美国节日课件

HolidaysandfestivalsinAmericaUnitGoalsTogetageneralknowledgeoftheAmericanfestivalsTolearnhowAmericansobservetheirfestivalsWhatcomesintoyourmindwhenChristmasismentioned?giftexchangingChristmastreeSantaClausChristmascarolsChristmascardsSantaClaus,snowmen,brightlights,colorfuldecorations,bells,andthetraditionalsongs—allthesehelptomakeDecemberthemostfestivemonthoftheyear.InthenorthernpartoftheUS,winterweathercanbefrightful.Yetevenwintersnowstormscannotburythatcontagiousfeelingoffestivity.Whydoesalmosteverybodyfeelsogood?Itisgift-givingtime,partytime,andvacationtime.Studentsfromelementaryschoolthroughcollegehaveabout2weeks’vacation,beginningshortlybeforeChristmasandendingsoonafterNewYear’sDay.Manyfamiliesgoawayfortheholidaystovisitrelativesinanotherstate,skiinthemountains,orsunbatheonthebeachesintheSouth.EconomicsofChristmasChristmasistypicallythelargestannualeconomicstimulusformanynations.Salesincreasedramaticallyinalmostallretailareasandshopsintroducenewproductsaspeoplepurchasegifts,decorations,andsupplies.ChristmasattheWhiteHouseEachyearathemeisselectedforChristmasattheWhiteHouse,atraditionstartedbyFirstLadyJacquelineKennedyin1961.ThethemefortheWhiteHouseChristmasin2011is“Shine,Give,Share”，whichoffersanopportunitytopaytributetoUStroops,veterans,andtheirfamiliesthroughouttheWhiteHouse.BoisChristmasstarinWhiteHousedecorPardonme,Mr.PresidentLearningaboutThanksgivingDayNationalThanksgivingTurkeyOneachThanksgivingDay,averystrangethinghappensattheWhiteHouse.There,theUSPresidentwillpardonaturkey!Inthemorning,2turkeysaretakentotheWhiteHouse.ThePresidentwillpatoneofthemonthehead.Thentheturkeysarepardoned!Peoplewon’teatthem&they’llflytoDisneyWorld&livehappily!Theturkeypardoningbeganin1947.Sincethen,everyUSpresidenthaspardonedaturkeyonThanksgiving.Wheredothe2luckyturkeyscomefrom?Actually,eachApril,peopleprepareabout2,500turkeys,givethemthebestfood&letthemliveinhouseswithair-conditioning!AsThanksgivinggetsnearer,2ofthebestturkeysarechosen.TheothersbecomeThanksgivingdinnerssomewhere.Oneluckybirdisthewinner&theotheristhefirstrunnerup.Therunnerupisjustincasethewinnerdoesn’tbehave.Boththe2birdsweighabout45pounds&lookbeautiful.PeoplevoteontheWhiteHousewebsitetodecidethe2turkeys’names.In2011,PresidentObamapardonedaturkeynamedLiberty.Andhisfriend,aswellashisalternate,wascalledPeace.LibertyandPeacewillnothavetoworryaboutabrinebath(briningthebirdbeforeitiscooked).ThetwoturkeyswillspendtherestoftheirdaysonthegroundsofMountVernon,theVirginiaestateofthefirstU.S.president,GeorgeWashington.(theDisneyWorldrefusedtoreceiveturkeyssince2009)WhatimagescomeintoyourmindwhenyouthinkofHalloween?Masks,childrendressedincostumes,jack-o’-lanterns,hauntedhouses,witches,wizards&otherhorroritemsorspookystuff.HalloweenMasksHalloween,whichfallsonOctober31,isoneofthemostunusual&funnyholidaysintheUS.CelebratedinAmericasincethelate1800’s.It’salsooneofthescariest!It’sassociatedwithghosts,skeletons,witches,andotherscaryimages.ThereasonthatHalloweenisfilledwithscaryimagesgoesbackmorethan2,000years.InancientBritain&Ireland,October31wasthelastdayoftheyear.Itwastheendofthegrowingseason&thebeginningofwinter,atimeofdarkness&death.Peoplebelievedthatonthisdayghostsreturnedtotheearth,soitbecameafestivalforthegodofthedead.Inordertoscaretheghostsaway,peoplebuilthugefires＆worecostumesmadeofanimalskins.ManyoftheoriginalHalloweentraditionshavedevelopedtodayintofunnyactivitiesforchildren.Themostpopularoneis“trickortreat”.OnHalloweennight,childrendressupincostumes&gotovisittheirneighbors.Whensomeoneanswersthedoor,thechildrencryout,“Trickortreat!”Whatthismeansis,“Giveusatreat,orwe’llplayatrickonyou!”Thepeopleateachhousethengivecandyorfruitorsometimesafewcoins.AnotherpopularHalloweenactivityistovisita“hauntedhouse.”Usuallyyouhavetobuyatickettogetin.Asyougofromroomtoroom,youmeetonescarythingafteranother.Monsters&witchesmightjumpoutatyouinthedark.Youmighthearscreams&criesfrombehind,asifsomeoneisbeingkilled.Oryoumightsuddenlyfeelaspiderwebinyourface.It’sbestnottogoalone!Manypeoplealsoliketomakejack-o’-lanternsonHalloween.Ajack-o’-lanternisapumpkinthatishollowedout＆hasafacecarvedonit.It’sputinawindoworoutsideahouse&acandleisplacedinsidesothatthefacelightsup.TheJack-o-lanterncustomprobablycomesfromIrishfolklore.Asthetaleistold,amannamedJack,whowasnotoriousasadrunkardandtrickster,trickedSatanintoclimbingatree.Jackthencarvedanimageofacrossinthetree'strunk,trappingthedevilupthetree.Jackmadeadealwiththedevilthat,ifhewouldnevertempthimtoHell,hewouldpromisetolethimdownthetree.Accordingtothefolktale,afterJackdied,hewasdeniedentrancetoHeavenbecauseofhisevilways,buthewasalsodeniedaccesstoHellbecausehehadtrickedthedevil.Instead,thedevilgavehimasingleember(余火未尽的煤块)tolighthiswaythroughthefrigiddarkness.Theemberwasplacedinsideahollowed-outturniptokeepitglowinglonger.Allhecoulddowaswalkingtheearthasaghost,carryingalantern&lookingforaplacetorest.TheIrishusedturnipsastheirJack'slanternsoriginally.ButwhentheimmigrantscametoAmerica,theyfoundthatpumpkinswerefarmo