Unit1FestivalsandCelebrationsReadingandThinkingFestivalquiz!However,nomatterhowdifferenttheymayseem,allovertheworld,thespiritofsharingjoy,gratitude,love,orpeaceiscommoninallfestivals.Theyhaveawiderangeoforigins,suchasseasonsoftheyears,religions,andfamousfigures,andimportantevents.Everyfestivalhasitsdifferentcustomsanduniquecharms.Festivalsarecelebratedallaroundtheworld.Para2:Harvestfestivals

Ofallthetraditionalfestivals,theharvestfestivalcanbefoundinalmosteveryculture.Thisimportantagriculturalfestivaltakesplaceafterallthecropshavebeengatheredin.Peoplecelebratetoshowthattheyaregratefulfortheyear’ssupplyoffood.InancientEgypt,theharvestfestivalwascelebratedduringthespringtime---theEgyptianharvestseason.Itfeaturedaparadeandagreatfeastwithmusic,dancing,andsports.Today,insomeEuropeancountries,peopledecoratechurchesandtownhallswithflowersandfruit,andgettogethertocelebrateoverameal.DuringtheMid-AutumnFestivalinChina,familiesgathertoadmiretheshiningmoonandenjoydeliciousmooncakes.Para3:ChangingfestivalsCustomsplayasignificantroleinfestivals,butsometimes,theycanchangeovertime.Withthedevelopmentofmodernsocietyandthespreadofnewideas,sometraditionsmayfadeawayandothersmaybeestablished.OneexampleisthetypicalChineseSpringFestivalcustomoflightingfirecrackerstodriveawaytheevilspiritsandcelebratethenewyear.Nowadays,manybigcitieshavegivenupthiscustominordertoavoidairpollution.AnotherexampleisHalloween,whichslowlybecameanexcitingfestivalforchildren,inspiteofitsreligiousorigins.Para4:commercializationoffestivalsFestivalsarebecomingmoreandmorecommercial,withbusinessestakingadvantageofthecelebrations.Onlineshoppingwebsitesandsocialmediaappshavemadeitmucheasierforthepublictospendmoreongiftsfortheirlovedones.Althoughsomebelievefestivalsshouldnotbecommercialized,othersbelievetheincreaseinspendingisgoodfortheeconomyandpublichappiness.Festivalsareanimportantpartofsociety.Theyreflectpeople’swishes,beliefs,faiths,andattitudestowardslife.Theyareoccasionsthatallowustorelaxandenjoylife,andforgetaboutourworkforalittlewhile.Theyhelpusunderstandwherewecamefrom,whoweare,andwhattoappreciate.Andifyoustudyfestivalscarefully,youmaybesurprisedtofindthatdifferentculturesactuallyhavealotincommonafterall.IntroduceatraditionalChinesefestivaltoyourfriendintheUKYoumaycontain: