B3 U1 节日

必修3 Unit 1 Festivals around the world
FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS
节日和庆典
Festivals and celebrations of all kinds have been held everywhere since ancient times.Most ancient festivals would celebrate the end of cold weather,planting in spring and harvest in autumn.Sometimes celebrations would be held after hunters had caught animals.At that time people would starve if food was difficult to find,especially during the cold winter months.Today’s festivals have many origins ,some religious,some seasonal, and some for special people or events.
自古以来，世界各地就有各种各样的节日和庆典。大多数古老的节日总是庆祝严寒的结束，春季的种植和秋天的收割。有时，在猎人捕获猎物后，也举行庆祝活动。在那个时代，如果食物难以找到，特别是在寒冷的冬月，人们就会挨饿，现在的节日有很多由来，一些是宗教上的，一些是季节性的，一些是纪念特殊的人和事件的。
Festivals of the Dead
Some festivals 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 ancestors.They also light lamps and play music because they think that this will lead the ancestors back to earth.In 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 beliefs about the return of the spirits of dead people. It is now a children’s festival,when they can dress up and to to their neighbours’homes to ask for sweets.If the neighbours do not give any sweets,the children might play a trick on them.
亡灵节
有些节日是为了纪念死者，或使祖先得到满足，因为祖先们有可能回到世上（给人们）提供帮助，也有可能带来危害。在日本盂兰盆节，人们要扫墓、烧香，以缅怀祖先。人们还点起灯笼，奏响乐曲，因为他们一位这样做可以把祖先引到世上。在墨西哥，亡灵节是在月初。在这个重要的节日里，人们会吃制成颅骨形状的食物，和装点有“骨头”的蛋糕。他们向亡者祭献食物、鲜花和礼品。西方的万圣节也源自人们古老的信念，以为亡者的灵魂会返回人间。万圣节如今成了孩子们的节目，这天他们可以乔装打扮上邻居家要糖吃。如果邻居什么糖也不给，那么孩子们就可以捉弄他们了。
Festivals to Honour People
Festivals can also be held to honour 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 New World.India has a national festival on October 2 to honour Mohandas Gandhi,the leader who helped gain India’s independence from Britain.
纪念名人的节日
也有纪念名人的节日。中国的端午节（龙舟节），是纪念古代著名诗人屈原的。美国的哥伦布日是纪念克里托斯．哥伦布发现“新大陆”的日子。印度在10月2日有个全国性的节日，纪念莫汉达斯．甘地，他是帮助印度脱离英国而独立的领袖。
Harvest Festivals
Harvest and Thanksgiving festivals can be very happy events.People are grateful because their food is gathered for the winter and the agricultural work is over.In European countries,people will usually decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit,and will 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.
庆丰收的节日
收获与感恩节是非常喜庆的节日。越冬的粮食收集起来了，农活结束了，人们都心怀感激。在欧洲国家，人们通常用花果来装饰教堂和市政厅，在一起聚餐。有些人还可能因为他们的农产品（参加各种评选）而获奖，比如最大的西瓜或最帅的公鸡。中国和日本都有中秋节，这时，人们会赏月。在中国，人们还品尝月饼。