必修3unit1课文原文.docxVIP

精品文档 精品文档 精品文档 精品文档 必修 3 unit1 Festivals and celebrations Festivals and celebrations of all kinds have been held everywhere since ancien t times.Most ancient festivals would celebrate the end of cold weather,planting in s pring and harvest in autumn.Sometimes celebratewould be held after hunters had c aught animals.At that time people would starve if food was difficult to find,especially during the cold winter months.Today’s festivals have many origins ,some religious, some seasonal, and some for special people or events. Festivals of the Dead Some festivals are held to honour the dead or to satisfy the ancestors,who mi ght return either to help or to do harm.For the Japanese festival.Obon,people shoul d go to clean graves and light incense in memory of their ancestors.They also light lamps and play music because they think that this will lead the ancestors back to earth.In Mexico,people celebrate the Day of the Dead in early November.On this i mpoutant feast day,people eat food in the shape of skulls and cakes with”bones”on them.They offer food,flowers and gifts to the dead.The Western holiday Halloween also had its origin in old beliefs about the return of the spirits of dead people. It i s now a children’s festival,when they can dress up and to to their neighbours’home s to ask for sweets.Ifthe neighbours do not give any sweets,the children might play a trick on them. Festivals to Honour People Festivals can also be held to honour famous people .The Dragon Boat Festival in China honours the famous ancient poet,Qu Yuan.In the USA Columbus Day is in memory of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in New World.India has a nation al festival on October 2 to honour Mohandas Gandhi,the leader who helped gain In dia’s independence from Britain. Harvest Festivals Harvest and Thanksgiving festivals can be very happy events.People are gratef ul because their food is gathered for the winter and the agricultural work is over.In European countries,people will usually de