WHY DO WE CELEBRATE FESTIVALS?
Festivals are celebrated all around the world. They have a wide range of origins, such as the seasons of the year, religions, famous figures, and important events. Every festival has its different customs and unique charms. However, no matter how different they may seem, all over the world, the spirit of sharing joy, gratitude, love, or peace is common in all festivals.
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 gathered in. People celebrate to show that they are grateful for the year’s supply of food. In ancient Egypt, the harvest festival was celebrated during the springtime—the Egyptian harvest season. It featured a parade and a great feast with music, dancing, and sports. Today, in some European countries, people decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit,and get together to celebrate over a meal. During the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, families gather to admire the shiningmoon and enjoy delicious mooncakes.
Customs play a significant role 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 away and others may be established. One example is the typical Chinese Spring Festival custom of lighting firecrackers to drive away the evil spirits and celebrate the new year. Nowadays, many big cities have given up this custom in order to avoid air pollution. Another example is Halloween, which slowly became an exciting festival for children, in spite of its religious origins.
Festivals are becoming more and more commercial, with businesses taking advantage of the celebrations. Online shopping websites and social media apps have made it much easier for the public to spend more on gifts for their loved ones. Although some believe festivals should not be commercialised, others believe the increase in spending is good for the economy and public happiness.
Festivals are an important part of society. They reflect people’s wishes, beliefs, faiths, and attitudes towards life. They are occasions that allow us to relax and enjoy life, and forget about our work for a little while. They help us understand where we came from, who we are, and what to appreciate. And if you study festivals carefully, you may be surprised to find that different cultures actually have a lot in common after all.
1. Look at the following pictures and answer the questions.(1). What festivals do you celebrate with your family every year?
(2). Why do you think people celebrate different festivals?
2. Look at the picture and the title on Page 4 and predict what the text is probably about?
3. Match the main idea of each paragraph.
| A．Festivals are becoming more and more commercial. B．Festivals are an important part of society. C．Festivals have different origins but the spirit of sharing is common. D．Customs that play an important role in festivals are changing. E．Harvest festival can be found in almost every culture. |
4. According to the text, festivals around the world share the spirit of .
| A．joy, gratitude and religions |
| B．love, peace and figures |
| C．gratitude, peace and joy |
| D．gratitude, seasons and love |
| A．Every culture in the world has the harvest festival. |
| B．It falls after all the crops have been gathered in. |
| C．It is celebrated in all countries during the springtime. |
| D．People admire the shining moon on the festival. |
| A．the increase in spending is good for the economy and public happiness |
| B．more and more people spend more money on gifts for their loved ones |
| C．online shopping websites and social media apps have been used |
| D．businesses have taken advantage of the celebrations and festivals |
| A．different cultures actually have a lot in common |
| B．festivals play an important role in society |
| C．festivals allow us to relax and enjoy life |
| D．festivals reflect people’s wishes, beliefs, faiths |
(1)．Online shopping websites and social media apps have made it much easier for the public to spend more on gifts for their loved ones.
[分析] Online shopping websites and social media apps是本句的
[翻译]
(2)．And if you study festivals carefully, you may be surprised to find that different cultures actually have a lot in common after all.
[分析] if you study festivals carefully是
[翻译]
9. 教材对接高考：续写微技能——节日气氛描写
A. 写出句中含有节日气氛描写的词汇。
(1)However, no matter how different they may seem, all over the world, the spirit of sharing joy, gratitude, love, or peace is common in all festivals.
(2)People celebrate to show that they are grateful for the year’s supply of food.
(3)They reflect people’s wishes, beliefs, faiths, and attitudes towards life.
B. 在课文中找出表示情绪变化的句子。
(1)
(2)
