1、Western Festivals & Holidays【FestivalsHolidays】There are big differences between festivals and holidays that you must know.1. Festivals are international, celebrated in all western countries; while holidays are national celebrated in individual countries.2. Festivals are based on major religious eve
2、nts, while holidays are decided by the government in an individual country.Can you tell me whether the followings are festivals or holidays?Christmas （ ）Thanksgiving （ ）April Fools Day （ ）Valentines Day （ ）【Western festivals 】In the west, there are only three major festivals. Halloween 、Christmas、Ea
3、ster Halloween is the oldest.The other two are both Christian festivals. They celebrate the birth and death of Jesus Christ. HalloweenWhat images come into your mind when you think of Halloween ?Masks, children dressed in costumes, jack-o-lanterns, haunted(闹鬼的) houses, witches(女巫), wizards(男巫) & oth
4、er horrible stuff. Halloween, which falls on October 31, is one of the most unusual and funny festivals in the US. It has been celebrated in America since the late 1800s. Its also one of the scariest! Its associated with (与有关联) ghosts, skeletons(骨架), witches, and other scary images. By tradition, Ha
5、lloween begins after sunset. Why did people have such a scary festivals? The reason that Halloween is filled with scary images goes back more than 2,000 years. In ancient Britain and Ireland, October 31 was the last day of the year. It was the end of the growing season and the beginning of winter, a
6、 time of darkness and death. People believed that on this day ghosts returned to the earth, so it became a festival for the god of the dead. In order to scare(吓跑) the ghosts away, people built huge fires and wore costumes made of animal skins. “Trick or Treat!”Many of the original Halloween traditio
7、ns(传统) have developed today into funny activities for children. The most popular one is “trick or treat”.On Halloween night, children dress up in costumes and go to visit their neighbors. When someone answers the door, the children cry out, “Trick or treat!” What this means is, “Give us a treat, or
8、well play a trick on you!” The people at each house then give candy or fruit or sometimes a few coins. “Haunted House!”Another popular Halloween activity is to visit a “haunted house.” Usually you have to buy a ticket to get in. As you go from room to room, you meet one scary thing after another. Mo
9、nsters & witches might jump out at you in the dark. You might hear screams & cries from behind, as if someone is being killed. Or you might suddenly feel a spider web in your face. Its best not to go alone! “Jack- o-lanterns!”Many people also like to make jack-o-lanterns on Halloween. A jack-o-lante
10、rn is a pumpkin that is hollowed out and has a face carved on it. A candle or a light is placed inside so that the face lights up. This tradition comes from an old Irish story about a man named Jack who was so stingy (吝啬的) that he could not enter heaven(天堂) when he died. But he also could not enter
11、the hell(地狱), because he had once played a trick on the devil. All he could do was walking the earth as a ghost, carrying a lantern & looking for a place to rest. Most people today, of course, dont believe that ghosts walk the earth on Halloween. But this doesnt stop them from celebrating a funny an
12、d scary holiday. Halloween has always been a night of trick. Tricks are common.CHRISTAMASChristmas Day is on December 25th. Christmas Eve is on December 24th.Christmas Season refers to the two weeks before New Year.It is to celebrate the birth of Jesus(耶稣).Some principles(观念)associated with Christma
13、s are: Peace, Good Will(美好的心愿), Compassion(怜悯)Santa Claus, snowmen, bright lights, colorful decorations, bells, and the traditional songsall these help to make December the most joyful month of the year. In the northern part of the US, winter weather can be terrible. However, even winter snowstorms
14、cannot stop people from enjoying the festival. Why does almost everybody feel so good? It is gift-giving time, party time, and vacation time. Students from elementary school through college have about 2 weeks vacation, beginning shortly before Christmas and ending soon after New Years Day. Many fami
15、lies go away for the holidays to visit relatives in another state, ski in the mountains, or sunbathe on the beaches in the South.Santa Claus Christmas is an important festival in the US, the UK and many other parts of the world. On Christmas Evethe night before Christmas Daychildren all over Britain
16、 put a stocking at the end of their beds before they go to sleep. Their parents usually tell them that Santa Claus will come during the night. Santa Claus is very kind-hearted. He lands on top of each house and climbs down the chimney into the fireplace. He fills each of the stockings with Christmas
17、 presents.Of course, Santa Claus isnt real. In their houses, “Santa Claus” is really their fathers. Their fathers dont climb down the chimney. They wait until the children are asleep. Then they go into their bedrooms, and fill their stockings with small presents. Christmas Tree DecorationsA star or
18、an angel is often placed at the top of the tree referring the star of Bethlehem(圣诞星). Early decorations were fruits, nuts and paper flowers that children were allowed to take as gifts on Christmas Day. Wax candles(蜡烛) appeared on trees in the 18th century. Electric tree lights were first used in 188
19、2.Three typical British traditions on Christmas are: the Christmas Pantomime (童话剧)the Queens speech over the TV and radiothe Boxing Day (节礼日) (It is a typical British tradition celebrated on the day after Christmas. People used to give Christmas gifts or money to their staff or servants (员工或仆人) on t
20、his day. And now they mostly do shopping, pay visits, enjoy eating or just relax.)GREETINGSMerry Christmas and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year!May happiness follow wherever you go.May the joy and peace of Christmas be with you today and always.May the light of the holiday season shine brightly in y
21、our heart.Wishing you and those around you a very merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.EasterThis festival is in the spring, which commemorates(纪念) the death of Jesus Christ and his return to life. It is the most important Christian festival for many church-goers. Its generally on a Sunday betwe
22、en March 22 and April 25. The Friday before Easter is called “Good Friday”(耶稣受难日). And three days later comes “Easter Sunday”. Symbol(标志) of Easter The Easter egg, originally a Christian symbol (标志) of new life, is the main symbol of Easter for most people. Bunnies(兔子) and chicks are also animals tr
23、aditionally associated with Easter.Besides the religious aspects of Easter, people also celebrate spring or the signs of new life. Children receive Easter baskets filled with candy, Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies & jelly beans(软糖). The dyeing(染色) of eggs with food color is also an Easter tradition i
24、n many American families.Western holidaysNew Years DayNew Years Day is the worlds oldest celebration. The Americans have four important traditions. They are:1. Big party 2. Auld Lang Syne 3. Drinking alcohol(酒) 4. Making resolutions(制定新年计划)Big partyThe most popular way to welcome the new year in the
25、 United States is with a big party. The biggest, noisiest New Years party in the United States takes place at Times Square in New York City. Auld Lang SyneThe Times Square celebration includes another well-known American tradition. Since 1929, the band of musician Guy Lombardo has given a concert on
26、 New Years Eve night, singing the song, Auld Lang Syne.Thanksgiving Day It is celebrated in the US on the 4th Thursday in November. For many Americans, its the most important holiday apart from Christmas. Schools, offices & most businesses close for Thanksgiving. Many people make the whole weekend a
27、 vacation.The originIts associated with the time when Europeans first came to North America (the new world). In 1620, the ship the Mayflower arrived here, bringing about 100 people who today are usually called Pilgrims (最初的移民). The Pilgrims lived in what is now the state of Massachusetts.Their first
28、 winter in the New World was difficult. They had arrived too late to grow many crops, and without fresh food, half of them died from disease. The native Indians(印第安人) taught them how to grow corn (玉米) and how to hunt and fish. In the autumn of 1621, they had a big harvest(丰收). They planned a fest an
29、d invited the local Indian chief(酋长) and 90 Indians. The Indians brought deer to roast with the turkeys. To this first Thanksgiving, the Indians had even brought popcorn(爆米花). Today people celebrate Thanksgiving to remember these early days. Thanksgiving is a time for tradition and sharing. Even if
30、they live far away, family members gather for a reunion at the house of an older relative. All give thanks together for the good things that they have. Thanksgiving is considered the beginning of the Christmas period. The next day many people go out to shop for Christmas presents.Turkey Pardoning On
31、 each Thanksgiving Day, a very strange thing happens at the White House. There, the US President will pardon (赦免) a turkey! The President will pat one of the two turkeys prepared on the head. Then it is pardoned! People wont eat it and itll fly to Disney World and live happily! In 2009, President Ob
32、ama pardoned a turkey named Courage.Discussion: When it is Thanksgiving Day, who do you want to thank? And why?Valentines DayIt is on Feb.14thOn this day, people in love express their affection (感情) to each other.Mothers DayIt is on 2nd Sunday in May.It is a day to be especially kind and thoughtful
33、to your mother.Fathers DayIt is on 3rd Sunday in June.The red or white rose is recognized as the official Fathers Day flower. April Fools DayIt is on April 1st.This holiday started in France. The custom of playing tricks on this day became popular in France and then spread (传播) to many other countri
34、es.Are you ready to take a quiz?1.How many religious festivals do you know? And what are they?2. Which festival is to celebrate the birth of Jesus, Christmas or Easter?3. When is Mothers Day? And what can you do for your mother this day?4. What is the name of the song which people usually sing to celebrate the New Year on Times Square?5. Who will pardon a turkey each year in the US?
