UNIT4HolidaysFuntimeLearningobjectivesMoviekaleidoscopeCulturelinksMoviebasicsTestyourselfUnit4HolidaysLearningobjectivesTogetageneralknowledgeoftheBritishandAmericanfestivals

1HolidaysTolearnhowlocalpeopleobservetheirfestivals2TomakeacomparisonbetweenChinesefestivalsandWesternones3SectionALoveActuallyMovieBasicsTrailerMatchingCriticism&AwardsTrailerFollow-upQuestions1.Accordingtothetrailer,whatgenremightthemoviebelongto?2.Whichholidaydoesthestoryhappenaround?3.ItalsomentionsthreeothermoviesproducedbytheWorkingTitleCompany.Whatarethey?RomanceORlove.Christmas.FourWeddingsandOneFuneralNottingHillBridgetJone’sDiaryMatchingDavidMarkSamKarlJamieHarryKarenMiaJoannaNatalieSarahAuréliaLoveInterconnectionMovieProfilesGenre:

romance,comedy

Director:RichardCurtisStarring:HughGrant,KeiraKnightley,EmmaThompson,ColinFirth,etcReleaseYear:2003RunningTime:136minutesCountry:

the

UK,theUS,FranceThefilmwasreleasedaweekearlierintheUnitedStatesthanintheUnitedKingdom.Itreceiveddifferentfeedbackafteritsrelease:mixedreviewsinAmericawhilemorepositivereviewsinBritain.Althoughcritics’reviewsforLoveActuallyweremixed,thefilmismorepopularamongaudiencesandhasevenbeendiscussedasanarguablemodern-dayChristmasclassic.Itfailstoreceiveanynominationofawards.However,itisquiteasuccessinboxoffice,grossingalmost$247millionworldwideonabudgetof$40million.

Criticism&AwardsReligiousHolidaysintheUKBritish-specificHolidaysCultureLinksReligiousHolidays

intheUKThetrueoriginofChristmasisfilledwithcontroversy.ItiscommonlybelievedthattheholidayisnamedafterJesusChristtocommemoratehisbirth.ChristmasisthemostimportantholidayinWesternworld.Officesandschoolsclosed,peoplepreparepresentsforfriends,familyandcolleagues.Forthosenon-Christians,Christmasisadayofthanksgivingandrejoicing—adayofgoodcheerandgoodwilltoothers.

Christmas

SymbolsofChristmashollySantaClausgingerbreadman&candycanestockingChristmastreewreathChristmasdinnerisaformalmealtraditionallyeatatChristmas.Turkeyisamust,butpeopleindifferentcountriesmayhavevariedmenuandsidedishes.

ChristmasDinnerChristmasdinnerintheUnitedKingdomisusuallyeatenintheafternoonon25December.Thedinnerusuallyconsistsofturkeyservedwithstuffing,gravy,sometimespigsinblanketsordevilsonhorseback,cranberrysauceorredcurrantjelly;breadsauce;yorkshirepudding,roastpotatoes(sometimesalsoboiledormashed);vegetables(usuallyboiledorsteamed),particularlybrusselssproutsandparsnips;withdessertofChristmaspudding(orplumpudding),sometimesmincepiesortrifle,withbrandybutterand/orcream.ChristmasDinner—BritishStylepigsinblanketsChristmaspuddingdevilson

horsebackredcurrantjellyyorkshirepuddingparsnipsmashedpotatobrusselssproutMostChristmascustomsintheUnitedStateshavebeenadoptedfromthoseintheEurope,suchasBritain,Italy,France,Scandinavia,andGermany,etc.Accordingly,themainstaysoftheBritishtablearealsofoundintheUnitedStates:roastturkey(orotherpoultry),beef,ham,orpork;stuffing(or“dressing”);mashedorroastpotatoesandgravy;andsquashorroastedrootvegetablesarecommon.Commondessertsincludepumpkinpie,plumpuddingorChristmaspudding,andmincepies.IntheSouth,coconutcake,pecanpie,andsweetpotatopiearealsocommon.

ChristmasDinner—AmericanStyleEasteristheoldestChristianholidayandthemostimportantdayofthechurchyear.EachyearthedaytocelebrateEasterisnotfixed:itcanfallanywherebetweenMarch22andApril25,alwayscelebratedonthefirstSundayfollowingthefirstfullmoonafterthespringequinox.EasterYearDateofEaster2019April212020April122021April42022April17ThroughouttheEnglish-speakingworld,manyEastertraditionsaresimilarwithonlyminordifferences.SaturdayistraditionallyspentdecoratingEastereggsandegghunting;eggshavebeenmysteriouslyhiddenalloverthehouseandgarden.Othertraditionsinvolveparentstellingtheirchildrenthateggsandothertreats,suchaschocolateeggsorrabbits,andmarshmallowchicks,havebeendeliveredbytheEasterBunnyinanEasterbasket,whichchildrenfindwaitingforthemwhentheywakeup.ManyfamiliesobservethereligiousaspectsofEasterbyattendingSundayMassorservicesinthemorningandthenparticipatinginafeastorpartyintheafternoon.EasterTraditionsEasterSymbolsBoxingDay,alsocalledSt.Stephen’sDay,isaholidayofBritishoriginandcelebratedthedayafter

ChristmasDayamongthepreviousCommonwealthcountries.Theoriginofthisholidaygoesbackmanycenturiestowhere,traditionally,onthedayafterChristmas,churcheswouldopentheiralms’boxesanddistributethecontentstothepooroftheirparish.Traditionally,itwasacustomfortradespeople,inBritain,tocollect“Christmasboxes”ofmoneyorpresentsonthefirstweekdayafterChristmasasthanksforgoodservicethroughouttheyear.

BoxingDayIntheUK,Canada,Australia,andNewZealand,BoxingDayisprimarilyknownasashoppingholiday,muchlikeBlackFriday(thedayafterThanksgiving)intheUnitedStatesandtheDouble-EleventhDayinChina.Itisatimewhenshopsholdsales,oftenwithdramaticpricereductions.Formanymerchants,BoxingDayhasbecomethedayoftheyearwiththegreatestrevenue.Inrecentyears,retailershaveexpandeddealsto“BoxingWeek”.WhileBoxingDayis26December,manyretailerswillrunthesalesforseveraldaysbeforeorafter26December,oftenuptoNewYear’sEve.BoxingDayBritish-specific

HolidaysBritaindoesn’thaveafixeddayforitsnationalday.ItvariesaccordingtotheKingorQueen’sbirthday.Fortheabove-mentionedreasons,theQueen’sBirthdaysarespecifictotheUK.TheQueencelebratestwobirthdayseachyear:theQueen’sActualBirthdayfallsonApril21andtheQueen’sOfficialBirthdaytakesplaceonasunnySaturdayinJune,usuallythesecondonewhenthereisalikelihoodofgoodweather.TheQueenusuallyspendsheractualbirthdayprivately,buttheoccasionismarkedpubliclybygunsalutesincentralLondonatmidday:a41gunsaluteinHydePark,a21gunsaluteinWindsorGreatParkanda62gunsaluteattheTowerofLondon.TheQueen’sBirthdays

Onherofficialbirthday,HerMajestyisjoinedbyothermembersoftheRoyalFamilyatthespectacularTroopingtheColourparadewhichmovesbetweenBuckinghamPalace,TheMallandHorseguards’ParadeaswellasapublicappearanceonthebalconyofBuckinghamPalace.

TheQueen’sBirthdaysEveryJune,over1400paradingsoldiers,200horsesand400musicianscometogethereachJuneinagreatdisplayofmilitaryprecision,horsemanshipandfanfaretomarkTheQueen’sofficialbirthday.TroopingtheColourThe

streetsarelinedwithcrowdswavingflagsastheparademovesfromBuckinghamPalaceanddown

TheMalltoHorseGuard’sParade,alongsideMembersoftheRoyalFamilyonhorsebackandin

carriages.TroopingtheColourThedisplaycloseswithanRAFfly-past,watchedbyMembersoftheRoyalFamilyfrom

BuckinghamPalacebalcony.A41-gunsaluteisalsofiredinGreenParktomark

theoccasion.

TroopingtheColourTroopingtheColourCatholicisminEnglandwasheavilyrepressedunderQueenElizabethI.Duringherreign,dozensofpriestswereputtodeath,andCatholicscouldnotevenlegallycelebrateMassorbemarriedaccordingtotheirownrites.Asaresult,manyCatholicshadhighhopeswhenKingJamesItookthethroneuponElizabeth’sdeathin1603.ItturnedoutthatJamesdidnotsupportreligioustoleranceforCatholics,too.In1604hepubliclycondemnedCatholicismasasuperstition,orderedallCatholicprieststoleaveEnglandandexpressedconcernthatthenumberofCatholicswasincreasing.Healsolargelycontinuedwiththerepressivepoliciesofhispredecessor,suchasfinesforthoserefusingtoattendProtestantservices.GuyFawkes’DayEnglishCatholicshadorganizedseveralfailedconspiraciesagainstElizabeth,andthesecontinuedunderJames.In1603afewpriestsandlaymenhatchedtheso-calledByePlottokidnapJames,onlytobeturnedinbyfellowCatholics.Anotherrelatedconspiracythatyear,knownastheMainPlot,soughttokillJamesandinstallhiscousinonthethrone.Then,inMay1604,ahandfulofCatholicdissidents—GuyFawkes,RobertCatesby,TomWintour,JackWrightandThomasPercy—metattheDuckandDrakeinninLondon,whereCatesbyproposedaplantoblowuptheHousesofParliamentwithgunpowder.Afterwards,allfivemenpurportedlysworeanoathofsecrecyuponaprayerbook.GuyFawkes’DayFawkesservedascaretakerofacellar—locatedjustbelowtheHouseofLords—thattheplottershadleasedinordertostockpilegunpowder.Undertheplan,FawkeswouldlightafuseonNovember5,1605,duringtheopeningofanewsessionofParliament.James,hiseldestson,theHouseofLordsandtheHouseofCommonswouldallbeblownsky-high.Meanwhile,Fawkes’fellowconspiratorswouldstartanuprisingintheEnglishMidlands,kidnapJames’daughterElizabeth,installherasapuppetqueenandeventuallymarryherofftoaCatholic,therebyrestoringtheCatholicmonarchy.GuyFawkes’DayGuyFawkes’Day

OnOctober26,ananonymousletteradvisingaCatholicsympathizertoavoidtheStateOpeningofParliamentalertedtheauthoritiestotheexistenceofaplot.Fawkesandhisco-conspiratorsweresoonallfoundguiltyofhightreasonandsentencedtodeathinJanuary1606.Aftertheplotwasrevealed,Londonersbeganlightingcelebratorybonfires.NowinBritainGuyFawkesDayhasbecomeatimetogettogetherwithfriendsandfamily,setofffireworks,lightbonfires,attendparadesandburneffigiesofFawkes.Childrentraditionallywheeledaroundtheireffigiesdemandinga“pennyfortheGuy”andimploringcrowdsto“remember,rememberthefifthofNovember.”StGeorge’sDayinEnglandremembersStGeorge,England’spatronsaint.Theanniversaryofhisdeath,whichisonApril23,isseenasEngland’snationalday.Accordingtolegend,hewasasoldierintheRomanarmywhokilledadragonandsavedaprincess.St.George’sDayStGeorge’sDayusedtobeanationalholidayinEngland.Itisnowanobservancethatiscelebratedwithparades,dancingandotheractivities.FlagswiththeimageofStGeorge’scrossareflownonsomebuildings,especiallypubs,andafewpeopleweararedroseontheirlapel.StGeorgewasbornsometimearoundtheyear280inwhatisnowTurkey.HewasasoldierandroseupthroughtheranksoftheRomanarmy,eventuallybecomingapersonalguardtotheEmperorDiocletian.HewasexecutedforbeingaChristianonApril23,303,andisburiedinthetownofLodinIsrael.St.George’sDaySt.Georgeismostwidelyknownforslayingadragon.Accordingtolegend,theonlywellinthetownofSilenewasguardedbyadragon.Inordertogetwater,theinhabitantsofthetownhadtoofferahumansacrificeeverydaytothedragon.Thepersontobesacrificedwaschosenbylots.OnthedaythatStGeorgewasvisiting,aprincesshadbeenselectedtobesacrificed.However,hekilledthedragon,savedtheprincessandgavethepeopleofSileneaccesstowater.Ingratitude,theyconvertedtoChristianity.Itisthoughtthatthedragonrepresentsacertaintypeofpaganbeliefthatincludedthesacrificeofhumanbeings.St.George’sDayStPatrick’sDay,apublicholidayintheRepublicofIrelandandNorthernIreland,isaculturalandreligiouscelebrationheldon17March,thetraditionaldeathdateofSaintPatrick(c.

AD

385–461),theforemostpatronsaintofIreland.St.Patrick’sDay

Patrickwasa5th-centuryRomano-BritishChristianmissionaryandbishopinIreland.ItisbelievedthathewasborninRomanBritaininthefourthcentury,intoawealthyRomano-Britishfamily.HisfatherwasadeaconandhisgrandfatherwasapriestintheChristianchurch.AccordingtotheDeclarationwrittenbyPatrickhimself,hewaskidnappedandtakenasaslavebytheIrishraidersatage16andstayedtherefor6years.Later,Godtoldhimtofleetothecoast,whereashipwouldbewaitingtotakehimhome.Aftermakinghiswayhome,Patrickwentontobecomeapriest.Accordingtotradition,PatrickreturnedtoIrelandtoconvertthepaganIrishtoChristianity.Traditionholdsthathediedon17MarchandwasburiedatDownpatrick.Overthefollowingcenturies,manylegendsgrewuparoundPatrickandhebecameIreland'sforemostsaint.St.Patrick’sDay

Celebrationsgenerallyinvolvepublicparadesandfestivals,Irishtraditionalmusicsessionsandthewearingofgreenattireorshamrocks(三葉草).Therearealsoformalgatheringssuchasbanquetsanddances,althoughtheseweremorecommoninthepast.StPatrick’sDayparadesbeganinNorthAmericainthe18thcenturybutdidnotspreadtoIrelanduntilthe20thcentury.St.Patrick’sDay

St.David’sDay

SaintDavid'sDayisthefeastdayofSaintDavid,thepatronsaintofWales,andfallson1March,thedateofSaintDavid’sdeathin589AD.ThefeasthasbeenregularlycelebratedsincethecanonisationofDavidinthe12thcentury(byPopeCallistusII),thoughitisnotanationalholidayintheUK.

St.David’sDay

SaintDavidwasborninthesouthwestWalesintoanaristocraticfamily.Hewasreportedlyadescendantoftheroyalhouse,andfoundedaCelticmonasticcommunityonthewesternheadlandofPembrokeshire(彭布魯克郡)atthespotwhereStDavid’sCathedralstandstoday.David’sfameasateacherandhisasceticism(苦行主義)spreadamongCelticChristians,andhehelpedfoundabout12monasteries.HisfoundationatGlynRhosynbecameanimportantChristianshrine,andthemostimportantcentreinWales.ThedateofSaintDavid'sdeathisbelievedtobe1March589.

Symbols&Celebrations

daffodilleekreddragon

Symbols&CelebrationsMilitary

TattooSaintAndrew’sDayisthefeastdayofSaintAndrew.Itiscelebratedon30November-3December.SaintAndrew’sDayisScotland’sofficialnationalday.In2006,theScottishParliamentpassedtheSt.Andrew’sDayBankHoliday(Scotland)Act2007,whichdesignatedtheDayasanofficialbankholiday.If30Novemberfallsonaweekend,thenextMondayisabankholidayinstead.Althoughitisabankholiday,banksarenotrequiredtocloseandemployersarenotrequiredtogivetheiremployeesthedayoffasaholiday.St.Andrew’sDayInScotland,andmanycountrieswithScottishconnections,SaintAndrew’sDayismarkedwithacelebrationofScottishculturewithtraditionalScottishfood,musicanddance.InScotlandthedayisalsoseenasthestartofaseasonofScottishwinterfestivalsencompassingSaintAndrew’sDay,Hogmanay(大年夜)andBurnsNight(彭斯之夜).Thereareweek-longcelebrationsinthetownofStAndrewsandinsomeotherScottishcities.St.Andrew’sDaySt.Andrew’sCrossSymbols&Celebrations1.LoveActuallyisaromanticcomedysetduringafranticmonthbefore________inLondon.A.ThanksgivingB.Valentine’sDayC.ChristmasD.Halloween2.Inthemovietheprotagonistsareconnectedwitheachother,forexampleDavidandKarenare_________whileMiaandNatalieare___________.A.closefriends;workmatesB.siblings;neighboursC.workmates;closefriendsD.neighbours;sistersTestYourself3.Themovietellsstories______weeksbeforetheholidayandtheepiloguehappens____week(s)aftertheholiday.A.4;2B.3;3 C.5;1D.6;24.Whichofthefollowingcouplesdoesnothaveahappyendinginthemovie?A.DavidandNatalie.B.JohnandJudy.C.SarahandKarl.

D.HarryandKaren.Test

Yourself5.Thelastsceneofthemovieistakenat________wherejoyfulfacesareeverywhere.A.aweddingceremonyB.anairportC.apublicgatheringD.aschoolauditorium6.DavidknocksonmanywrongdoorstofindNatalieandheisforcedtodothefollowingexcept_______.A.tosingacarolB.tosendseason’sgreetingsC.toapologizeforhispoorcabinetD.toperforminfrontofthewholeschoolTest

Yourself7.Whichofthefollowingfestivalsisnotareligiousone?A.GoodFriday.B.Valentine’sDay.C.Queen’sBirthdayParade.D.BoxingDay.8.WhichofthefollowingholidaysisabankholidayintheUK?A.St.Stephen’sDayB.St.George’sDayC.St.David’sDayD.St.Patrick’sDayTest

YourselfSectionBGroundhogDayGenre:

fantasy,comedy

Director:HaroldRamisStarring:BillMurrayAndieMacDowellChrisElliottReleaseYear:1993RunningTime:101minutesCountry:theUnitedStatesBasicsabouttheMovie

ContentsAmericanFederalFestivalAmericanNon-FederalFestivalTenAmericanFederalFestival:NewYear’sDay,MartinLutherKingJr.Day,Washington’sDay,MemorialDay,IndependenceDay,LaborDay,ColumbusDay,VeteransDay,ThanksgivingDayChristmasDay.AmericanFederalFestivalThanksgivingDay

Thanksgivingtraditionwasbelievedtobelinkedtothepracticesofearlyimmigrants,whotooktheMayFlowershiptotheNewLandandarrivedinwinter.TheIndianskindlytaughtthemhowtogrowcropstosurvivetheseverewinter.ThenextyeartheycelebratethecropharvestwithafeastofthankstoGodaswellastothenativeAmericans.That’showthefirstThanksgivingcameintobeing.ThanksgivingDayfallsonthefourthThursdayofNovember.Itisatimeforcommunalthanksgiving,feelinggratitude,lavishfeasts.

AmericanFederalFestivalAmericanFederalFestivalIntheUSA,oneofthebiggestThanksgivingcelebrationsisMacy’sThanksgivingDayParade,atraditionstartedfrom1924.AmericanFederalFestivalSquash,cornandturkeystillappearontoday’sThanksgivingtablesandpumpkinpieandIndianpuddingaretraditionalThanksgivingdesserts.

ThanksgivingDay

isalso

celebratedin

Canada,andsomeofthe

Caribbeanislands.DifferentfromtheUnitedStates,Thanksgivingiscelebratedamonthearlier,onthe

secondMondayofOctober

inCanada.VeteransDay

IntheUSA,VeteransDayannuallyfallsonNovember11.Thisdayistheanniversaryofthesigningofthearmistice(停戰協議),whichendedtheWorldWarIhostilitiesbetweentheAlliednationsandGermanyin1918.VeteransarethankedfortheirservicestotheUnitedStatesonVeteransDay.

AmericanFederalFestivalItismarkedbyparadesandchurchservicesandinmanyplacestheAmericanflagishungathalfmast.Aperiodofsilencelastingtwominutesmaybeheldat11a.m.IndependenceDay

IndependenceDayistheNationalDayoftheUnitedStates.ItisafederalholidaycommemoratingtheadoptionoftheDeclarationofIndependenceonJuly4,1776.IndependenceDayiscommonlyassociatedwithfireworks,parades,barbecues,carnivals,fairs,picnics,concerts,baseballgames,familyreunions,andpoliticalspeechesandceremonies,inadditiontovariousotherpublicandprivateeventscelebratingthehistory,government,andtraditionsoftheUnitedStates.IndependenceDayAmericanFederalFestivalMother’sDayPeoplearoundtheworldhavethetraditionofhonoringtheirmotherandindifferentways.ThemodernMother’sdaybeganintheUnitedStates,attheinitiativeofAnnReevesJarvisintheearly20thcentury.

AmericanNon-FederalFestivalThefirstMother’sDaywascelebrated

in1908,when

AnnaJarvis

heldacelebrationinmemoryofhermotheratachurchin

Grafton,WestVirginia.In1905,PresidentWoodrowWilsonsignedaproclamationdesignatingMother’sDay,heldonthesecondSundayinMay,asanationalholidaytohonormothersin1914.ModernMother’sDayisoftencriticizedofbeingtoocommercial.Jarvisarguedthatpeopleshouldappreciateandhonortheirmothersthroughhandwrittenlettersexpressingtheirloveandgratitude,insteadofbuyinggiftsandpre-madecards.AmericanNon-FederalFestivalFather’sDay

ThecreationofFather’sDaywasinspiredbythecelebrationofMother’sDay,withitsfirstcelebrationappearingin1910.Itwasnotuntil1972thatFather’sDaywasmadeanofficialholidayintheUnitedStates.InAmerica,Father’sDaynormallyfallsonthethirdSundayofJuneandpeoplewearredrosesfortheirlivingfathersandwhiterosesforthedeceasedones.Similarly,thereareGrandparents’Day,Siblings’Day,etc.AmericanNon-FederalFestivalHalloween

HalloweenistraditionallycelebratedonOctober31.ThisholidayisanEurope-originatedone.ItiswidelybelievedthatmanyHalloweentraditionsoriginatedfrom

Celtic

harvestfestivals.FromtheCelticreligioncomethecustomofmasquerading(喬裝)andthesymbolsofHalloween:ghosts,skeletons,devils,witches,blackcatsandowls.

AmericanNon-FederalFestivalOriginofJack-o’-lanternAJack-o’-lanternisacarvedpumpkin,turnip,orotherrootvegetablelantern.Its

name

is

also

tied

to

the

Irish

legend

of

Stingy

Jack,

a

drunkard

who

bargains

with

Satan

and

is

doomed

to

roam

the

Earth

with

only

a

hollowed

turnip

to

light

his

way.

AmericanNon-FederalFestivaltrick-or-treat

Halloweenisofgreatfunforchildren.Theywilldressupinghostsorwizards.Wheneveningcomes,theyplay“tricksortreats”ontheirneighbors.Normallytheywillgetlotsofsweets.

AmericanNon-FederalFestivalGroundhogDayIntheUSA,therearealsosomelocalfestivals,suchasWisconsinStateCowChipThrow&Festival(PrairieduSac,Wisconsin),RiverWalkMudFestival(SanAntonio,Texas),andGroundhogDay(Punxsutawney,Pennsylvania).AmericanNon-FederalFestivalGroundhogDay

EveryyearnearFebruary2,swarmsoftouristswillfloodtoPunxsutawneytoseeitstownpet,agroundhognamedPhil,“PunxatawneyPhil”.

ItissaidonFeb.2groundhogsemergefromitsburrow.Iftheycanseetheirshadows,itmeansthewinterwillbeprolongedforseveralweeks.AmericanNon-FederalFestival____1.PhilConnorsisaweatherman,whoiseagertoreporttheGroundhogDaythisyearwiththenewproducerRita.____2.PhilwakesuponFeb.3,onlytofindthatitisjustacopyofFeb.2andhefeelsdistressedatfirst.____3.NobodybelievesthatPhilistrappedinthetimeloopwithanexceptiontohishighschoolfriend.____4.InthemoviethePunxatawneyPhilisannouncedtoseeitsshadow,whichmeansspringtimeisnotfaraway.____5.IntheUnitedStatestherearetenfederalholidays,includingValentine’sDayandVeteransDay.TrueorFalseFFFFT____6.BothMother’sDayandHalloweenareofAmericanorigin.____7.InAmerica,ThanksgivingDayistraditionallycelebratedonthelastThursdayinNovember;thesameistrueofCanada.____8.ThetraditionalflowersformothersonMother’sDayandforfathersonFather’sDayisrespectivelycarnationsandroses.____9.