高一下册 Unit14 Festivals

胡三元2007.3.13

festivals

Brainstormingfestivals of foreign countries

Christmas

Fool’s DayValentine’s Day

Carnival

EasterThanksgiving Day

OktoberfestMother’s Day

Father’s DayChopstics Day

Halloween

T, Find information about the following festivals as much as possible through newspapers, magazines, related books and Internet. Before the class teachers hand out the papers to the students so that they can know more information about the topic –the reading passage previously.1,Chinese festivals: the Spring Festival, the Lantern Festival (Yuanxiao), Tomb Sweeping Festival (Qingming), Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu), Mid-Autumn Festival, Double Ninth Festival (Chongyang), National Day, New Year’s Day, Chinese Youth Day, Party’s Day, Army’s Day, Teachers’ Day, Tree-planting Day…Foreign festivals: Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving Day, Easter, Valentine’s Day, April Fool’s Day, Ramadan, Day of the Dead (from Mexico), Bon Odori Festival/ Ghost Festival (from Japan) ( 盂兰盆节 ), Mardi Gras, Kwanzaa

Task1, Pre-unit Activities

Mardi Gras The America's most favorite celebration, and famous Mardi Gras takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana. Carnival has religious roots associated with Judeo-Christian tradition. Mardi Gras is set to occur 46 days (the 40 days of Lent plus six Sundays) before Easter and can come as early as February 3 or as late as March 9. Known as the "biggest free show on earth", people there dress up in costumes for these events and enjoy this celebration by going to public parades where they catch "beads, doubloons, cups, and trinkets" that are all thrown from floats. They also have private celebrations, masquerade balls, held by clubs called krewes. The official colors of Carnival are purple, green and gold, chosen in 1872 by that year's Rex. The colors have meaning: purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power. King Cakes are eaten during this holiday.Valentine’s Day February 14th, Valentine’s Day, is sweethearts’ day, on which people in love with each other express their tender emotions. People

2. Give the following introductions of some famous foreign festivals.

sometimes put their love message in a heart-shaped box of chocolates, or a bunch of flowers tied with red ribbons. Words or letters may be written on the flower-covered card, or something else. Whatever the form may be, the message is almost the same —“ Will you be my valentine?” The symbol of valentine is a picture with a Heart and Cupid armed with bow and arrow. Many universities, high or elementary schools hold a sweethearts’ Ball for the young students to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Easter Easter, with its religious character, falls on the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after March 21st. Therefore, Easter happens sometimes in March, and sometimes in April. It commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb where he had lain for three days following his Crucifixion. His rise after three days indicates that he would accomplish his promise to rise again from the dead as proof of eternal life. As Christ’s return to life had occurred during the season of spring, some of the rites of Spring were still retained. Therefore, we see that although Easter is based on the events in the life of Christ, it has been influenced by older traditions. For example, the custom of dyeing eggs is still very popular among American children. Originally the egg symbolized fertility for the ancient Persians and Greeks who exchanged eggs at their spring festivals. But up to the Christian time, the egg symbolized the tomb from which Christ rose. For Christian lamb is the symbol of the sacrifice of Christ and pig the symbol of good luck. That is why both in Europe and in America, people have lamb and ham as their main meat on Easter Sunday. In all the spring season, people enjoy the Easter message of hope, joy and the resurrection of spirit

Halloween 1,000 years ago, the Celts living in the Great Britain believed that human is mastered by gods. They also believe that Samhain, the death god, would come back to the earthly world with the dead at the night on October 31. The Celts built bonfires and fired animals as sacrificial offerings to the death god. Some Celts were dressed in costumes made from animal heads or furs, which was the origin of contemporary Halloween masquerade. The night of the death god was a horrifying time that signified the coming of winter and was the beginning of Halloween eve. Today, the religious meaning of Halloween has been weakened; instead, the holiday expresses man’s cherishing memory of Halloween via innovative, ever-changing modern masquerade.

Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving Day, which originated in America and was first celebrated in 1621 by the pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony, is the most typical and true national holiday of all the holidays observed in the United States of America. Because of the religious persecution by the established church in England, the pilgrims left their native land with the purpose of enjoying religious freedom. They first fled to Holland, and then sailed to America on a ship called the Mayflower. When they arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts, it was November, 1620. The first winter was very difficult for them and over half of them died because of hunger and illness, hard work and severely cold weather. In the spring of the next year, 1621, a friendly Indian named Squants, who had been captured and released by other English men, came to help them in planting the corn and fertilizing the soil.

Then Squants brought the Indian chief called Massasoit who also treated them in a friendly way. With the help of the Indians, the pilgrims had a bumper harvest that year. They thought the harvest was a kind of deliverance by God, so they decided to have a day of celebration after their harvest to express their thanks to God. And they also invited the Indian chief Massasoit in gratitude and prepared a grand dinner out-doors. The celebration lasted for 3 days. On October 3rd, 1863, Lincoln issued the first National Thanksgiving Proclamation. Since then it has been the custom for the President of the United States to Proclaim annually the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day. The Thanksgiving dinner is mainly stuffed with roast turkey, squash and corn, pumpkin pie and Indian pudding a custard made from corn), etc. Today, American people have four days for this holiday, although the first Thanksgiving lasted three days. One is probably surprised to find the uniformity in the holiday scene of every family, wherever one goes in the United States. People go back home to enjoy the reunion of their family at the arrival of Thanksgiving Day.

Christmas Christmas Day, which is the greatest of the Christian festivals, falls on December 25th on which Christian people believe Jesus Christ was born, although no one can tell the exact date of his birth. This is the biggest and best-loved holiday in the United States, which is full of joy and gaiety, love and laughter, hospitality and good will. People usually have two weeks for this holiday. They begin to prepare Christmas long before the holiday comes. Small families and large business firms prepare the holiday differently. Stores are decorated with the traditional Christmas colors of green and red. Goods associated with Christmas become best sellers at this time. People like to decorate their stores and homes with Christmas tree, which is usually covered with strings of colored lights and a star fixed on top representing the star in the East, which guided the three Wise Men to where Jesus was born. And Christmas food is special: peppermint-flavored red and white striped canes of sugar, bright

colored hard sweets, chocolate bonbons, creamy homemade fudge and clusters of chocolate-covered raisins, walnuts or pecans, etc. On Christmas Eve families have a big dinner. Children hang their stockings by the fireplace, hoping that Santa Claus will fill them with sweets and toys.

Chinese New Year

Spring Festival

Chinese Lunar New Year

Lantern Festival

on the 15th day of the first lunar month

Task1, Greetings.

Task2, do you like some festivals? Ok,let’s see!

Tomb-sweeping Day,

Dragon Boating Day,

on April 5th Memorize ancestors or the dead

on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month

Mid-Autumn Festival,

the Double NinthFestival(Old People’s Day)

on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month

on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month

Valentine’s Day

April Fool’s Day

on February, 14

on April, 1

Task3, Teacher Says,Do you know any other American festivals? Would you like to know to American festivals? Now let’s make an exercise to See whether you know them. Now one student has a card A, the other student has a card B. now please ask your partner’s questions and exchange it, you can do it like this, A, ”What is the theme of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday?” B, “oh, it is to honor the president who set all the slaves free.” Ukase what I mean? Do it, please. 

Card B

     Time Name of the day         Theme

January New Year’s Day To celebrate the beginning of a new year

  To memorize Marin’s famous lecture “I have a dream”

February Valentine’s Day To show love between lovers

Abraham Lincoln’s birthday  

George Washington’s birthday

 

March Saint Patrick’s Day To remember a person who brought Christian teachings to Ireland and Europe

April April Fool’s Day  

Easter  

May Mother’s Day To show respect to mothers

Memorial Day  

June Father’s Day To show respect to fathers

July Independence Day To celebrate the American Independence

August / /

September   To show respect to all workers

October   To treat children

November Veteran’s Day To honor soldiers

Thanksgiving Day  

December Christmas To remember the birth of Jesus Christ and also get family together

 

Card A

     Time Name of the day         Theme

January New Year’s Day To celebrate the beginning of a new year

Martin Luther King Day

To memorize Marin’s famous lecture “I have a dream”

February Valentine’s Day To show love between lovers

Abraham Lincoln’s birthday

To honor the president who set all the slaves free

George Washington’s birthday

To honor the first president of the USA

March Saint Patrick’s Day

To remember a person who brought Christian teachings to Ireland and Europe

April April Fool’s Day To get relaxed by making fun of others

Easter To celebrate the end of Jesus’ life called the Resurrection

May Mother’s Day To show respect to mothers

Memorial Day To go to ceremonies to honor ancestors

June Father’s Day To show respect to fathers

July Independence Day To celebrate the American Independence

August / /

September Labor Day To show respect to all workers

October Halloween To treat children

November Veteran’s Day To honor soldiers

Thanksgiving Day

To give thanks to God for the harvest season

December Christmas To remember the birth of Jesus Christ and also get family together

 

Task4, T: OK, Good. Which are the greatest and the most important festival to Chinese people? (The Spring Festival) And which is the greatest and the most important festival to Christian people in western countries? (Christmas) I think both of them are quite popular in the world.

Festival

Different

aspect

 

Chinese Spring Festival

Christmas

Time From the 1st day to the 15th day of the first Chinese lunar month

On Dec. 25

Preparation Do spring-cleaning, do Spring Festival shopping (new clothes, delicious food, fireworks, New Year paintings, etc.), decorate the houses with Spring Festival

Do cleaning, do Christmas shopping (gifts, cards, sweet, cookies, etc.); decorate the houses with Christmas tree and colored lights

Special Food New Year’s cake, dumpling ( jiaozi) , sweet dumpling (tangyuan

Candies, cookies, pudding

So What are difference between Christmas and Chinese Spring festival ?

  

Gifts

 

Anything (foods, fruits, clothes, drinks…) 

Anything (foods, fruits, drinks, desserts, Christmas decorations) 

  

 

Major Activities

Have family reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve; pay New Year’s visits, recreational activities (dragon dance, lion dance, stilt-

walking…)

  

Family reunion, have a big dinner on Christmas Eve…

  

Purpose

Bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new year, hoping for the best and the good future.

 

Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ

Pre-reading:Pre-reading:Task4, Reading

T: Can you say some other festivals? .Do you what to know Thanks giving Day? Now let’s watch them Do you know there is another festival, which follows Christmas Day in America?.It is an important festival to African Americans. Is there any one who knows the name of the festival? (Kwanzaa)

Christmas Day December , 25

Enjoy it

Carnival of African-Americans

It is celebrated through singing, speaking, dancing and reciting traditions.

1.( ) Kwanzaa is a very old festival.

2.( ) The word Kwanzaa means first fruit in Swahili.

3.( ) Kwanzaa is based on old African festivals.

4.( )People created Kwanzaa to celebrate American culture.5.( ) Kwanzaa is celebrated on Christmas Day.

6.( ) People who celebrate Kwanzaa light a candle for each of the seven principles.

T/F Questions:

F

T

T

T

F

F

When

Kwanzaa

why

how long

who

Characteristics

how

Exercise 2, Read the text on page 10 fast and try to get a general idea of Kwanzaa from the text. T can present a diagram of the information about Kwanzaa to help Ss to finish this task.

(Questionnaire: When is Kwanzaa celebrated? How long does it last?Who created the festival of Kwanzaa? (Dr Maulana Karenga) Who usually celebrates Kwanzaa? Why is it celebrated? What are the characteristics of Kwanzaa?)

Matching the general idea of each paragraphs.

In a popular African language, it means first and celebrates the new year.

The festival is based on seven important principles or ideas.

Kwanzaa is a festival of reflection and anticipation for African Americans

Candles are an important aspect of the celebration of Kwanzaa.

Festivals not only celebrate history but add to our cultural traditions for future generations.

Para. 1

Para.2

Para.3

Para.4

Para.5

Exercise3 questions and answers. Now decide the whole class into two groups. The boy’s group and the girl’s group. Boy must ask questions and the girls must answer them. After that they can exchange the role. You can use the following questions to help you

1, why did people create Kwanzaa?2, when was Kwanzaa born?3, what are the principles of the Kwanzaa? Which one do you? Think is the most important?4, compare Kwanzaa with the Chinese Spring Festival and Christmas .In which do we celebrate these similar and in Which way are they different?5, many festivals around the world are celebrated around The same time. Why do we celebrate these festivals at these

times?

When does the festival fall?

How long does it last?

When was it created?

Why did people create Kwanzaa?

How do people celebrate it?

Fill in the following form:

12.26-1.1

7 days

1966

lighting a candle and discuss one of the principles

celebrate their history and culture

Day 1 - middle candle - Black - Umoja - UnityDay 2 - innermost red candle - Kujichagulia – Self-determinationDay 3 - innermost green candle - Ujima – Collective Work and ResponsibilityDay 4 - middle red candle - Ujamaa – Cooperative EconomicsDay 5 - middle green candle - Nia - PurposeDay 6 - outermost red candle - Kuumba - CreativityDay 7 - outermost green candle - Imani - Faith

Task5, Dialogue.Suppose you are the reporter of Overseas Wind Programmed of jianling middle school Students’ Broadcasting. Now you are chosen to interview the foreign teacher John about the festival of Kwanzaa. Make up a dialogue with your partner. One acts the role of the reporter, and the other acts the role of John. The dialogue can begin like this:Reporter (R): Good afternoon, everyone. Here is our Overseas Wind Programme. Today, we have a foreign guest in our progamme. He is our foreign teacher John. Hello, John.John (J): Hello.R: Good morning. Welcome you to China. I am pleased greatly if you can tell me any information about KWANZAA. Also Welcome to our Overseas Wind Programme. Today we have a topic about the festival of Kwanzaa. So would you like to introduce Kwanzaa to us? … J: …

Task5, Discussion

Topic1: Do you agree festivals can help us understand our history and culture? How do they help us understand our history and culture

Nowadays more and more festivals have been created in my cities for various purposes, such as developing local economy, making the city well known, etc. Our city Shu yang created the Festival of the Great Wall in the South. It has been celebrated for three years. However, some Shuyangese think holding such a festival causes some problems to the city. What effects does the Festival of the Great Wall in the South bring to us? Make a list Good Effects Bad Effects

Topic2,

Argument:

What positive and negative effects do festivals have on us?

Good Effects Bad Effects

Good effects Bad effects

1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

Group

You may have some other greater ideas…

… Day

Create your own class festival Name of the festival: ____________________________ Date: __________________________________________ Meaning: _________________________________________ Principles: __________________________________________ How is the festival celebrated? ___________________________ What is the symbol of the festival? _______________________

Ask three students as judges to decide which group is the best and give some evaluations.

Group1 Group2 Group3

Judge1

Judge2

Judge3

Total

GroupScores

Judges

Writing :

Since you have created your new festival, you may want your friends to join the celebration of your new festival . Try to write an invitation.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Silver,

We are having a small At-home party with a few close friends at our house on Tuesday, February 3rd, at 7:00 o’clock.

We should be very pleased if you could honour us with your company. Sincerely yours,

John Brown