Festivals and celebrations of all kinds have heen held everywhere since ancient times.
自古以來，各地都有各種各樣的節日和慶祝活動。
Most ancient festivals would celebrate the end of cold weather,planting in spring and harvest in autumn.
大多數古老的節日都會慶祝寒冷天氣的結束，春天播種，秋天收穫。
Sometimes celebrations would be held after hunters had caught animals.
有時在獵人捕獲動物後會舉行慶祝活動。
At that time people would starve if food was difficult to find,especially during the cold winter months.Today’s festivals have many origins,some religious,some seasonal,and some for special people or events.
Some festivals are held to honour the dead or to satisfy the ancestors,who might return either to help or to do harm.For the Japanese festival Obon,people should go to clean graves and light incense in memory of their ancestors.
They also light lamps and play music because they think that this will lead the ancestors back to earth.In Mexico,people eat food in the shape of skulls and cakes with “bones” on them.They offer food,flowers and gifts to the dead.
The Western holidays Halloween also had its origin in old beliefs about the return of the spirits of dead people.It is now a children’s festival,when they can dress up and go to their neighbour’s homes to ask for sweets.If the neighbours do not give any sweets,the children might play a trick on them.
Festivals can also be held to honour famous people.The Dragon Boat Festival in China honours the famous ancient poet,Qu Yuan.In the USA,Columbus Day is in memory of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World.India has a national festival on October 2 to honour Mohandas Gandhi,the leader who helped gain India’s independence from Britain.
Harvest and Thanksgiving festivals can be very happy events.People are grateful because their hood is gathered for the winter and the agricultural work is over.
收穫和感恩節可以是非常快樂的事情。人們心存感激，因為他們的兜帽是為過冬而收集的，農業生產也結束了。
In European countries,people will usually decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit,and will get together to have meals.Some people might win awards for their farm produce,like the biggest watermelon ro the most handsome rooster.
China and Japan have mid-autumn festivals,when people admire the moon and in China,enjoy mooncakes.
中國和日本都有中秋節，當人們賞月的時候，在中國，人們喜歡吃月餅。
Spring Festivals 春天的節日
The most energetic and important festivals are the ones that look forward to the end of winter and to the coming of spring.At the Spring Festival in China,people eatdumplings,fish and meat and may give children lucky money in red paper.
There are dragon dances and carnivals,and families celebrate the Lunar New Year together.Some Western countries have very exciting carnivals,which take place forty days before Easter,usually in February.These carnivals might include parades,dancing in the streets day and night,loud music and colourful clothing of all kinds.
Easter is an important religious and social festival for Christians around the world.It celebrates the return of Jesus from the dead and the coming of spring and new life.Japan’s Cherry Blossom Festival happens a little later.The country,covered with cherry tree flowers,looks as though it is covered with pink snow.
People love to get together to eat,drink and have hun with each other.Festivals let us enjoy life,be proud of our customs and forget our work for a little while.
《festivals and celebrations》全文翻譯
Festivals and celebrations of all kinds have heen held everywhere since ancient times.
自古以來，各地都有各種各樣的節日和慶祝活動。
Most ancient festivals would celebrate the end of cold weather,planting in spring and harvest in autumn.
大多數古老的節日都會慶祝寒冷天氣的結束，春天播種，秋天收穫。
Sometimes celebrations would be held after hunters had caught animals.
有時在獵人捕獲動物後會舉行慶祝活動。
At that time people would starve if food was difficult to find,especially during the cold winter months.Today’s festivals have many origins,some religious,some seasonal,and some for special people or events.
在那個時候，如果食物很難找到，人們就會捱餓，尤其是在寒冷的冬天。今天的節日有很多起源，一些是宗教的，一些是季節性的，還有一些是為特殊的人或事件設立的。
Festivals of the Dead 亡靈節
Some festivals are held to honour the dead or to satisfy the ancestors,who might return either to help or to do harm.For the Japanese festival Obon,people should go to clean graves and light incense in memory of their ancestors.
有些節日是為了紀念死者或滿足祖先，他們可能會回來幫助或傷害。對於日本的Obon節，人們應該去掃墓，點燃香火紀念他們的祖先。
They also light lamps and play music because they think that this will lead the ancestors back to earth.In Mexico,people eat food in the shape of skulls and cakes with “bones” on them.They offer food,flowers and gifts to the dead.
他們也點燃燈和播放音樂，因為他們認為這將帶領祖先回到地球。在墨西哥，人們吃頭骨形狀的食物和上面有“骨頭”的蛋糕。
The Western holidays Halloween also had its origin in old beliefs about the return of the spirits of dead people.It is now a children’s festival,when they can dress up and go to their neighbour’s homes to ask for sweets.If the neighbours do not give any sweets,the children might play a trick on them.
他們向死者提供食物、鮮花和禮物。西方節日萬聖節也起源於古老的信仰，即死人的靈魂會回來。現在這是一個兒童節，他們可以盛裝打扮去鄰居家要糖果。如果鄰居不給糖，孩子們可能會捉弄他們。
Festivals to Honour People 紀念名人的節日
Festivals can also be held to honour famous people.The Dragon Boat Festival in China honours the famous ancient poet,Qu Yuan.In the USA,Columbus Day is in memory of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World.India has a national festival on October 2 to honour Mohandas Gandhi,the leader who helped gain India’s independence from Britain.
節日也可以用來紀念名人。端午節是為紀念古代著名詩人屈原而產生的。在美國，哥倫布日是為了紀念克里斯托弗·哥倫布到達新大陸。印度在10月2日有一個全國性的節日來紀念幫助印度脫離英國獨立的領袖莫罕達斯·甘地。
Harvest Festivals 慶豐收的節日
Harvest and Thanksgiving festivals can be very happy events.People are grateful because their hood is gathered for the winter and the agricultural work is over.
收穫和感恩節可以是非常快樂的事情。人們心存感激，因為他們的兜帽是為過冬而收集的，農業生產也結束了。
In European countries,people will usually decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit,and will get together to have meals.Some people might win awards for their farm produce,like the biggest watermelon ro the most handsome rooster.
China and Japan have mid-autumn festivals,when people admire the moon and in China,enjoy mooncakes.
中國和日本都有中秋節，當人們賞月的時候，在中國，人們喜歡吃月餅。
Spring Festivals 春天的節日
The most energetic and important festivals are the ones that look forward to the end of winter and to the coming of spring.At the Spring Festival in China,people eatdumplings,fish and meat and may give children lucky money in red paper.
最有活力和最重要的節日是那些期待冬天的結束和春天的到來。在中國的春節，人們吃餃子、魚和肉，可能會給孩子們紅包。
There are dragon dances and carnivals,and families celebrate the Lunar New Year together.Some Western countries have very exciting carnivals,which take place forty days before Easter,usually in February.These carnivals might include parades,dancing in the streets day and night,loud music and colourful clothing of all kinds.
有舞龍和嘉年華，家人一起慶祝農曆新年。一些西方國家有非常令人興奮的嘉年華會，通常在復活節前40天舉行，通常在二月。這些嘉年華會可能包括遊行，日夜在街上跳舞，大聲的音樂和各種顏色的衣服。
Easter is an important religious and social festival for Christians around the world.It celebrates the return of Jesus from the dead and the coming of spring and new life.Japan’s Cherry Blossom Festival happens a little later.The country,covered with cherry tree flowers,looks as though it is covered with pink snow.
復活節是世界各地基督徒的一個重要的宗教和社會節日。它慶祝耶穌從死裡復活，春天和新生命的到來。日本的櫻花節要晚一點。這個國家，到處都是櫻花樹的花朵，看起來就像覆蓋著粉紅色的雪。
People love to get together to eat,drink and have hun with each other.Festivals let us enjoy life,be proud of our customs and forget our work for a little while.
人們喜歡聚在一起吃、喝、玩耍，節日讓我們享受生活，讓我們為自己的習俗而自豪，還可以暫時忘掉工作中的煩惱。