Chinese festivals

Foreign festivals

The Spring Festival, the Lantern Festival(Yuanxiao), the Pure Brightness Festival(Qingming),the Dragon boat festival(Duanwu),the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Double Ninth Festival(Chongyang Festival)…New year’s Day, Tree planting Day, ChineseYouth Day, Party’s Day, Army Day, Nurses’Day,National Day…

Foreign festivals:

Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving Day, Easter,

Valentine’s Day, April Fools’ Day…

Bon Odori in Japan ( 盆舞节）

Day of the Dead in Mexico （亡灵节）

What’s the similarity among the three festivals?

Halloween Bon OdoriDay of the

Dead

The same theme: ghost festivals

Mardi Gras

Easter

Mardi Gras（油腻的礼拜二）

Easter（复活节） （斋月）

A quiz

A.chocolate,bunnies,colored eggs for its symbols

B.the time of ghosts, spirits, gravestones

C.meaning clear and bright, mourning the dead

D.offering thanks, family gatherings and meals

E.on the 9th day of the 9th

lunar month as senior citizen’s Day

Halloween

Double Ninth Day

Thanksgiving Day

Easter

Qing Ming Festival

Ramadan

The lantern Festival

Mardi Gras

Dragon Boat Day

Valentine’s Day

A quiz

E.celebrated on the 15th of the first Chinese lunar month

F.Muslims fast during the daylight days

G.catching “beads, doubloons and cups” thrown by parades

H.honoring love and lovers

I.eating Zongzi to honor Qu yuan

Suppose You work in a government office. The official asks you to design a new festival.He has offered you four themes. (You can have your own creative themes.)Your task is to choose one as a new festival and try to persuade the officialto accept your idea. If your idea is accepted ,you’ll be given award.

Peace Day Happiness Day

Nature DayFriendship Day

No fighting or conflicts are

allowed. PeopleLearn and talk

about peace

Happiness DayPeople must only

do things that will make othershappy. People

learn about happiness.

Peace Day

Friendship Day

No arguments orfights are allowed.People learn about

friendship

Nature Day

No pollution ordestruction of

nature is allowed.People learn and talk about nature.

1.Why do you think it a good idea to have a Peace/Happiness/Friendship/Nature Day? 2.When do you celebrate it?3.What should you do in such a holiday?

Useful expressions:

In my opinion, we should…I don’t think it’s necessary to…I hope we can make a decision.

I believe we should…We must decide…

If we do this, we can…

Example:

Student A: I think that the new holiday should be a Peace Day. On this day, no fighting or conflicts are allowed. People will learn and talk about peace.The holiday will be celebrated on the second Sunday in January and people will celebrate it by setting all the pigeons free. I think this is the best idea because nothing is more important than peace.

Homework

1.Create a new festival by yourselfand tell the reason to us.

2.Preview the next part of this Unit.3.Surf the internet for information

0f Kwanzaa and make some notes.

Discuss in groups of four and choose one.(You can have your own themes for a holiday.)

Turn to the model for help if necessary.(give your reasons for choosing this theme.)

Report to the other group members why your festival is the best one.

Three steps