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1、Book 3 Unit 1 Festivals around the world Reading Festivals And CelebrationsFESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONSFestivals and celebrations of all kinds have been held everywhere since ancient timesMost ancient festivals would celebrate the end of cold weather, planting in spring and harvest in autumn. Sometime
2、s celebrations would be held after hunters had caught animalsAt that time people would starve if food was difficult to find, especially during the cold winter months. Todays festivals have many origins, some religious, some seasonal, and some for special people or events Festivals of the Dead Some f
3、estivals are held to honour the dead or to satisfy the ancestors, who might return either to help or to do harm. For the Japanese festival Obon, people should go to clean graves and light incense in memory of their ancestorsThey also light lamps and play music because they think that this will lead
4、the ancestors back to earthIn Mexico, people celebrate the Day of the Dead in early November. On this important 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 b
5、eliefs about the return of the spirits of dead peopleIt is now a childrens festival，when they can dress up and go to their neighbourshomes to ask for sweetsIf the neighbours do not give any sweets，the children might play a trick on them. Festivals to Honour People Festivals can also be held to honou
6、r 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 the New World. India has a national festival on October 2to honour Mohandas Gandhi, the leader who helped gain Indias independe
7、nce from Britain.Harvest FestivalsHarvest and Thanksgiving festivals can be very happy eventsPeople are grateful because theirfood is gathered for the winter and the agricultural work is over. In European countries, peoplewill usually decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit, and will
8、 get together to have meals.Some people might win awards for their farm produce, like the biggest watermelon or the most handsome rooster. China and Japan have mid-autumn festivals, when people admire the moon and in China, enjoy mooncakes.Spring FestivalsThe most energetic and important festivals a
9、re the ones that look forward to the end of winter and to the coming of spring. At 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
10、 countries have very exciting carnivals, which take place forty days before Easter, usually in February. These carnivals might include parades, dancing in the streets day and night, loud music and colourful clothing of all kinds. Easter is an important religious and social festival for Christians ar
11、ound the world. It celebrates the return of Jesus from the dead and the coming of spring and new life.Japans Cherry Blossom Festival happens a little later. The country, covered with cherry tree flowers, looks as though it is covered with pink snow.People love to get together to eat, drink and have
12、fun with each other. Festivals let us enjoy life, be proud of our customs and forget our work for a little while.Reading and writing A Sad Love StoryA SAD LOVE STORYLi Fang was heart-broken. It was Valentines Day and Hu Jin had said she would meet him at the coffee shop after work. But she didnt tur
13、n up. She could be with her friends right now laughing at himShe said she would be there at seven oclock, and he thought she would keep her wordHe had looked forward to meeting her all day, and now he was alone with his roses and chocolates, like a foolWell, he was not going to hold his breath for h
14、er to apologize. He would drown his sadness in coffeeIt was obvious that the manager of the coffee shop was waiting for Li Fang to leave 一 he wiped the tables，then sat down and turned on the TV 一 just what Li Fang needed！A sad Chinese story about lost love The granddaughter of the Goddess of Heaven
15、visited the earth. Her name was Zhinu， the weaving 乡 d While she was on earth she met the herd boy Niulang and they fell in love. (“Just like me and Hu Jin,“ thought Li Fang.) They got married secretly, and they were very happy. (“We could be like that,“thought Li Fana）When the Goddess of Heaven kne
16、w that her L-randdau2hter was married to anuman，sne necame very angry anc mace the weaving girl return to Heaven. iNiuiang triec to tonowher, but the river of stars, the Milky Way, stopped him. Findingthat Zhinu was heart-broken, her grandmother finally decided to let the couple cross the Milky Way to meet once a year. Magpiesmake a bridge of their wins so the couple can cross the river to meet on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. People in China hope that t
