1. Holidays and Festivals
New Century English
Unit Four
Holidays and Festivals

2. Dragon Boat Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival
Spring Festival
National Day

3. 1
New Year’s Day
Christmas
Easter
May Day

4. Easter Day Falls in March or April 31 March 2002 20 April 2003
On Easter we celebrate the historical fact that nearly 2,000 years ago a man ( Jesus Christ ) died, lay in a grave(tomb) for three days and then got up and began walking around again, telling people that God loves them.

5. The exchange of Easter eggs in the springtime is a custom.
In medieval time （中世纪） eggs were
given at Easter to the servants.
The eggs were exchanged by lovers,
much the same as valentines.
Eggs were given to children along with
other Easter gifts.

6. Easter gifts Easter rabbits (Easter bunnies)
a symbol of fertility (birth)
Easter gifts
Easter cards
Easter baskets

7. Easter Sunday Good Friday Easter Monday 31 March 2002
(the Friday before Easter,when Christ died)
Easter Monday
(the day after Easter)
a Bank holiday

8. Please click for more information
Easter Story in English
Easter Story in Chinese

9. May Day (Beltane) The first of May It is a festival of
coming of summer.
Beltane was the time of milk and honey, so ______and _______were both symbols for this celebration.
the cow
the bee

10. Happy May Day Cut down a tree and put up a May Pole
in the middle of a village.

11. Choose your task

12. Main topic : what will happen later on?
Make up a story after watching the short period of movie.
Main topic : what will happen later on?

13. Before Christmas On Christmas Eve On the afternoon of Christmas Day
On the morning of
Christmas Day
Elizabeth
Later
in the evening
On the evening of
Christmas Day

14. Click here for more Christmas songs

15. Scan the text

16. Easter __________________________________________
Christians celebrate the holidays to remember ________________and his rising from the grave.
___________________
Hot cross buns
a)On Good Friday,_____________________
b)On Easter Monday, ___________________
___________________________________
Varies each year,but usually falls in March
or April
Date
the death of Christ
Purpose
Chocolate Easter eggs
Food
hot cross buns are sold.
Activities
people enjoy a trip
to the seaside or watch a sports game.

17. May Day Date ___________________ Purpose ____________________________
___________________________________
Food
Not given.
Activities
a) Traditionally, _________________________
_____________________________________
b) Today, _______________________________
The first of May
Celebrate the leaving of winter.
Welcome the coming of spring and summer.
people dance to encourage life
and growth and to drive away harmful spirits.
children dance around the May Pole.

18. Christmas _____________________ Date Purpose Food Activities
Christmas Day falls on December 25.
Purpose
_____________________
Food
a) _____________________
b) _____________________
Activities
On Christmas Eve, _________________________
_________________________________________
On Christmas Day,
1) in the morning, ________________________
2) in the afternoon, ___________________________
3) in the evening, _____________________________
_______________
4) later in the evening, _________________________
c) On Boxing Day, _____________________________
Celebrate the birth of Christ
A big goose or turkey dinner
Christmas pudding
People (esp. children) leave a
long stocking by the bed or hanging by the fireplace.
many people go to church.
people stay at home and open gifts.
the family sits down to a big goose
or turkey dinner.
people watch the Queen on TV.
people visit friends or watch football.

19. Homework 1.Find out more Western Festivals and holidays,
and choose your favorite one to complete
the clippings or ppt. works.
2. Compare the Western Festivals with
Chinese Traditional Festivals.
( Spring Festival --- Christmas )