高一英语人教版必修三Unit1课文内容.docx

Unit1Festivalsaroundtheworld

FESTIVALSANDCELEBRATIONS

Festivalsandcelebrationsofallkindshavebeenheldeverywheresinceancienttimes.Mostancientfestivalswouldcelebratetheendofcoldweather,plantinginspringandharvestinautumn.Sometimescelebrationswouldbeheldafterhuntershadcaughtanimals.Atthattimepeoplewouldstarveiffoodwasdifficulttofind,especiallyduringthecoldwintermonths.Today’sfestivalshavemanyorigins,somereligious,someseasonal,andsomeforspecialpeopleorevents.Festivalsofthedead

Somefestivalsareheldtohonourthedeadortosatisfytheancestors,whomightreturneithertohelportodoharm. FortheJapanesefestivalObon,peopleshouldgotocleangravesandlightincenseinmemoryoftheir ancestors.Theyalsolightlampsandplay musicbecausetheythinkthatwillleadtheancestorsbacktoearth.InMexico,peoplecelebratetheDayoftheDeadinearlyNovember.Onthisimportantfeastday,peopleeatfoodintheshapeofskullsandcakeswith“bones”onthem.Theyofferfood,flowersandgiftstothedead.TheWesternholidayHalloweenalsohaditsorigininoldbeliefsaboutthereturnofthespiritsofdeadpeople.Itisnowachildren’sfestival,whentheycandressupandgototheirneighbours’homestoaskforsweets.Iftheneighboursdonotgiveanysweets,thechildrenmightplayatrickonthem.

FestivalstoHonourPeople

Festivalscanalsobeheldtohonourfamouspeople.TheDragonBoatFestivalinChinahonoursthefamousancientpoet,QuYuan.IntheUSA,ColumbusDayisinmemoryofthearrivalofChristopherColumbusintheNewWorld.IndiahasanationalfestivalonOctober2tohonourMohandasGandhi,theleaderwhohelpedgainIndia’sindependencefromBritain.

HarvestFestivals

HarvestandThanksgivingfestivalscanbeveryhappy events.Peoplearegratefulbecausetheirfoodisgatheredforthewinterandtheagriculturalworkisover.InEuropeancountries,peo