1、Unit 2 Lets celebrate!To know different festivals.To know the reasons why people celebrate festivals.To talk about some customs of different festivals.1 Watch the video and answer the questions.1 What festivals are mentioned in the video?2 Why do people celebrate these festivals?The festivals mentio
2、ned in the video are“hanami”,the Rose Festival,the Mid-Autumn Day,the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival,and the New Year.Because people want to celebrate the changing seasons and express their appreciation of nature.2 Read the festival descriptions and complete the sentences._ is to celebra
3、te the harvest._ is to celebrate a season._ is to honour an event._ is to honour a person.2 Read the festival descriptions and complete the sentences._ is to celebrate the harvest._ is to celebrate a season._ is to honour an event._ is to honour a person.What the video and know the Dragon Boat Festi
4、val Dragon Boat Festival celebrations take place in China on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.They are held in memory of Qu Yuan,a poet and statesman in Ancient China.It was the first traditional Chinese festival added to UNESCOs List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.Thanksgiving is celebrated
5、mainly in North America,in October or November.Traditionally,it was a chance to give thanks for a good harvest.Now,it is also a time for families to get together for a big dinner.The American tradition of Thanksgiving dates back to colonial times,to the Pilgrims of plymouth rock Colony.To escape rel
6、igious persecution(迫害迫害）in England,the Pilgrims journeyed to the New World on their ship,the Mayflower.After a long journey,they finally arrived at Plymouth Rock in autumn of 1620.They could not finish building the settlement before winter,so many froze to death.They ate most of their food on the jo
7、urney over,so many also starved.However,the Pilgims met a Native American named Tisquantum,or Squanto as he was better known,who taught them how to plant corn and catch eel.By the same time next year,the Pilgrims had built a steady settlement,and had a bountiful harvest.To thank the Native Americans
8、 for their help and to celebrate the harvest the Pilgrims held a grand banquet.Together,they teasted on corn,yams,fish,and most importantly,roast turkey,which became the highlight of the modern Thanksgiving feast.May Day is a festival to celebrate the start of summer,with celebrations held across Eu
9、rope and in parts of North America.People prepare decorations with flowers and dance around maypoles.Freedom Day is held every year on 27 April to celebrate South Africas first fully-participated elections in 1994,in which everyone was allowed to vote regardless of skin colour.It celebrates the end
10、of racial inequality in the country._ is to celebrate the harvest._ is to celebrate a season._ is to honour an event._ is to honour a person.Dragon Boat Festival Freedom Day May Day ThanksgivingfestivalsFestivals in ChinaThe Dragon Boat FestivalThe Double Ninth FestivalThe Spring FestivalQingmingThe
11、 Lantern FestivalThe MiddleAutumn Festival The Double Seventh FestivalGhost FestivalFirecrackers sent a year away,Warm spring breezes sneaking into Su Tu.Thousands of households were all sleepless,The new is always replacing the past.爆竹声中一岁除，春风送暖入屠苏。爆竹声中一岁除，春风送暖入屠苏。千门万户曈曈日，总把新桃换旧符。千门万户曈曈日，总把新桃换旧符。Ca
12、n you name these festivals?Lunar New Year January 1the Spring Festivalcouplet 对联对联fireworks 烟花烟花firecrackers 爆竹爆竹paper-cuts 剪纸剪纸lucky/gift money 压岁钱压岁钱What do you do at the Spring Festival?But in the crowd once and again，I look for her in vain，When all at once I turn my head,I find her there where l
13、antern light is dimly shed.众里寻他千百度，蓦然回首，众里寻他千百度，蓦然回首，那人却在，灯火那人却在，灯火阑珊处。阑珊处。Lantern Festival(Lunar January 15)lion/dragon dance 舞狮舞狮/龙龙riddles written on lanterns 灯谜灯谜exhibit of lanterns 灯会灯会rice glue ball 汤圆汤圆A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day;The mourners heart is going to break
14、on his way.Where can a wineshop be found to drown his sad hours?A cowherd points to a cot mid apricot flowers.清明时节雨纷纷，路上行人欲断魂。清明时节雨纷纷，路上行人欲断魂。借问酒家何处有，牧童遥指杏花村。借问酒家何处有，牧童遥指杏花村。Ching Ming Festival/Tomb-sweeping Day(Lunar April 5)Tomb Sweeping 扫墓扫墓 honor ancestors 祭祖祭祖Spring Outing 春游、踏青春游、踏青 Planting W
15、illow Trees 插柳插柳 As the bright moon shines over the sea,From far away you share this moment with me.海上生明月，天涯共此时。海上生明月，天涯共此时。Mid-Autumn Festival(Lunar August 15)eat mooncakes appreciate the bright full moon offer sacrifice(供品供品)to the moon family reunion (合家团聚合家团聚)express strong yearnings(思念思念)to fam
16、ily members and friendsHow do people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival?festivalsFestivals in other countriesChristmasFools DayValentines DayCarnivalEasterThanksgiving DayMothers DayFathers DayHalloween It is one of the most important festivals in Western countries.People usually celebrate it togethe
17、r with their family members.A kind-hearted old man puts gifts in the stockings for children secretly at night.People send cards or gifts to others.Read the following descriptions about Western festivals and guess what festivals they convey.Christmas Day This festival happens on the second Sunday in
18、May.It is a special day in honour of mothers and it has a long history.Many people send cards or gifts to their mother or make a special effort to visit her.Mothers Day3 Work in groups.Talk about:Other festival of each type.Other festivals of each type include Pongal,Spring Festival,Independence Day
19、 and Valentines Day,etc.PongalPongal is a four-day harvest festival held throughout South India.It usually falls on the 14th or 15th of January.Pongal is a traditional occasion for giving thanks to nature and celebrating the life cycles that give people grain.Part of the celebration is the boiling o
20、f the first rice of the season to convey appreciation to the Sun God for providing the energy for agriculture.Other reasons to celebrate a festivalOther reasons to celebrate a festival include celebrating the beginning of a year,worshipping the ancestors,etc.Choose a festival that you are interested in.Then make a report to the class.
