1、普通高中课程标准实验教科书英语电子课本Book3Unit1FestivalsaroundtheworldB3U1P1-3FESTIVALSANDCELEBRATIONSAncientFestivalsFestivalsandcelebrationsofallkindsareheldeverywhere.Themostancientfestivalswouldcelebratetheendofthecoldweather,plantinginspringandharvestinautumn.Othercelebrationswereheldwhenhunterscouldcatchanimals.Theywouldstarveiffoodwasdifficulttofind,sotheycelebratedwhentheyhadfood.Theylitfiresandmademusicbecausetheythoughtthesefestival
2、swouldbringayearofplenty.FestivalsoftheDeadSomefestivalsareheldtohonourthedead,orsatisfyandpleasetheancestors,whocouldreturneithertohelportodoharm.InJapanthefestivaliscalledObon,whenpeopleshouldgotocleanthegravesandlightincenseinmemoryoftheirancestors.Theylightlampsandplaymusicbecausetheythinkthatthiswillleadtheancestorsbacktoearth.InMexicotheyhavetheDayoftheDeadinearlyNovember.Onthisimportantfeastday,peop
3、lemighteatfoodinshapeofskulls,andcakeswith“bones”onthem.Theyofferfood,flowersandgiftstothedead.ThefestivalofHalloweenhaditsoriginasaneventinmemoryofthedead.Itisnowachildrensfestival,whentheycangototheirneighbourshomesandaskforsweets.Theydressupandtrytofrightenpeople.Iftheyarenotgivenanything,thechildrenmightplayatrick.FestivalstoHonourPeopleFestivalscanbeheldasanhonourtofamouspeopleortothegods.Oneofthe
4、seistheDragonBoatFestivalinChina,whichhonoursthefamousancientpoet,QuYuan.AnotherisColumbusDayintheUSA,inmemoryofthearrivalofChristopherColumbusinAmerica.InIndiathereisanationalfestivalonOctober2tohonourMahatmaGandhi,theleaderwhohelpedgainIndiasindependencefromBritain.HarvestFestivalsHarvestandThanksgivingfestivalscanbeveryhappyevents.Peoplearegratefulbecausetheirfoodisgatheredforthewinter,andbecauseaseasonofagricult
5、uralworkisover.InEuropeancountriesitisthecustomtodecoratechurchesandtownhallswithflowersandfruit,andpeoplegettogethertohavemeals.Somepeoplemightwinawardsfortheiranimals,flowers,fruitsandvegetables,likethebiggestwatermelonorthemosthandsomerooster.InChinaandJapantherearemid-autumnfestivals,whenpeopleadmirethemoonandgivegiftofmooncakes.SpringFestivalsThemostenergeticandimportantfestivalsaretheonesthatlookforwardtotheen
6、dofwinterandtothecomingofspring.AttheSpringFestivalinChina,peopleeatdumplings,fishandmeat,andmaygivechildrenluckymoneyintheredpaper.Therearedragondancesandcarnivals,andfamiliescelebratethelunarNewYeartogether.InsomeWesterncountriesthereareveryexcitingcarnivals,whichtakeplacefortydaysbeforeEaster,usuallyinFebruary.Theymightincludeparades,dancinginthestreetsdayandnight,loudmusicandcolourfulclothingofallkinds.Easter
7、isanimportantreligiousandsocialfestivalinChristiancountries.ItcelebratesthereturnofJesusforChristiansanditalsocelebratesthecomingofspring.InJapan,theCherryBlossomFestivalhappensalittlelater.Thecountryiscoveredwithcherrytreeflowerssothatitlooksasthoughitmightbecoveredwithpinksnow.Peoplelovetogettogethertoeat,drinkandhavefunwitheachothers.Festivalsletusenjoylife,beproudofourcustomsandforgetourdailylifeforalittle
8、while.B3U1P4Wethinkithasalwaysbeenthecustomforpeopletohavefestivals.Theyareatimetoenjoyeachotherscompanyandhavefunwithourfriends.Wethinkthatlongagopeoplelookedforwardtothecelebrations.Ourancestorswouldsitroundafireandcookplentyofmeattoeat.Thentheywouldbesatisfiedwiththeirfestival.B3U1P7ASADLOVESTORYLiFangwasheart-broken.ItwasValentinesDayandHuJinhadsaidshewouldmeethimatthecoffeeshopafterwork.Butshedidnttu
9、rnup.Shecouldbewithherfriendsrightnowlaughingathim.Shesaidshewouldbethereatsevenoclock,andhethoughtshewouldkeepherword.Hehadlookedforwardtomeetingherallday,andnowhewasalonewithhisrosesandchocolates,likeafool.Well,hewasnotgoingtoholdhisbreathforherapologise.Hewoulddrownhissadnessincoffee.ItwasobviousthatthemanagerofthecoffeeshopwaswaitingforLiFangtoleavehewipedthetables,thensatdownandturnedontheTVjustwhatLiFangneeded!AsadChinesestoryaboutlostlove.TheseventhdaughteroftheGoddessofHeavenvisitedtheearth.HernamewasZhinu,theweavinggirl,andshewasthemostlovelyofthedaughters.WhileshewasonearthshemettheherdboyNiulangandtheyfellinlove.(“JustlikemeandHuJin,”thoughtLiFang.)Theygotmarriedsecretly,andtheywereveryhappy.(“Wecouldbelikethat,”thoughtLiFang.)Whent