搜索
Unit1FestivalsaroundtheworldPartIFestivalsandcelebrationsFestivalsandcelebrationsofallkindshavebeenheldeverywheresinceancienttimes.Mostancientfestivalswouldcelebratetheendofthecoldweather,plantinginspringandharvestinautumn.Sometimescelebrationswouldbeheldafterhuntershadcaughtanimals.Atthattimepeoplewouldstarveiffoodwasdifficulttofind,especiallyduringthecoldwintermonths.Today’sfestivalshavemanyorigins,somereligious,someseasonal,andsomeforspecialpeopleorevents.FestivalsoftheDeadSomefestivalsareheldtohonourthedead,ortosatisfytheancestors,whomightreturneithertohelportodoharm.FortheJapanesefestivalObon,peopleshouldgotocleanthegravesandlightincenseinmemoryoftheirancestors.Theyalsolightlampsandplaymusicbecausetheythinkthatthiswillleadtheancestorsbacktoearth.InMexicopeoplecelebratetheDayoftheDeadinearlyNovember.Onthisimportantfeastday,peopleeatfoodintheshapeofskullsandcakeswith“bones”onthem.Theyofferfood,flowersandgiftstothedead.ThewesternholidayHalloweenalsohaditsorigininoldbeliefsaboutthereturnofthespiritsofdeadpeople.Itisnowachildren’sfestival,whentheycandressupandgototheirneighbours’homestoaskforsweets.Iftheneighboursdon’tgiveanysweets,thechildrenmightplayatrickonthem.FestivalstoHonourPeopleFestivalscanalsobeheldtohonourfamouspeople.TheDragonBoatFestivalinChinahonoursthefamousancientpoet,QuYuan.IntheUSA,ColumbusDayisinmemoryofthearrivalofChristopherColumbusintheNewWorld.IndiahasanationalfestivalonOctober2tohonourMahatmaGandhi,theleaderwhohelpedgainIndia’sindependencefromBritain.HarvestFestivalsHarvestandThanksgivingfestivalscanbeveryhappyevents.Peoplearegratefulbecausetheirfoodisgatheredforthewinterandtheagriculturalworkisover.InEuropeancountries,peoplewillusuallydecoratechurchesandtownhallswithflowersandfruit,andwillgettogethertohavemeals.Somepeoplemightwinawardsfortheirfarmproduce,likethebiggestwatermelonorthemosthandsomerooster.ChinaandJapanhavemid-autumnfestivals,whenpeopleadmirethemoonandinChina,enjoymooncakes.SpringFestivalsThemostenergeticandimportantfestivalsaretheonesthatlookforwardtotheendofwinterandtothecomingofspring.AttheSpringFestivalinChina,peopleeatdumplings,fishandmeat,andmaygivechildrenluckymoneyinredpaper.Therearedragondancesandcarnivals,andfamiliescelebratethelunarNewYeartogether.SomeWesterncountrieshaveveryexcitingcarnivals,whichtakeplacefortydaysbeforeEaster,usuallyinFebruary.Theymightincludeparades,dancinginthestreetsdayandnight,loudmusicandcolourfulclothingofallkinds.EasterisanimportantreligiousandsocialfestivalforChristiansaroundtheworld.ItcelebratesthereturnofJesusfromthedeadandthecomingofspringandnewlife.Japan’sCherryBlossomFestivalhappensalittlelater.Thecountry,coveredwithcherrytreeflowers,looksasthoughitiscoveredwithpinksnow.Peoplelovetogettogethertoeat,drinkandhavefunwitheachother.Festivalsletusenjoylife,beproudofourcustomsandforgetourworkforalittlewhile.PartIIasadlovestoryLiFangwasheart-broken.ItwasValentine’sDayandHuJinhadsaidshewouldmeethimatthecoffeeshopafterwork.Butshedidn’tturnup.Shecouldbewithherfriendsrightnowlaughingathim.Shesaidshewouldbethereatseveno’clock,andhethoughtshewouldkeepherword.Hehadlookedforwardtomeetingherallday,andnowhewasalonewithhisrosesandchocolates,likeafool.Well,hewasnotgoingtoholdhisbreathforhertoapologize.Hewoulddrownhissadnessincoffee.ItwasobviousthatthemanagerofthecoffeeshopwaswaitingforLiFangtoleave—hewipedthetables,thensatdownandturnedontheTV—justwhatLiFangneeded!AsadChinesestoryaboutlostlove.ThegranddaughteroftheGoddessofHeavenvisitedtheearth.HernamewasZhinu,theweavinggirl.WhileshewasonearthshemettheherdboyNiulangandtheyfellinlove.(“JustlikemeandHuJin,”thoughtLiFang.)Theygotmarriedsecretly,andtheywereveryhappy.(“Wecouldbelikethat,”thoughtLiFang.)WhentheGoddessofHeavenknewthathergranddaughterwasmarriedtoahuman,shebecameveryangryandmadetheweavinggirlreturntoHeaven.Niulangtriedtofollowher,buttheriverofstars,theMilkyWay,stoppedhim.FindingthatZhinuwasheart-broken,hergrandmotherfinallydecidedtoletthecouplecrosstheMilkyWaytomeetonceayear.Magpiesmakeabridgeoftheirwingssothecouplecancrosstherivertomeetontheseventhlunarmonth.PeopleinChinahopethattheweatherwillbefineonthatday,becauseifitisraining,itmeansthatZhinuisweepingandthecouplewon’tbeabletomeet.Theannouncersaid,“ThisisthestoryofQiqiaoFestival.Whenforeignershearaboutthestory,theycallitaChineseValentine’sstory.It’safinedaytoday,soIhopeyoucanallmeettheoneyoulove.’’AsLiFangsetoffforhome,hethought,“IguessHuJindoesn’tloveme.I’lljustthrowtheseflowersandchocolatesaway.Idon’twantthemtoremindmeofher.’’Sohedid.Ashesadlypassedtheteashoponthecorneronhiswayhome,heheardavoicecallinghim.TherewasHuJinwavingathimandcalling,“Whyareyousolate?I’vebeenwaitingforyouforalongtime!AndIhaveagiftforyou!”Whatwouldhedo?HehadthrownawayherValentinegifts!Shewouldneverforgivehim.ThiswouldnotbeahappyValentine’sDay!