Black Cat 有声名著阶梯阅读 可编辑word版-【2】1 British and American Festivities 欢乐体验洋节日

British and American Festivities British and American Festivities by Gina D.B. Clemen Contents TOC \t "标题 3,1" \h \u HYPERLINK \l _Toc3276 Chapter One: Columbus Day 3 HYPERLINK \l _Toc4731 Chapter Two: Halloween 5 HYPERLINK \l _Toc18143 Chapter Three: Guy Fawkes' Night 7 HYPERLINK \l _Toc7184 Chapter Four: Thanksgiving 9 HYPERLINK \l _Toc15701 Chapter Five: Christmas 11 HYPERLINK \l _Toc20267 Chapter Six: New Year's Eve 16 HYPERLINK \l _Toc28708 Chapter Seven: New Year's Day 19 HYPERLINK \l _Toc9083 Chapter Eight: Chinese New Year 22 HYPERLINK \l _Toc14757 Chapter Nine: Valentine's Day 25 HYPERLINK \l _Toc19911 Chapter Ten: St. Patrick's Day 29 HYPERLINK \l _Toc6130 Chapter Eleven: Easter 31 HYPERLINK \l _Toc18031 Chapter Twelve: May Day 34 HYPERLINK \l _Toc29164 Chapter Thirteen: Independence Day 36 HYPERLINK \l _Toc28872 Chapter Fourteen: Notting Hill Carnival 38 HYPERLINK \l _Toc15784 Track 1: Introduction 40 HYPERLINK \l _Toc21090 Track 2: The First Noel and O Come, All Ye Faithful 41 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 parade there is usually a dinner and dance. In San Francisco, California, there is also a re-enactment9 of Columbus discovery. A man dresses up10 as and several other men dress up as his sailors. They get into a boat and row to the beach. When they get out of their boat they kneel on the beach and thank God. Americans enjoy remembering the great navigator. Chapter Two: Halloween Halloween11 is celebrated on 31 October. It is an exciting event in the United States and in Great Britain. Every American calendar has Halloween marked on it. Halloween has ancient Celtic origins. On the Celtic calendar Samhain was the last day of summer and the last day of the year, 31 October. The Celtic priests, called Druids, practised12 religious rituals13 and magic on Samhain. They also predicted14 the future. On this day the Celts made big fires and dressed in scary15 costumes16. They wanted to frighten the evil spirits. They dressed as ghosts, skeletons17 and witches. They believed that ghosts came out of their tombs on the night of 31 October. Samhain also became a harvest festival after the Roman invasion18 of Britain in 43 AD. Christian practices replaced pagan practices. The Christians called 1 November All Hallows' Day, the day of All Saints. The evening of 31 October was called All Hallows' Eve19. This became Halloween. At Halloween American children in elementary schools take their costumes and masks to school. Typical20 Halloween costumes are the witch, ghost, skeleton, monster, vampire21 or alien22. Young people have fun making their own costumes, but some prefer to buy them. In the afternoon the children put on their costumes and have a Halloween party at school. Schools are decorated with23 pumpkins24, ghosts, witches and bats. It is a popular tradition25 to make jack o'lanterns26 out of pumpkins. People put them in front of the windows of their homes. The jack o' lantern is of Celtic origin too. There are funny Halloween games such as bobbing for apples. Favourite Halloween foods are candied apples, nuts, liquorice, popcorn and pumpkin pie. American teenagers have a Halloween party in the evening. The party is usually in the school gymnasium and everyone wears a costume and mask . The best costume usually wins a prize. In the 19th century Irish immigrants took their Halloween customs to the United States. They introduced the custom of "trick-or-treating". American and British children and teenagers go "trick-or-treating" on Halloween evening. They go from house to house in their costumes and ring doorbells. When the door opens they shout, "Trick or treat?" People usually give them sweets or money. If not, the children playa trick. They write on windows with soap or spray shaving cream on cars and people! Chapter Three: Guy Fawkes' Night The fifth of November is Guy Fawkes' Night or Bonfire27 Night. This is a British festivity. The story of Guy Fawkes goes back to the early 1600's. During this period there were religious problems between Protestants28 Catholics29 in Britain. King James I was a Protestant and he passed severe laws against Catholics. They were not permitted to have religious services. A group of 12 Catholics decided to kill King James I and destroy the Parliament Building! They planned to blow up30 the Houses of Parliament on 5 November 1605, when the King was present. This was called the Gunpowder Plot. The leader of the plot was Robert Catesby. The plotters31 put 30 barrels of explosives32 in the cellars33 under the Parliament Building. Guy Fawkes was an expert with explosives. His responsibility was to guard the barrels of explosives and light the fuse34 on November. The King's soldiers discovered the plot! Guy Fawkes was immediately arrested and tortured35. The other plotters were found three days later. Guy Fawkes and the others were hanged36. On the night of 5 November 1605 many people in London were happy because the plot was discovered. To celebrate they started bonfires in the street. Someone made an effigy37 of Guy Fawkes and burned it. Ever since that day the British have celebrated Guy Fawkes' Night. Today young people in Britain make a Guy with old clothes and fill him with newspaper. Then they go around the streets with the Guy and ask for "a penny for the Guy?" With this money they buy fireworks38. On the night of 5 November there are fireworks and big bonfires to burn the Guy. Some people have bonfires in their back gardens. Young people love the noise, excitement and colourful fireworks. On this night they eat toffee apples. In Lewes, Sussex, there is a big public festival on Guy Fawkes' Night. People dress in historic costumes. The Guy is burned on top of a hill on an enormous bonfire. There are also brilliant fireworks. Here is a rhyme about Guy Fawkes: Remember, remember The fifth of November Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason Why gunpowder and treason Should ever be forgot Chapter Four: Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is a very important American festivity and it is celebrated on the last Thursday of November. However, schools and many shops and offices are closed for four days: Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Thanksgiving is a special day for families to be together and to thank God for all they have. Americans travel great distances to be with their families on this occasion39. Why is Thanksgiving such an important day? The tradition started with the Pilgrims40, the founders41 of America. The Pilgrims left Great Britain in 1620 because of religious persecution42. They wanted to start a new life in America and practise their religion in freedom43. One hundred men, women and children left Britain on a small ship called the Mayflower. Their sea voyage was very difficult. Many Pilgrims died during the voyage. They arrived on the north-east coast of North America in December 1620 and founded44 Plymouth. The area was a wilderness. It was almost winter and they had no homes and little food. They immediately built small homes, But it was too late to cultivate45 crops46. The winter was very cold and harsh.47 Almost half of the Pilgrims died because their living conditions were very bad. The friendly Wampanoag Indians helped them during the long winter. In the spring the Pilgrims met an Indian called Squanto. He explained how to grow corn, hunt and live in the wilderness. Soon the Pilgrims and the Indians became good friends. The Pilgrims worked hard and cultivated crops. The summer harvest was excellent. By November 1621 everyone had food and a home. There was hope for the future. Governor William Bradford, the Pilgrim leader, decided to celebrate with a dinner for the Pilgrims and the Indians. He wanted to give thanks to God. This was the first Thanksgiving dinner and it lasted for three days. Today the traditional Thanksgiving meal is similar to the first. People eat roast turkey, sweet potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Most families start the meal with a prayer. The long Thanksgiving weekend is the perfect time to start, Christmas shopping! Big stores and shops are open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the Christmas shoppers. Chapter Five: Christmas On 25 December Great Britain and the United States (and many other countries) celebrate Christmas. The word Christmas comes from the Old English "Cristes maesse", Christ's mass. On this day Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. Kindness and giving are the spirit of Christmas. Charles Dickens, the famous British writer, wrote A Christmas Carol48, a story about the true meaning of Christmas. Why is Christmas celebrated on 25 December? Christmas comes from two pagan festivals. People celebrated the winter solstice49 on 21 or 22 December. The Roman emperors chose 25 December as the birthday of the sun (natalis solis). After the winter solstice, the days become longer and the sun is higher in the sky. In ancient Rome this was the season of Saturnalia. Saturnalia was a time of merrymaking50. During Saturnalia the Romans exchanged51 presents. The pagan tribes of northern Europe enjoyed a 12-day winter festival called Yule. Yule had its own traditions of Yule cakes, fir trees52, holly, mistletoe and presents. Fir trees and holly are still a symbol53 of Christmas. Today a branch of mistletoe in the house has another meaning: when a boy and girl meet Under the mistletoe they usually kiss! The custom of kissing under the mistletoe is an ancient Celtic rite54. Medieval55 Christmas was a long event. It lasted twelve days like the Yule festival. Celebrations started on 25 December and ended on the night of 6 January. Christmas is the biggest holiday on the American and British calendar. However, in Scotland, New Year is more important. In Great Britain and the United States people prepare for Christmas weeks before 25 December. Cities and towns are beautifully decorated with Christmas symbols: the Christmas tree, Santa Claus, colorful lights and much more. Shop windows are full of presents for everyone. People are busy buying presents. There are Santa Clauses everywhere. On street corners people sing Christmas carols. In Britain many children go carol singing with an adult. They go from house to house and sing. They usually receive money for their singing. They use this money to buy presents. There is a joyous atmosphere56. Christmas today respects many of the old traditions and has added new ones. The modern Christmas tree originated in57 western Germany long ago. The Germans put up a fir tree in their homes and decorated it with biscuits58 and candles59. German settlers took this tradition to North America in the 17th century. By the 19th century Christmas trees were very popular in the United States. In Britain the Christmas tree became popular after 1840. The German Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, took the Christmas tree to the British Royal Family. Soon the Christmas tree became popular all over Great Britain. There is a big tree every year in Trafalgar Square, London. Today America's most famous Christmas tree is in the Rockefeller Center, New York City. The Empire State Building in New York City is one of the tallest buildings in the world. At Christmas the top of the building is illuminated with red and green lights! Today almost every Christian family has a decorated Christmas tree at home or in the garden. Some families put up the tree on Christmas Eve and others put it up at the beginning of December. Many families put a Nativity60 scene61 under the Christmas tree. St. Francis of Assisi created the first Nativity scene in the 1200's! Many Americans wear Christmas clothes during the Christmas season. These are clothes with Christmas colours and symbols. Christmas crackers62 are an old tradition. They were invented in London, Two people pull the cracker until it "bangs63" and opens. Inside there is usually a small present, a paper hat and a joke. In the United States there are "Christmas shops" in many cities, They sell all types of Christmas trees, ornaments64 and other decorations65 for the home, "Christmas shops" are open all year long, so you can buy your Christmas tree in June! It is usual to send Christmas cards to relatives66 and friends. The first Christmas card was designed in Britain by John Callcott Horsley in 1843. A thousand copies of the card were printed in London. The design was a family party with the words "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you." In the mid-19th century a shop owner in Albany, New York, made a card that said, "Christmas greetings from Pease's Great Variety Store." This was the beginning of the big Christmas card industry67. The figure68 of Santa Claus comes from St. Nicholas, a 4th century Christian bishop of Asia Minor. He was famous for his generosity and kindness. The Dutch settlers of New York brought the tradition of Sinterklaas (Santa Claus) to America. Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, is an important part of the Christmas tradition, Children write letters to him and ask for special presents. Today we see Santa Claus as an old man with a white beard, dressed in a red suit. He drives a sleigh69 pulled by reindeer and comes down the chimney with toys for the children. This image of Santa Claus was created by the American cartoonist70 Thomas Nast in 1863. American and British children put out a stocking71 on Christmas Eve because they hope to receive presents from Santa Claus. Then they go to bed early because they want Santa Claus to come. Many Christians go to church services at midnight and others go on Christmas morning. Christmas presents are usually opened on Christmas morning. After Christmas dinner many families listen to the traditional Queen's Speech in Britain and watch special Christmas television programmes. Children play with their new toys. In Britain some people go for a Christmas Day swim in the sea or in a lake. In Hyde Park in London some courageous people swim in the Serpentine! Chapter Six: New Year's Eve On 31 December everyone celebrates the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. In Scotland New Year's Eve is called Hogmanay. It is the most important celebration of the year. In Edinburgh there is an immense72 street celebration on New Year's Eve. In America and Britain many people like going to parties or organising them in their homes. Some people prefer to celebrate in restaurants or night clubs. Young people celebrate at home or at a disco. Others go to masked balls73 in costumes and masks. Everyone takes off their mask at midnight. Cheers74, noise, music, dancing, colourful decorations, festive food and drink are all part of New Year's Eve. People like throwing confetti75 on the last night of the year. People wear their best party clothes on this exciting night. At parties everyone wears funny paper hats and blows toy horns76. Parties usually begin after 9 pm and continue until the next morning. At midnight everyone joins hands and sings the old Scottish song "Auld Lang Syne." Should auld acquaintance be forgot,   And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, For the sake of auld lang syne. For auld lang syne, my dear. For auld lang syne. And we'll take a cup of kindness yet.   For the sake of auld lang syne. In New York City a favourite place to go on New Year's Eve is Times Square. At midnight the words "Happy New Year" appear on an electronic sign77. Bells and sirens78 ring, people cheer and there is a lot of noise. In London many people go to celebrate in Trafalgar Square. Everyone in Britain waits for Big Ben to strike midnight. Then there is a lot of noise. People sing "Auld Lang Syne", kiss each other and cheer. When we make a lot of noise on New Year's Eve we are following ancient traditions. Ancient civilizations79 made noise to frighten evil spirits80 of the past year. On New Year's Eve the Americans and the British make New Year's resolutions or promises. They promise to get rid of81 bad habits during the new year. Some typical children's resolutions82 are: "I resolve to do my homework" or "I resolve to clean my room every day". Children write down their New Year’s resolutions, sign their name and give the paper to their parents. Some typical adult's resolutions are: "I resolve to stop smoking" or "I resolve to go on a diet83". Most people don't keep their promises84, but a few do! In some American cities office workers throw their old calendars out of the office windows on 31 December. They are throwing the old year away. It is incredible85 to see so much paper flying about. By 5:30 pm the streets are covered with office calendars. At the end of the year astrologists86 predict the future for all the signs of the zodiac87. Some astrologists predict catastrophic88 events. Chapter Seven: New Year's Day "Happy New Year!" "The same to you and many more." This familiar89 greeting is heard throughout Britain and the United States on 1 January. People have always celebrated the New Year. In ancient civilizations the calendar was based on the seasons. The Egyptian New Year began when the Nile River overflowed90. For the early Britons and the Romans the New Year began on the first day of spring. In 45 BC the Roman Emperor Julius Caesar created a calendar with 1 January as the first day of the new year. This calendar is still used today. January comes from "Janus," the Roman god of beginnings and endings. New Year's traditions come from different cultures. Many people give presents and send cards on New Year's Day. This was part of a Roman and old English tradition. Shops and offices give calendars and small presents to their clients. In Britain most families have a big lunch and spend a quiet day at home. In the United States many families have "Open House" on New Year's Day. It is a custom introduced by George Washington, the first president of the United States. During "Open House" the front door of your home is open all day long. Friends and relatives come to say "Happy New Year!" They eat and drink something and then leave. Many clubs and organisations have "Open House" too. On New Year's Day most of the United States is covered with snow. However, in California and in the southern states it is warm and sunny. In these sunny places there are parades and football games. These football games are called Bowl Games. Each region has its parade and football game. FOOTBALL GAME PLACE Rose Bowl Pasadena, California Orange Bowl Miami, Florida Cotton Bowl Dallas, Texas Sugar Bowl New Orleans, Louisiana The Pasadena "Tournament91 of Roses" parade is the biggest and oldest New Year's Day event. In Pasadena more than three million people go to watch the parade. More than 70 million Americans watch it on television. Every year there are about 60 spectacular92 floats made of fresh flowers. The floats show favourite storybook characters93 and animals