Grado octavo: Customs (due date November 20th)

Cordial saludo, la siguiente actividad corresponde a un ejercicio de comprensión de lectura, ustedes deben escribir el texto en el cuaderno, leerlo, escribir y responder las preguntas en el cuaderno en inglés. La fecha de entrega es el próximo 20 de noviembre. Recuerden que las hojas deben estar marcadas con su nombre, y recuerden además que ya van varias actividades las cuales deben ser realizadas igualmente en inglés y en el cuaderno.

INTERESTING FESTIVALS AROUND THE WORLD.

Festivals have been organized for thousands of years. A festival is an event celebrated by a particular community, or the entire country, and it is centered on some particular tradition. Most, but not all festivals serve to provide entertainment to the participants, so they tend to be complemented with music or dance. The majority of festivals are religious or based on folklore.

Both ancient Greeks and Romans celebrated festivals, many of which were associated with political processes and social organization. One such festival was Saturnalia, which Romans organized in honor of god Saturn. Saturnalia was traditionally celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn, followed by a public banquet and a carnival.

Another early festival was established by an ancient Egyptian pharaoh (leader) in order to celebrate his victory over the Libyans.

Considering the importance of food for every community, many festivals originate as agricultural ceremonies, initially organized to either celebrate a good harvest, or hope for it. In the Alps, for instance, the return of the cattle from the mountain is celebrated at the Almabtrieb festival.

Recently, the arts festivals took over all other kinds of festivals, as now every major city has at least one music festival, in addition to theater, literary, science and film festivals.

Nearly all modern festivals are not contained to the local community anymore, but are open for guests and tourists, who are expected to behave as the locals do and respect their traditions.

One of the oldest Indian festivals Holi is celebrated as a symbol of good over evil, the arrival of spring and the end of winter. Also known as the Festival of Colors, this event lasts for a night and a day, starting in the evening of a Full Moon Day, normally in February or March. Holi celebrations begin with a performance of religious rituals in front of a big bonfire, hoping that the prayers will destroy the internal evil. In the morning, people smear each other with colors, using powder, water guns and water-filled balloons. Holi has become so popular that it is also celebrated in other Southeast Asian countries.

1. What is a festival?

2. What kind of festivals are ennounced in the text?

3. Which people do enjoy the festivals nowadays according to the text?

4. What is the most famous custom in your country? Do you like it?

5. What is your favorite festival around the world? Why?