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unit1FestivalsandcelebrationsFestivalsandcelebrationsofallkindshavebeenheldeverywheresinceancienttimes.Mostancientfestivalswouldcelebratetheendofcoldweather,plantinginspringandharvestinautumn.Sometimescelebrationswouldbeheldafterhuntershadcaughtanimals.Atthattimepeoplewouldstarveiffoodwasdifficulttofind,especiallyduringthecoldwintermonths.Today'sfestivalshavemanyorigins,somereligious,someseasonal,andsomeforspecialpeopleorevents.FestivalsoftheDeadSomefestivalsareheldtohonourthedeadortosatisfytheancestors,whomightreturneithertohelportodoharm.FortheJapanesefestivalObon,peopleshouldgotocleangravesandlightincenseinmemoryoftheirancestors.Theyalsolightlampsandplaymusicbecausetheythinkthatthiswillleadtheancestorsbacktoearth.InMexico,peoplecelebratetheDayoftheDeadinearlyNovember.Onthisimportantfeastday,peopleeatfoodintheshapeofskullsandcakeswithbonesonthem.Theyofferfood,flowersandgiftstothedead.TheWesternholidayHalloweenalsohaditsorigininoldbeliefsaboutthereturnofthespiritsofdeadpeople.Itisnowachildren'sfestival,whentheycandressupandgototheirneighbours'homestoaskforsweets.Iftheneighboursdonotgiveanysweets,thechildrenmightplayatrickonthem.FestivalstoHonourPeopleFestivalscanalsobeheldtohonourfamouspeople.TheDragonBoatFestivalinChinahonoursthefamousancientpoet,QuYuan.IntheUSA,ColumbusDayisinmemoryofthearrivalofChristopherColumbusintheNewWorld.Indiahasa节日和庆典自古以来，世界各地就有各种各样的节日和庆典。多数最古老的节日总是庆祝严寒的结束，春季的种植和秋天的收割。有时，在猎人捕获猎物后，也举行庆祝活动。在那个时代，如果食物难以找到，特别是在寒冷的冬月，人们就会挨饿。现在的节日有很多由来，一些是宗教上的，一些是季节性的，一些是纪念特殊的人和事件的。亡灵节有些节日，是为了纪念死者，或使祖先得到满足，因为祖先们有可能回到世上（给人们）提供帮助，也有可能带来危害。在日本的孟兰盆节，人们要上坟、扫墓、烧香，以缅怀祖先。他们还点起灯笼，奏响乐曲，因为他们认为这样做可以把祖先引回到世上。在墨西哥，亡灵节是在11月初。在这个重要的节日里，人们会吃制成颅骨形状的食物，和装点有“骨头”的蛋糕。他们向亡者祭献食物、鲜花和礼品。万圣节也源于自人们古老的信念，认为亡者的灵魂会返回人间。万圣节如今成了孩子们的节日，这天他们可以乔装打扮上邻居家要糖吃。如果邻居什么糖也不给，那么孩子们就可以捉弄他们了。纪念名人的节日也有纪念名人的节日。中国的端午节（龙舟节），是纪念著名古代诗人屈原的。美国的哥伦布日是纪念克里斯托弗·哥伦布发现“新大陆”的日子，印度在10月2日有个全国性的节日，纪念莫汉达斯·甘地，他是帮助印度脱离英国而独立的领袖。庆丰收的节日收获与感恩节是非常喜庆的节日。越冬的粮食收集起来了，农活结束了，人们都心怀感激，在欧洲国家，人们通常用花果来装饰教堂和市政厅，在一起聚餐。有些人还可能因为他们的农产品（参加各种评选）而获奖，比如最大的西瓜或最帅的公鸡。中国和日本nationalfestivalonOctober2tohonourMohandasGandhi,theleaderwhohelpedgainIndia'sindependencefromBritain.HarvestFestivalsHarvestandThanksgivingfestivalscanbeveryhappyevents.Peoplearegratefulbecausetheirfoodisgatheredforthewinterandtheagriculturalworkisover.InEuropeanountries,peoplewillusuallydecoratechurchesandtownhallswithflowersandfruit,andwillgettogethertohavemeals.Somepeoplemightwinawardsfortheirfarmproduce,likethebiggestwatermelonorthemosthandsomerooster.ChinaandJapanhavemid-autumnfestivals,whenpeopleadmirethemoonandinChina,enjoymooncakes.SpringFestivalsThemostenergeticandimportantfestivalsaretheonesthatlookforwardtotheendofwinterandtothecomingofspring.AttheSpringFestivalinChina,peopleeatdumplings,fishandmeatandmaygivechildrenluckymoneyinredpaper.Therearedragondancesandcarnivals,andfamiliescelebratetheLunarNewYeartogether.SomeWesterncountrieshaveveryexcitingcarnivals,whichtakeplacefortydaysbeforeEaster,usuallyinFebruary.Thesecarnivalsmightincludeparades,dancinginthestreetsdayandnight,loudmusicandcolourfulclothingofallkinds.EasterisanimportantreligiousandsocialfestivalforChristiansaroundtheworld.ItcelebratesthereturnofJesusfromthedeadandthecomingofspringandnewlife.Japan'sCherryBlossomFestivalhappensalittlelater.Thecountry,coveredwithcherrytreeflowers,looksasthoughitiscoveredwithpinksnow.Peoplelovetogettogethertoeat,drinkandhavefunwitheachother.Festivalsletusenjoylife,beproudofourcustomsandforgetourworkforalittlewhile.都有中秋节，这时，人们会赏月。在中国，人们还品尝月饼。春天的节日最富生气而有最重要的节日，就是告别冬天，迎来春天的日子。中国人过春节要吃饺子，鱼和肉，还要给孩子们送红纸包着的压岁钱。（他们）舞龙灯、狂欢，全家人聚在一起欢庆阴.历年，在一些西方国家有激动人心的狂欢节，通常在二月，复.活节前的四十天。狂欢节期间，人们身着各种艳丽的节日盛装，伴随着鼓嗓的音乐。在街头游..行，昼夜跳舞。复.活节是全世界基.督徒的一个重要的宗.教和公众节日。它庆祝耶.稣复活，也欢庆春天和新生命的到来。再晚些时候，日本就迎来了樱花节，（节日里）整个国度到处是盛开的樱花，看上去就像覆盖了一层粉红色的雪。人们喜欢聚在一起吃、喝、玩耍，节日让我们享受生活，让我们为自己的习俗而自豪，还可以暂时忘掉工作中的烦恼。