QixiFestivaltheChineseequivalentofValentine’sDaythatfellyesterdaywasnotonlyadisappointmentforforgottenloversbutalsoforbusinessmenleftwithemptypockets．Thecoldreceptionhaspromptedculturalexpertstoserio

　　QixiFestivaltheChineseequivalentofValentine’sDaythatfellyesterdaywasnotonlyadisappointmentforforgottenloversbutalsoforbusinessmenleftwithemptypockets．

　　Thecoldreceptionhaspromptedculturalexpertstoseriouslyworrythatthelovers’festivalmarkedforgenerationssincetheHanDynasty（206BC-AD220），isdyingout．Somehaveevencalledforlegislationtomakethefestivalalegal―ChineseLovers’Daywhichfallsontheseventhdayoftheseventhmonthofthelunaryear．

　　Buttheeffectivenessofsuchameasureisindoubtalthougheffortstopreservetraditionalfestivalsdeservehighlypraise．

　　AgrowingnumberoftraditionalChinesefestivalssuchastheDragonBoatFestivalandMid-Autumn

　　FestivalsharethesamefateoftheQixiFestival．

　　Youngpeopleareshowinglessinterestintraditionalcultureassymbolizedbythesefestivals．Evenifalltraditionalfestivalsarefinallymadelegaltheriskofthembecomingpurelyformalizedcelebrationswithlittlemeaningisnotremoved．Iftheyoungergenerationfailstoidentifywiththeculturalsignificanceoftheseholidaysthereislittlethatcanbedone．

　　Whilecomplainingabouttraditionalfestivals’fadingappealdecision-makersshouldreflectonculturalprotection.UndeniablyourcountryhasdoneabadjobofpreservingcultureandtraditionalfestivalscomparedtoneighbouringJapanandtheRepublicofKorea（ROK）．

　　The2500-year-oldDragonBoatFestivalfallsonthefifthdayofthefifthlunarmonth.ThetraditionalcustomsandceremoniesoftheoccasionwhichoriginatedinChinahavebeenbetterpreservedintheROK．

　　OnlyafewyearsagodidChinabegintorealizethesignificanceofpreservingintangible（无形的）culturalheritagewhentheROKplannedtoapplytotheUnitedNationsEducationalScientificandCulturalOrganizationtolistitsversionoftheDragonBoatFestivalasanimportantexampleofintangibleculture．

　　Concernaboutthetraditionalholidaysalsoremindspeopleofthegrowinginfluenceofforeignculturesasthecountryopenswidertotheoutsideworld.WithtraditionalfestivalsbecominglessimportantandimportssuchasChristmasandValentine’sDaygainingwidespreadpopularitythepublicincludingcultur