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雅思口语材料之西方节日篇汇总天道留学口语Festival素材：DragonBoatFestival端午节5thdayofthe5thlunarmonthTheDragonBoatFestival,alsocalledtheDuanwuFestival,iscelebratedonthefifthdayofthefifthmonthaccordingtotheChinesecalendar.Forthousandsofyears,thefestivalhasbeenmarkedbyeatingzongzi(glutinousrice(糯米)wrappedtoformapyramidusingbambooorreedleaves)andracingdragonboats.Thefestivalisbestknownforitsdragon-boatraces,especiallyinthesouthernprovinceswheretherearemanyriversandlakes.Thisregatta(赛舟会)commemoratesthedeathofQuYuan,anhonestministerwhoissaidtohavecommittedsuicidebydrowninghimselfinariver.QuwasaministeroftheStateofChusituatedinpresent-dayHunanandHubeiprovinces,duringtheWarringStatesPeriod(475-221BC)(战国时期).Hewasupright,loyalandhighlyesteemedforhiswisecounselthatbroughtpeaceandprosperitytothestate.However,whenadishonestandcorruptprincevilifiedQu,hewasdisgracedanddismissedfromoffice.Realizingthatthecountrywasnowinthehandsofevilandcorruptofficials,QugrabbedalargestoneandleaptintotheMiluoRiveronthefifthdayofthefifthmonth.Nearbyfishermenrushedovertotryandsavehimbutwereunabletoevenrecoverhisbody.Thereafter,thestatedeclinedandwaseventuallyconqueredbytheStateofQin.ThepeopleofChuwhomournedthedeathofQuthrewriceintotherivertofeedhisghosteveryyearonthefifthdayofthefifthmonth.Butoneyear,thespiritofQuappearedandtoldthemournersthatahugereptile(爬行动物)intheriverhadstolentherice.Thespiritthenadvisedthemtowrapthericeinsilkandbinditwithfivedifferent-coloredthreadsbeforetossingitintotheriver.DuringtheDuanwuFestival,aglutinousricepuddingcalledzongziiseatentosymbolizethericeofferingstoQu.Ingredientssuchasbeans,lotusseeds(莲子),chestnuts(栗子),porkfatandthegoldenyolkofasaltedduckeggareoftenaddedtotheglutinousrice.Thepuddingisthenwrappedwithbambooleaves,boundwithakindofraffiaandboiledinsaltwaterforhours.Thedragon-boatracessymbolizethemanyattemptstorescueandrecoverQu'sbody.Atypicaldragonboatrangesfrom50-100feetinlength,withabeamofabout5.5feet,accommodatingtwopaddlersseatedsidebyside.Awoodendragonheadisattachedatthebow,andadragontailatthestern(船尾).Abannerhoistedonapoleisalsofastenedatthesternandthehullisdecoratedwithred,greenandbluescalesedgedingold.Inthecenteroftheboatisacanopiedshrinebehindwhichthedrummers,gong(铜锣)beatersandcymbal(铙钹)playersareseatedtosetthepaceforthepaddlers.Therearealsomenpositionedatthebowtosetofffirecrackers,tossriceintothewaterandpretendtobelookingforQu.Allofthenoiseandpageantrycreatesanatmosphereofgaietyandexcitementfortheparticipantsandspectatorsalike.Theracesareheldamongdifferentclans,villagesandorganizations,andthewinnersareawardedmedals,banners,jugsofwineandfestivemeals.口语Festival素材：St.Valentine'sDay情人节February14St.Valentine'sDayhasrootsinseveraldifferentlegendsthathavefoundtheirwaytousthroughtheages.OneoftheearliestpopularsymbolsofthedayisCupid(爱神丘比特),theRomangodoflove,whoisrepresentedbytheimageofayoungboywithbowandarrow.ThreehundredyearsafterthedeathofJesusChrist,theRomanemperorsstilldemandedthateveryonebelieveintheRomangods.Valentine,aChristianpriest,hadbeenthrowninprisonforhisteachings.OnFebruary14,Valentinewasbeheaded(斩首),notonlybecausehewasaChristian,butalsobecausehehadperformedamiracle.Hesupposedlycuredthejailer'sdaughterofherblindness.Thenightbeforehewasexecuted,hewrotethejailer'sdaughterafarewellletter,signingitFromYourValentine.AnotherlegendtellsusthatthissameValentine,well-lovedbyall,receivednotestohisjailcellfromchildrenandfriendswhomissedhim.AnotherValentinewasanItalianbishopwholivedataboutthesametime,AD200.Hewasimprisonedbecausehesecretlymarriedcouples,contrarytothelawsoftheRomanemperor.Somelegendssayhewasburnedatthestake.February14wasalsoaRomanholiday,heldinhonorofagoddess.Youngmenrandomlychosethenameofayounggirltoescorttothefestivities.ThecustomofchoosingasweetheartonthisdatespreadthroughEuropeintheMiddleAges,andthentotheearlyAmericancolonies.Throughouttheages,peoplealsobelievedthatbirdspickedtheirmatesonFebruary14!InAD496SainPopeGelasiusInamedFebruary14asValentine'sDay.Althoughit'snotanofficialholiday,mostAmericansobservethisday.Whatevertheoddmixtureoforigins,St.Valentine'sDayisnowadayforsweethearts.Itisthedaythatyoushowyourfriendorlovedonethatyoucare.Youcansendcandytosomeoneyouthinkisspecial.Oryoucansendroses,thefloweroflove.Mostpeoplesendvalentines,agreetingcardnamedafterthenotesthatSt.Valentinereceivedinjail.Valentinescanbesentimental,romanticandheartfelt(真心真意的).Theycanbefunnyandfriendly.Ifthesenderisshy,valentinescanbeanonymous.Americansofallageslovetosendandreceivevalentines.Handmadevalentinescreatedbycuttingheartsoutofcoloredpaper,showthatalotofthoughtwasputintomakingthempersonal.Valentinescanbeheart-shaped,orhavehearts,thesymboloflove,onthem.Inelementaryschoolschildrenmakevalentinesfortheirclassmatesandputtheminalargedecoratedbox,similartoamailbox.OnFebruary14,theteacheropenstheboxanddistributesthevalentinestoeachstudent.Afterthestudentsreadtheirvalentinestheyhaveasmallpartywithrefreshments.Forteenagersandadults,majornewspapersthroughoutthecountryhaveaValentine'sDayoffer.Anyonecansendinamessage,forasmallfeeofcourse,de