本研究的目的在於探討國定假日政策、活動與儀式的形成與變化,與其影響全民集體記憶的過程。研究採用歷史文獻資料比較法,分析台灣自民國39年至99年期間國定假日的變化狀況。研究發現,國定假日裡包含對「偉人」的崇拜與緬懷的情緒,隨著時光流逝,終將轉為一種愛國精神表現的心靈動源;然而,由政治與宗教力量操控國定假日集體記憶的創製並非全然能夠隨心所欲,我國自李登輝執政開始,全面性的「假日顛覆」現象於焉展開。影響變化的力量包括幾種相互抗衡的因素,包含經濟因素、政黨意識與休閒文化。在此三大因素對國定假日的變遷扮演要角之際,不變的是文化傳統的因素。這三種抗衡力量本身崛起於社會變遷,也反映了社會變遷。在休閒權力意識的自覺、經濟成長、以及全球文化快速流通的影響下,國定假日的時空場域開始嘗試走出政治與宗教設定的假日框架,不同的力量在國定假日詮釋權力正當性的爭奪中,運用假日本身的特質與其特殊的時空場域,創製出於行動者自身有利的集體記憶。
This study aims to investigate the changes and trends for the official policies, celebration activities, and ceremonies of national holidays in Taiwan over the period from 1950 to 2010. The interactions and confrontations among competing authorities in defining the time and space for national holidays, and the process by which they influence Taiwanese people's collective memory are further studied. The method applied is literature review and historical analysis.The results showed that there are competing forces in the pursuit of legitimacy, including economic, ideological, as well as social ones. They are the driving factors in the changes and development of national holidays. They result from and also reflect social changes. It is also clear that the ”the holiday overset phenomenon” has started since the Lee Deng Huei period. The findings suggested that the formation and development of Taiwanese national holidays' are the consequences of struggles between political and other social powers. Utilizing the uniqueness and the special sphere of time and space, politicians and other groups co-construct a collective memory that serves their own interests. There are affinities between national holidays and religions, as the legitimacy of their existence, activities and ceremonies all come from the ”sacred canopy” provided by the belief system.