Customs play a significant role in festivals, but sometimes they can change     1     time. With the development of modern society and the spread of new ideas, some traditions may     2     away and others may be established. One example is the     3     Chinese Spring Festival custom of lighting firecrackers to drive away the evil     4     and celebrate the new year.     5    , many big cities have given up this custom in order to     6     air pollution. Another example is Halloween, which slowly became an exciting festival for children, in spite of its     7     origins.

Festivals are becoming more and more commercial, with business     8     advantage of the celebrations. Online shopping websites and     9     media apps have made it much easier for the public to spend more on gifts for their     10     ones. Although some believe festivals should not be commercialized, others believe the increase in spending is good for the economy and public happiness.

The most     1     and important festivals are the ones that look forward to the end of winter and the coming of spring.     2     the Spring Festival in China, people eat dumplings, fish and meat and may     3    children lucky money in red paper. There are dragon dances and carnivals, and families celebrate the Lunar New Year     4     .Some Western countries have very exciting carnivals,    5     take place forty days before Easter, usually in February. These carnivals might include parades,     6     in the streets day and night, loud music and colourful     7     of all kinds. Easter is an important religious and social festival for     8    around the world. It celebrates the return of Jesus from the dead and the coming of spring and new life. Japan’s Cherry Blossom Festival     9     a little later. The country, covered with cherry tree flowers, looks as though     10    is covered with pink snow.

Festivals and celebrations of all kinds have been held everywhere since ancient times. Most ancient festivals would celebrate the end of cold weather, planting in spring and     1     in autumn. Sometimes celebrations would be held after     2     had caught animals. At that time people would     3     if food was difficult to find,     4     during the cold winter months. Today's festivals have many     5    , some religious, some seasonal, and some for special people or events．

The most     6     and important festivals are the ones     7     look forward to the end of winter and to the coming of spring.     8     the Spring Festival in China, people eat dumplings, fish and meat and may give children lucky money in red paper. There are dragon dances and carnivals, and families celebrate the Lunar New Year together. Some Western countries have very exciting carnivals,     9     take place forty days before Easter, usually in February. These carnivals might include parades, dancing in the streets day and     10    , loud music and colourful     11     of all kinds. Easter is an important religious and social festival for Christians around the world. It celebrates the     12     of Jesus from the dead and the coming of spring and new life. Japan’s Cherry Blossom Festival happens a little later. The country, covered with cherry tree flowers, looks     13     though it is covered with pink snow.

People love to get together to eat, drink and have fun     14     each other. Festivals let us enjoy life, be proud of our     15     and forget our work for a little while.

Anyone can take part in a virtual choir from     1    —all you need is a video camera and an Internet connection. You do not even need a studio. A virtual choir helps connect     2     people together. Many people do not have close friends or contacts who have the same interest in music. Many others do not have the chance to join a local choir. A virtual choir     3     them to add their voices to those of other individuals and become part of the     4     community. It has proved to be a positive     5     on the lives of many people. As one virtual choir member said, "Music helps me to ... forget my problems. With music, I become someone else.

Customs play a significant     6     in festivals, but sometimes they can change over time. With the development of modern society and the spread of new ideas, some traditions may fade     7     and others may be established. One example is the typical Chinese Spring Festival custom of     8     firecrackers to drive away the evil spirits and celebrate the new year.     9     , many big cities have given up this custom in order to     10     air pollution. Another example is Halloween, which slowly became an exciting festival for children, in spite of its religious origins.

Celebrated all around the world, festivals have a wide range of o    1    , such as the seasons of the year, religions, famous f    2    , and important events. Of all the traditional festivals, the harvest festival can be found in almost every culture. This important agricultural festival takes place after all the crops have been   g    3     in. People celebrate to show that they are g    4     for the year’s supply of food. The harvest festival in ancient Egypt f    5     a parade and a great feast with music, dancing and sports. Customs play a s    6     role in festivals, but sometimes they can change over time. For example, lighting fireworks is one of the t    7     traditions in Chinese Spring Festival to drive away the evil spirits and celebrate the new year. Recently, to avoid air pollution, it is banned in many big cities. Moreover, with many online shopping websites and social media apps boosting, festivals are celebrated more and more c    8     leading to people's different ideas about it. Festivals are an important part of society. They reflect people's wishes, b    9    , faiths, and attitudes to life. They are o    10     that we need to relax and enjoy life, and forget about our work for a little while.

Festivals and celebrations of all kinds have been held everywhere since ancient times. Most ancient festivals would    1    the end of cold weather, planting in spring and    2    in autumn.   Sometimes   celebrations would be   held after    3    had caught animals. Today’s festivals have many origins, some     4    , some seasonal, and some for special people or events. Some festivals are held to honour the dead or to     5    the ancestors, who might return either to help or to do harm. Festivals can also be held to honour famous people. The most    6     and important festivals are the ones that look forward to the end of winter and to the coming of spring.       7    the Spring Festival in China, people eat dumplings, fish and meat and may give children       8    money in red paper. People love to get together to eat, drink and have     9     with each other. Festivals let us enjoy life, be proud of our     10    and forget our work for a little while.

Festivals and celebrations of all kinds have been held everywhere since     1     times. Most ancient festivals would celebrate the end of cold weather, planting in spring and     2    in autumn. Sometimes celebrations would be held after hunters had caught animals. At that time people would     3     if food was difficult to find, especially during the cold winter months. Today’s festivals have many     4    , some religious, some seasonal, and some for special people or events.

The most     5     and important festivals are the ones that look forward to the end of winter and to the coming of spring.     6    the Spring Festival in China, people eat dumplings, fish and meat and may give children lucky money in red paper. There are dragon dances and carnivals, and     7    celebrate the Lunar New Year together. Some Western countries have very exciting carnivals,     8    take place forty days before Easter, usually in February. These carnivals might     9     parades, dancing in the streets day and night, loud music and colorful clothing of all kinds. Easter is an important     10     and social festival for Christians around the world.