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Reading Festivals and Celebrations
閱讀 節日和慶典
Festivals and celebrations of all kinds have been held everywhere since ancient times.
自古以來，世界各地就有各種各樣的節目和慶典。
Most ancient festivals would celebrate the end of cold weather, planting in spring and harvest in autumn.
大多數古老的節日總是慶祝嚴寒的結束，春季的種植和秋天的收割。
Sometimes celebrations would be held after hunters had caught animals.
有時，在獵人捕獲獵物后，也舉行慶祝活動。
At that time people would starve if food was difficult to find, especially during the cold winter months.
在那個時代，如果食物難以找到，人們就會挨餓，特別是在寒冷的冬月。
Today's festivals have many origins, some religious, some seasonal, and some for special people or events.
現在的節日有很多由來，一些是宗教上的，一些是季節性的，一些是紀念特殊的人和事件的。
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.
有些節目是為了紀念死者，或使祖先得到滿足，因為祖先們有可能回到世上（給人們）提供幫助，也有可能帶來危害。
For the Japanese festival Obon, people should go to clean graves and light incense in memory of their ancestors.
在日本盂蘭盆節，人們要掃墓、燒香，以緬懷祖先。
They also light lamps and play music because they think that this will lead the ancestors back to earth.
人們還點起燈籠，奏響樂曲，因為他們一位這樣做可以把祖先引到世上。
In Mexico, people celebrate the Day of the Dead in early November.
在墨西哥，亡靈節是在11月初。
On this important feast day, people eat food in the shape of skulls and cakes with “bones” on them.
在這個重要的節日里，人們會吃制成顱骨形狀的食物，和裝點有“骨頭”的蛋糕。
They offer food, flowers and gifts to the dead.
他們向亡者祭獻食物、鮮花和禮品。
The Western holiday Halloween also had its origin in old beliefs about the return of the spirits of dead people.
西方的萬圣節也源自人們古老的信念，以為亡者的靈魂會返回人間。
It is now a children's festival, when they can dress up and go to their neighbours' homes to ask for sweets.
萬圣節如今成了孩子們的節目，這天他們可以喬裝打扮上鄰居家要糖吃。
If the neighbours do not give any sweets, the children might play a trick on them.
如果鄰居什么糖也不給，那么孩子們就可以捉弄他們了。
Festivals to Honour People
紀念名人的節目
Festivals can also be held to honour famous people.
也有紀念名人的節目。
The Dragon Boat Festival in China honours the famous ancient poet, Qu Yuan.
中國的端午節（龍舟節），是紀念古代著名詩人屈原的。
In the USA, Columbus Day is in memory of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World.
美國的哥倫布日是紀念克里托斯·哥倫布發現“新大陸”的日子。
