Western Festivals & Holidays.docx

WesternFestivalsHolidays
【Festivals≠Holidays】
Therearebigdifferencesbetweenfestivalsandholidaysthatyoumustknow.
1.Festivalsareinternational,celebratedinallwesterncountries;whileholidaysarenationalcelebratedinindividualcountries.
2.Festivalsarebasedonmajorreligiousevents,whileholidaysaredecidedbythegovernmentinanindividualcountry.
Canyoutellmewhetherthefollowingsarefestivalsorholidays?
Christmas（）
Thanksgiving（）
AprilFool’sDay（）
Valentine’sDay（）
【Westernfestivals】
Inthewest,thereareonlythreemajorfestivals.
Halloween、Christmas、Easter
Halloweenistheoldest.TheothertwoarebothChristianfestivals.TheycelebratethebirthanddeathofJesusChrist.
Halloween
WhatimagescomeintoyourmindwhenyouthinkofHalloween?
Masks,childrendressedincostumes,jack-o’-lanterns,haunted(闹鬼的)houses,witches(女巫),wizards(男巫)otherhorriblestuff.
Halloween,whichfallsonOctober31,isoneofthemostunusualandfunnyfestivalsintheUS.
IthasbeencelebratedinAmericasincethelate1800s.
It’salsooneofthescariest!It’sassociatedwith(与……有关联)ghosts,skeletons(骨架),witches,andotherscaryimages.
Bytradition,Halloweenbeginsaftersunset.
Whydidpeoplehavesuchascaryfestivals?
ThereasonthatHalloweenisfilledwithscaryimagesgoesbackmorethan2,000years.InancientBritainandIreland,October31wasthelastdayoftheyear.Itwastheendofthegrowingseasonandthebeginningofwinter,atimeofdarknessanddeath.
Peoplebelievedthatonthisdayghostsreturnedtotheearth,soitbecameafestivalforthegodofthedead.Inordertoscare(吓跑)theghostsaway,peoplebuilthugefiresandworecostumesmadeofanimalskins.
“TrickorTreat!”
ManyoftheoriginalHalloweentraditions(传统)havedevelopedtodayintofunnyactivitiesforchildren.Themostpopularoneis“trickortreat”.
OnHalloweennight,childrendressupincostumesandgotovisittheirneighbors.Whensomeoneanswersthedoor,thechildrencryout,“Trickortreat!”Whatthismeansis,“Giveusatreat,orwe’llplayatrickonyou!”Thepeopleateachhousethengivecandyorfruitorsometimesafewcoins.
“HauntedHouse!”
AnotherpopularHalloweenactivityistovisita“hauntedhouse.”Usuallyyouhavetobuyatickettogetin.Asyougofr