to death.
Real feelings always touch people.
When introducing a cultural item,
you can share your own experiences,
feelings and memories related to the item
to arouse intercultural interest
and inspire the listener's empathy (共情).
For example,
when introducing the Spring Festival,
you can describe how your family
prepare the dishes together
for the reunion dinner on the eve.
You can also tell your listeners
how your mother prepares your favorite dish
several days beforehand,
just waiting for you to have a bite.
In this way,
your listeners will have a better understanding
of how Chinese people celebrate the Spring Festival
and value family reunions.
OK, that's all for today.
Have you got how to introduce
cultural items to others?
Try to take the responsibility
of introducing our culture to others
and at the same time
learn from other cultures.
Thank you for watching.
See you!