1 . Looking for something entertaining to do? Check out some awesome festivals around the world.
Koninginnedag — The Netherlands
Koninginnedag or Queen’s Day is a national holiday in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Although the birthday of the current Queen, Beatrix, is actually during the winter, she has celebrated it on April 30th, the country’s official “Queen’s Day” since 1949. Orange is the national color, and the streets become a sea of feather boas(围巾) and body paint as crowds gather in the plazas and on boats in the rivers. Amsterdam is the center of this outdoor party, with many live music events, but nearly every town is alive with orange on this day.
Thai Elephant Day — Thailand
Thai Elephant Day is a national holiday in Thailand. Thai Elephant Day has been celebrated on March 13th of every year since 1998. Because the elephant is the national animal of Thailand, they are highly respected and treasured. During the festivals elephants are honored during a ceremony in which they are fed bananas, other fruit, and sugarcane.
The Fire Festival — Shetland
On the last Tuesday in January the entire town of Lerwick, Shetland goes up in flames. At the festival, you’ll find yourself sitting, dancing, or stumbling around the largest bonfire you’ve ever seen in your life. The festival lasts only one day but takes the entire year to plan. Be prepared for an evening of singing, dancing, and fast-paced activity, and don’t worry about making it to work the next day — it’s a national holiday!
Holi — India
Holi, he Festival of Colors, is a Hindu celebration full of joy and one of India’s most important holidays. On the day of the last full moon of the lunar month, usually late February or early March, the air is full of bright colored powder. The festival is celebrated differently throughout the country, with bonfires and music, but the cheerful spirit is common throughout Hindu communities around the world.
1. What do we know about Koninginnedag?| A．It is celebrated on the day of the current Queen’s birthday. |
| B．It is not celebrated outside the city of Amsterdam. |
| C．Everyone must wear orange clothes to celebrate it. |
| D．It has a history of more than seventy years. |
| A．show people’s respect for their Queen |
| B．show Thai people’s respect for elephants |
| C．ask people to protect endangered animals |
| D．help people relax by singing and dancing |
| A．Because people are allowed to sleep at work the next day. |
| B．Because the activities are too simple to get people tired. |
| C．Because people don’t have to go to work the next day. |
| D．Because the festival ends very early at night. |
2 . From baking pumpkin pie to celebrating the moon, here’s how autumn is celebrated across the globe.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the biggest and most widely celebrated harvest festivals in the world. It is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. In many Asian countries including China, the festival is celebrated as a public holiday, with families gathering and giving thanks for the harvest and full moon.
Oktoberfest is another major autumn celebration that, while originating in Germany, has inspired local versions around the globe. The world’s largest folk festival begins in September and runs for about two weeks, featuring traditional Bavarian food, music, clothing, and most importantly, lots of beer!
Thanksgiving is also an important celebration for Americans that takes place in late November every year, with seasonal dishes like yams smothered and pumpkin pies always having a place at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Walks, hikes and trips to see the changing foliage are also hugely popular, with locations like Asheville and North Carolina, boasting of some of the most beautiful autumn scenery around.
There are also several cultural and religious events that occur throughout October and November. Dia de Los Muertos, on the 1st and 2nd November, is a Mexican celebration that honours the lives of those who have passed away with food, drinks and activities that those loved ones enjoyed when they were alive. Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is another spiritual celebration of the victory of light over darkness, and good over evil, which falls on 14th November. Lighting candles all around the house and hoping for health and wealth are the chief rituals of the festival.
1. Which festival features food and trips?| A．The Mid-Autumn Festival. | B．Oktoberfest. |
| C．Thanksgiving. | D．Dia de Los Muertos |
| A．They will enjoy full moon. |
| B．They will have traditional Bavarian food. |
| C．They will eat pumpkin pies. |
| D．They will light candles. |
| A．They are celebrated for harvest. |
| B．They are held all over the world. |
| C．They are cultural and religious celebrations. |
| D．They fall in autumn. |
Written Chinese
