Water, Water, Water, Water,

EverywhereEverywhere

Content: readingContent: readingSource: Book 4 - Lesson 4Source: Book 4 - Lesson 4

Presenter: Kay Presenter: Kay

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Let’s Talk About:Let’s Talk About:

1.1. What do you think the people in the What do you think the people in the picture are doing? Do they have picture are doing? Do they have fun? fun?

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2. Do you like to play with water? If yes, i2. Do you like to play with water? If yes, in what way? n what way?

Like this?Like this?

Or this? Or this?

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3. Some countries around the world hold 3. Some countries around the world hold “water festivals” every year. What is “water festivals” every year. What is their purpose? What do they celebrate their purpose? What do they celebrate for? for?

Let’s find out!!Let’s find out!!

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If you ever have the chance If you ever have the chance to visit to visit ThailandThailand, be sure to go , be sure to go during mid-April—that is, unless during mid-April—that is, unless you are afraid of getting wet. In you are afraid of getting wet. In fact, at this time of year, you fact, at this time of year, you probably will get not just wet, probably will get not just wet, but but soakingsoaking wet! And why? wet! And why? Because getting wet is how the Because getting wet is how the ThaisThais celebrate their new year. celebrate their new year.

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They come outside with They come outside with bucketsbuckets, , hoseshoses, , squirt gunssquirt guns and anything else and anything else that will hold water, and then that will hold water, and then go about go about dousingdousing each other in a fun-each other in a fun-filled, water-throwing street party. No filled, water-throwing street party. No one is safe: water one is safe: water revelersrevelers will hose will hose down friends as well as strangers, down friends as well as strangers, indeed, anyone who is walking, indeed, anyone who is walking, riding, or driving along the street. riding, or driving along the street.

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Even if people are riding on trains, Even if people are riding on trains, they need to make sure the windothey need to make sure the windows are shut, or else—Swooosssshhws are shut, or else—Swooosssshhh!h!

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Such wild celebrations actually Such wild celebrations actually take placetake place all over Southeast Asia, all over Southeast Asia, but the Thai Water Festival is but the Thai Water Festival is probably the most famous. It is probably the most famous. It is celebrated celebrated across the countryacross the country. In the . In the cities, people getcities, people get aboard aboard pick-up pick-up trucks that are filled with huge trucks that are filled with huge buckets of water and buckets of water and cruisecruise the the streets soaking everyone streets soaking everyone in sight.in sight.

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In the countryside, children hide In the countryside, children hide with buckets along the roadside anwith buckets along the roadside and wait for motorcyclists to come ald wait for motorcyclists to come along. Once wet, the drivers will havong. Once wet, the drivers will have to stop, and upon stopping, they e to stop, and upon stopping, they are in forare in for a complete a complete drenchingdrenching! !

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It’s hard to say where it’s a wateIt’s hard to say where it’s a water party or a water war! But it seemr party or a water war! But it seems that no one minds. For these few s that no one minds. For these few days, people are simply prepared tdays, people are simply prepared to get wet, and to enjoy every minuo get wet, and to enjoy every minute of it.te of it.

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All of this may seem like a All of this may seem like a chaotic free-for-allchaotic free-for-all, but actually , but actually there is some there is some reasoningreasoning, as well as , as well as ancient and respected traditions, ancient and respected traditions, behind the water-filled behind the water-filled madnessmadness. . Much of it has to do with the fact that Much of it has to do with the fact that water has special water has special symbolicsymbolic meaning: meaning: it it cleansescleanses, , purifiespurifies, and , and renewsrenews, not , not just physically, but also just physically, but also spirituallyspiritually. .

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Dousing each other with water Dousing each other with water is a way, symbolically, to wash is a way, symbolically, to wash away all the bad things of the away all the bad things of the past year and to bring good past year and to bring good things for the coming year. So…things for the coming year. So…the wetter you get, the better!the wetter you get, the better!

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The fun-loving street party The fun-loving street party is also just one side of the Thai is also just one side of the Thai Water Festival. It has as well a Water Festival. It has as well a more serious side, which more serious side, which involves the traditional involves the traditional ceremoniesceremonies that take place in that take place in people’s homes and at temples. people’s homes and at temples.

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The Thai new year, which starts on AThe Thai new year, which starts on April 13 and is known as pril 13 and is known as SongkanSongkan, beg, begins with a ins with a ritualritual in which the younge in which the younger members of the family r members of the family sprinklesprinkle peperfumedrfumed water in the hands or over th water in the hands or over the heads of their elders as a show of ree heads of their elders as a show of respect. A similar ritual involves bathinspect. A similar ritual involves bathing g BuddhaBuddha images with perfumed wat images with perfumed water.er.

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Once the family and Once the family and religious ceremonies are over, religious ceremonies are over, however, it is time for the hoses however, it is time for the hoses and the buckets! Some people and the buckets! Some people say the Water Festival is say the Water Festival is becoming wilder and wilder becoming wilder and wilder every year. every year.

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What’s more, it seems that the fun of What’s more, it seems that the fun of water wars is water wars is contagiouscontagious—it is even —it is even spreading to Taiwan, where members spreading to Taiwan, where members of the large of the large Burmese-ChineseBurmese-Chinese community in community in Chungho CityChungho City, near , near Taipei, now celebrate the Water Taipei, now celebrate the Water Festival every year. And anyone is Festival every year. And anyone is welcome to join the fun— anyone, that welcome to join the fun— anyone, that is, who is not afraid of getting wet! is, who is not afraid of getting wet!

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生字表生字表soakingsoaking

soaking wet soaking wet soak (v.) soak (v.) soaked (adj.) soaked (adj.) E.g. It rained so hard. The ceiling in my E.g. It rained so hard. The ceiling in my

apartment even got soaked.apartment even got soaked. E.g. You were soaked through.E.g. You were soaked through.