1. Unit 14 Festivals
Speaking & Reading

2. True or false statements
Kwanzaa is very old festival.
The word Kwanzaa means first fruit
in Swahili.
Kwanzaa is based on African festivals.
People created Kwanzaa to celebrate
American culture.
Kwanzaa is celebrated on Christmas Day.
People who celebrate Kwanzaa light a
candle for each of the seven principles. T T F F T

3. Discussion Festivals, need or not? Why? Significance of festivals
They help us remember our history.
They help us understand our culture.
They give us the chances to relax and
reunite.
They promote friendship and understanding
between us.
They develop tourism.
They bring hope for a future and good luck to us.
They make us happy…

4. What kinds of gifts and things do people
buy during festivals like Christmas and
the Spring Festival?
The Spring Festival:
noodles and eggs;fruits; nutritious foods;
Supplements;flowers; toys; books; CD
and so on Christmas:
chocolate and sweets; gloves and scarfs;

5. The Birth Of a festival Where When Who Why How In the United States
The African-
Americans
Why
How
To celebrate the culture
and history of African Americans

6. Why were the dates chosen?
The week following Christmas Day
(from December 26 to January 1)
Why were the dates chosen?
People can enjoy the spirit of
the holidays without all the commercial activities of
Christmas.

7. How was Kwanzaa created?
Reason:
Age:
Meanings:
Principles:
To celebrate African-American history
and culture.
Less than 40
First fruit
Unity
Self-determination
Living together
Working together
Purpose
Creativity
faith
Which one do you think is the most important?
Why?

8. How is Kwanzaa celebrated?
light a candle each day and discuss one of the seven principles.
On the last day, they gather to enjoy a large meal and to celebrate the new year.

9. Post-Reading
Many festivals around the world are celebrated around the same time. Why do we celebrate these festival at these times?
Many holidays celebrate the arrival of a new
season or a new harvest and their past.

10. Post-Reading Compare Kwanzaa with the Chinese Spring
Festival and Christmas. In which way are they
similar and in which way different?
All three reunite families. Christmas and
Kwanzaa also bring together friends and
members of the community. Spring Festival
is tied to the lunar calendar while Christmas
and Kwanzaa are fixed dates. Christmas is
both a religious and popular celebration while
Kwanzaa also honours a specific group of people.

11. Useful expressions
1. celebrate the Spring Festival
2. major festivals
3. hear about/hear of/hear/hear from
4. a seven-day festival celebrating the culture an history
5. The week following Christmas Day
6. get together to greet the new year and think about the past
think of ; think out ; think over
7. have a long history and a rich culture
8. creat a new festival
9. so that
10. have many/something/a lot/(a) little/nothing in common
in common with
11. would/used to
12. give thanks for their harvests and for life
13. honour their ancestors
14. as well as the new year

12. 15. the characteristics of the African festivals
16. so…that
17. the seven principles
18. build unity of family,community and nation
加强家庭、社区和国家的团结
19. Build our own lives, think for ourselves and speak for ourselves 建设自己的生活，为自己思考，为自己说话
for/by/in/to/of oneself
20. build our future
21. …do as much as we can to make our community better
22. believe in / believe
23. enjoy the spirit of the holiday without all the commercial activities
24. a time for learning as well as joy
25. by lighting a candle
26. each time + clause 每当…
27. in that way
28. keep our culture alive
29. share our hops for a happy future

13. Retell the text using about 100 words.
Date: between Dec.26th and Jan,1st.
2. Purpose: to celebrate history and culture.
3. Principles: seven
4. Activities: light a candle; discuss the
principles; enjoy a large meal
5.Significance: understand who we are;
remember where we come from;
share our hopes for a happy future;

14. Retell the text using about 100 words.