【英语读物】British and American Festivities （欢乐体验洋节日）.pdf

British and American Festivities by Gina D.B. Clemen 1 / 42 Contents Chapter One: Columbus Day3 Chapter Two: Halloween5 Chapter Three: Guy Fawkes Night 7 Chapter Four: Thanksgiving9 Chapter Five: Christmas 11 Chapter Six: New Years Eve 16 Chapter Seven: New Years Day 19 Chapter Eight: Chinese New Year22 Chapter Nine: Valentines Day 25 Chapter Ten: St. Patricks Day 29 Chapter Eleven: Easter31 Chapter Twelve: May Day34 Chapter Thirteen: Independence Day36 Chapter Fourteen: Notting Hill Carnival 38 Track 1: Introduction 40 Track 2: The First Noel and O Come, All Ye Faithful 41 2 / 42 Chapter One: Columbus Day The second Monday of October is Columbus Day! This festivity is celebrated only in the United States of America. Why? During Christopher Columbus time people thought the world was flat. Columbus was born in Genoa, a beautiful Italian city on the north-west coast. For many years he watched ships leave the port① of Genoa. He noticed that these ships seemed to go under the horizon②. He was convinced③ that the world was round, but no one believed him. He wanted to reach the East by sailing to the West. Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain believed Columbus theory. They gave him three ships, the Santa Maria, the Nina and the Pinta to travel and test this theory. Columbus was an expert navigator④. After a long and difficult voyage, he and his men reached the North American continent on 12 October, 1492! The famous Italian explorer discovered the New World! After his great discovery a new era of exploration began and America was born. Today most Americans celebrate Columbus Day with colourful parades and they elect⑤ a Columbus Day Queen. The parade is usually long with big floats⑥ dedicated to⑦ Columbus and there are other multi-cultural⑧ floats too. After the p