Chinese-traditions-and-holidays

1Festivals&HolidaysI.QuestionsforDiscussion1.Doyouoftencelebratefestivalsinyourculture/country?Whatarethemainfestivalsorspecialdays?1)Maininformation:Answer‘yes’or‘no’andthengiveabriefdetailsofthemainfestivals,includingitsmeaningsanddates.”2)Additionalinformation:“Howdopeoplecelebratethem?”and“specialclotheswornatthistime”.注意：问题中的festivals是复数概念，所以不能只能谈论某一个节日的庆典。2.Whatspecialthingsdopeopledoduringfestivals?1)Maininformation:whatspecialthingsdotheydo?2)Additionalinformation:what’sthemeaningbehindthesespecialthingsandhowdopeoplefeelaboutthem?Sample:SpringFestival—havingabigmealonNewYear’sEve;settingofffirecrackers;puttingonone’sbestclothes;makingsnowmen;receivingaredenvelopewithluckymoneyinitfromelders;makingandeatingdumplings;watchingtheSpringFestivalGalaonCCTV;visitingrelativesandfriends.Mid-AutumnFestival—eatingmooncakesandpearswhileappreciatingthebrightfullmoon;sittingaroundforthefascinatinglegendabout‘Chang’eFlytotheMoon’DragonBoatFestival—showingrespecttoQuYuan,thefamousChineseancientlearnedscholaranduprightstatesman;holdingtheDragonBoatsracingcompetition,demonstratingcooperationandteamwork;makingandeatingakindofdumplingcalledZongzi.DoubleNinthDay—showingcareandrespectfortheelderly;gettingtogetherandclimbingahighmountainandrecitepoemsandarticles.PureBrightnessDay—sweepinggraves;presenting/placingfreshflowers;offeringmeats,vegetables,wine,andoftenarrangingacompletedinnertoplaceinfrontofthetombs;offeringpapermoneyandothersymbolsofwealthtothedead;bowingtoexpresstheirrespectandtransmittheirregards.3.Howspringfestivaliscloselyconnectedwithourlife?1)Maininformation:theexacttimeofspringfestival;attractionsofit,howpeoplecelebrateit;2)Additionalinformation:theproblemscausedbyspringfestivalandhowtosolvethem.Theexacttime:Chineselunarnewcalendar.Attractionsofit:havingabigmealonNewYear’sEve;settingofffirecrackers;puttingonone’sbestclothes;makingandeatingdumplings;watchingtheSpringFestivalGalaonCCTV;Problems:the“springtransport”withlotsofimmigrantworkersrushingbacktothecountryside;fireincidentscausedbysettingoffthefirecrackers,theairpollutionoffirecrackersorfireworks.Solutions:increasingthepassengertrains;warningthechildrenawayfromthefirecrackers,prohibitingpeoplesettingoffthefireworksindowntownareas.4.Whichisyourfavoritefestival?1)Maininformation:whichfestivaldoyouparticularlylike?Whendoesittakeplace?Whatdopeopledoduringthisfestival?2)Additionalinformation:“whydoyouparticularlylikeit?”and“whatspecialfooddopeople2eatatthistime?”注意：很多人都会谈论春节或者中秋节，可以谈一个不同的节日以示新意。例如：DragonBoatFestival(May5th,lunarcalendar),DoubleNinthDay以及PureBrightnessDay等。5.Doyoucelebrateanyforeignfestivals?1)Maininformation:“whatarethey,ChristmasorValentine’sDay?”and“Whyandwhynot?”2)Additionalinformation:“Doyouthinkthatcelebratingthemisagoodidea?”6.WhydoWesternfestivalslikeValentine’sDaybecomemorepopularinChinanowcomparedtoitwasdecadesago?Whataccountsforthepopularityandtheinfluence?7.Itissometimesclaimedthatmanyfestivalshavebeencreatedjusttoencouragepeopletospendmoremoney.Doyouagree?8.Chinesepeoplehighlyvalueetiquette,howmanydosanddon’tsyouknowinChinesenewyear,themostimportantandtypicalChinesefestival?II.LanguageskillIntalkingaboutpeopleorthings,weoftentouchupontheirsimilaritiesanddifferences.ThispartfocusesonvariouswaystoexpresstheseinEnglish.Similarities:1.Thereissomethingincommonin(thewayswecelebrate…)2.(Ourwaysofcelebrating…)arejustthesameasyours.3.(Thesecelebrations)havethesame(purposes).4.(Youractivities)arequitelikeours.5.(Christmasin…)isasjoyfulas(theSpringFestivalinChina).6.(Christmascelebrations)aresimilarto(SpringFestivalcelebrations).Differences:1.Therearesomedifferencesbetween(thewaysweobserveNewYear’sDay).2.(Christmasactivities)arequitedifferentfrom(SpringFestivalactivities).3.Myviewon(thisissue)differsgreatlyfromyours.4.Ourwaysof…arenotthesameasyours.III.DebatesFormtwogroupsanddebateonthefollowingtopics.Presentyourviewsconvincingly;Bepreparedtorespondtoanyquestionsoropposingstatementstheothergroupmakes;Whentheothergrouppresentsanargument,pointouttheweaknessinit.1.IsitnecessaryfortheChinesetocelebrateChristmas?2.Shouldwecontinuetocelebratespringfestival?IV.Vocabulary1.words:thelunarandsolarcalendars阴历阳历luckymoney压岁钱luckyday好日子firecracker爆竹setofffireworks放鞭炮lionanddragondancing舞龙舞狮fullmoon满月dumpling/jiaozi饺子inmemoryofthedeadancestors（用以）纪念先人zongzi，pyramid-shapeddumplingmadeofglutinousricewrappedinbambooorreedleaves粽子yuanxiao，riceballfilledwithbeanpaste,sugarorsomeothersweetthings元宵lanternexhibitions灯笼展thecowherdandtheweavingmaid牛郎织女magpie喜鹊carol颂歌Cathedral天主教堂parade游行SantaClaus/FatherChristmas圣诞老人3stocking长筒袜holly冬青树枝turkey火鸡wreath花环wintersolstice冬至Christian基督教的feast盛宴pumpkinpie南瓜饼thePilgrims清教徒前辈移民2.Importantholidaysandspecialdays:NewYear’sEveNewYear'sDayInternationalWorkingWomen'sDay（Women'sDay）InternationalLaborDay(May.Day)ChineseYouthDayInternationalChildren'sDay（Children'sDay）AnniversaryoftheFoundingoftheChineseCommunistParty(theParty'sBirthday)ArmyDayTeachers’DayNationalDaytheSpringFestival（NewYear’sDayoftheChineselunarcalendar）t