FestivalsUnit14ThemostimportantholidayinChinaisSpringFestival,alsoknownastheChineseNewYear.TotheChinesepeopleitisasimportantasChristmastopeopleintheWest.TotheordinaryChinese,thefestivalactuallybeginsontheeveofthelunarNewYear'sDayandendsonthefifthdayofthefirstmonthofthelunarcalendar.Butthe15thofthefirstmonth,whichnormallyiscalledtheLanternFestival,meanstheofficialendoftheSpringFestival.PreparationsfortheNewYearbeginthelastfewdaysofthelastmoon,whenhousesarethoroughlycleaned,debtsrepaid,haircutandnewclothespurchased.Housesarefestooned(给饰花彩)withpaperscrollsbearingauspicious(吉祥的)antithetical(对偶的)coupletandinmanyhomes,peopleburnincenseathomeandinthetemplestopayrespectstoancestorsandaskthegodsforgoodhealthinthecomingyear.OnNewYear'sEve,allthemembersoffamiliescometogethertofeast.Atmidnightattheturnoftheoldandnewyear,peopleusedtoletofffire-crackerswhichservetodriveawaytheevilspiritsandtogreetthearrivalofthenewyear.OnNewYear’sday,peopledressupintheirbestorancientcostumestovisitrelativesandfriendsorgoonorwatchparadesinthestreets.Childrenreceiveredpacketsdecoratedwithgoldsymbolsandfilledwith“luckymoney”.FestivalsChineseFestivalsLanternFestivalTheDragonBoatFestivalTombSweepingDayMid-AutumnDayNewYear’sDayDouble-ninthNationalDayMay1stForeignFestivalsChristmasDayThanksgivingDayMother’sDayAprilFool’sDayValentine’sDayEasterPumpkinheadHalloweenMasksThenightofOctober31st,whenitwasbelievedthatthespiritsofdeadpeopleappeared,andwhichisnowcelebratedintheUSbychildren,whodressaswitchesandghosts.HalloweenOboninJapanObonAtraditionalBuddhistfestivalwhichtakesplacethroughoutJapanaroundAugust15.Atthistime,peoplevisittheirancestors'graves,welcometheancestors'spiritshomewithfoodandofferingsandthenseethespiritsoff.InthispicturewecanseesomeJapanesewomenarefloatingpaperlanternstowelcometheirpastancestorsbackhome.TheDayoftheDeadInMexicoTheDayoftheDeadinMexicoThebestwaytodescribethisMexicanholidayistosaythatitisatimewhenMexicanfamiliesremembertheirdead,andthecontinuityoflife.ThecelebrationusuallybeginsasearlyasOctober18andcontinuesuntilNovember9.Inthispicture,wecanseealadyisvisitingtherestingplaceofthedead.Shehaslitsomecandlesandisnowplacingabunchofflowersinfrontofthemonumenttoshowherrespectforandmemoryofthedead.CompareaChinesefestivalwithaforeignoneNameWhenWhoHowWhyThemesHowoldTombSweepingDayApril5thAllChinesearoundtheworldVisittheirfamilygraves,pullweeds,sweepawaydirtandsetoffofferingsoffoodandspiritmoneyTohonorpastancestors,celebratetherebirthofnature,markingthebeginningoftheplantingseasonandotheroutdooractivitiesFamily,natureFromtheSpringandAutumnPeriodCompareaChinesefestivalwithaforeignoneNameWhenWhoHowWhyThemesHowoldHalloweenOctober31AmericansHoldfancyballs,dressupinallmannerofghoulishcostumes;noisilyparadearoundtheneighborhoodTokeepthelivingbodyawayfrombeingpossessedbyspiritsofallthosewhodiedthroughouttheprecedingyearSuperstition,safety,religionFromthe1840’sSummaryofthefestivalMardiGrasAhornplayerintheMardiGras.InNewOrleans,USA,MardiGrasiscelebratedwithparadesandmarchingbandsplayingjazzmusic.MardiGras,orShroveTuesday,isthelastdaybeforeLent,aperiodoffasting.PeoplecelebrateMardiGrasbydressingupincostumesdressup穿上正装,打扮Youdon’tneedto~forthisdinner.Idon’twanttogototheirwedd...