FestivalsandcelebrationsFestivalsandcelebrationsofallkindshavebeenheldeverywheresinceancienttimes.Mostancientfestivalswouldcelebratetheendofcoldweather,plantinginspringandharvestinautumn.Sometimescelebrationswouldbeheldafterhuntershadcaughtanimals.Atthattimepeoplewouldstarveiffoodwasdifficulttofind,especiallyduringthecoldwintermonths.Today'sfestivalshavemanyorigins,somereligious,someseasonal,andsomeforspecialpeopleorevents.自古以来,世界各地就有各种各样的节日和庆典。大多数古老的节日都是庆祝严寒的结束,春季的种植和秋天的收割。有时,当猎人捕获猎物后,也举行庆祝活动,在那个时代,如果食物难以找到,特别是在寒冷的冬天,人们会挨饿。现在的节日有很多由来,一些事宗教上的,一些是季节性的,一些是纪念特殊的人和事件的。FestivalsoftheDeadSomefestivalsareheldtohonourthedeadortosatisfytheancestors,whomightreturneithertohelportodoharm.FortheJapanesefestivalObon,peopleshouldgotocleangravesandlightincenseinmemoryoftheirancestors.Theyalsolightlampsandplaymusicbecausetheythinkthatthiswillleadtheancestorsbacktoearth.InMexico,peoplecelebratetheDayoftheDeadinearlyNovember.Onthisimportantfeastday,peopleeatfoodintheshapeofskullsandcakeswithbonesonthem.Theyofferfood,flowersandgiftstothedead.TheWesternholidayHalloweenalsohaditsorigininoldbeliefsaboutthereturnofthespiritsofdeadpeople.Itisnowachildren'sfestival,whentheycandressupandgototheirneighbours'homestoaskforsweets.Iftheneighboursdonotgiveanysweets,thechildrenmightplayatrickonthem.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。在日本的梦兰盆节,人们要扫墓、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到邻居家要糖吃。如果邻居什么糖也不给,孩子们就会捉弄他们。FestivalstoHonourPeopleFestivalscanalsobeheldtohonourfamouspeople.TheDragonBoatFestivalinChinahonoursthefamousancientpoet,QuYuan.IntheUSA,ColumbusDayisinmemoryofthearrivalofChristopherColumbusintheNewWorld.IndiahasanationalfestivalonOctober2tohonourMohandasGandhi,theleaderwhohelpedgainIndia'sindependencefromBritain.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),是纪念古代著名诗人屈原的。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日有个全国性节日,纪念默罕达斯甘地,他是帮助印度摆脱英国的统治而独立的领袖。HarvestFestivalsHarvestandThanksgivingfestivalscanbeveryhappyevents.Peoplearegratefulbecausetheirfoodisgatheredforthewinterandtheagriculturalworkisover.InEuropeanountries,peoplewillusuallydecoratechurchesandtownhallswithflowersandfruit,andwillgettogethertohavemeals.Somepeoplemightwinawardsfortheirfarmproduce,likethebiggestwatermelonorthemosthandsomerooster.ChinaandJapanhavemid-autumnfestivals,whenpeopleadmirethemoonandinChina,enjoymooncakes.庆丰收的节日收获与感恩节是非常喜庆的节日。过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,在一起聚集。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。中国和日本都有中秋节,这时,人们会赏月。在中国,人们还品尝月饼。SpringFestivalsThemostenergeticandimportantfestivalsaretheonesthatlookforwardtotheendofwinterandtothecomingofspring.AttheSpringFestivalinChina,peopleeatdumplings,fishandmeatandmaygivechildrenluckymoneyinredpaper.Therearedragondancesandcarnivals,andfamiliescelebratetheLunarNewYeartogether.SomeWesterncountrieshaveveryexcitingcarnivals,whichtakeplacefortydaysbeforeEaster,usuallyinFebruary.Thesecarnivalsmightincludeparades,dancinginthestreetsdayandnight,loudmusicandcolourfulclothingofallkinds.EasterisanimportantreligiousandsocialfestivalforChristiansaroundtheworld.ItcelebratesthereturnofJesusfromthedeadandthecomingofspringandnewlife.Japan'sCherryBlossomFestivalhappensalittlelater.Thecountry,coveredwithcherrytreeflowers,looksasthoughitiscoveredwithpinksnow.Peoplelovetogettogethertoeat,drinkandhavefunwitheachother.Festivalsletusenjoylife,beproudofourcustomsandforgetourworkforalittlewhile.春天的节日最富有生气而又最重要的节日,就是告别冬天,迎来春天的节日。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新年。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,伴随着响亮的音乐,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)整个国家到处是盛开的樱花,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。