Reading Festivals and Celebrations
阅读 节日和庆典
Festivals and celebrations of all kinds have been held everywhere since ancient times.
自古以来，世界各地就有各种各样的节目和庆典。
Most ancient festivals would celebrate the end of cold weather, planting in spring and harvest in autumn.
大多数古老的节日总是庆祝严寒的结束，春季的种植和秋天的收割。
Sometimes celebrations would be held after hunters had caught animals.
有时，在猎人捕获猎物后，也举行庆祝活动。
At that time people would starve if food was difficult to find, especially during the cold winter months.
在那个时代，如果食物难以找到，人们就会挨饿，特别是在寒冷的冬月。
Today's festivals have many origins, some religious, some seasonal, and some for special people or events.
现在的节日有很多由来，一些是宗教上的，一些是季节性的，一些是纪念特殊的人和事件的。
Festivals of the dead
亡灵节
Some festivals are held to honour the dead or to satisfy the ancestors, who might return either to help or to do harm.
有些节目是为了纪念死者，或使祖先得到满足，因为祖先们有可能回到世上（给人们）提供帮助，也有可能带来危害。
For the Japanese festival Obon, people should go to clean graves and light incense in memory of their ancestors.
在日本盂兰盆节，人们要扫墓、烧香，以缅怀祖先。
They also light lamps and play music because they think that this will lead the ancestors back to earth.
人们还点起灯笼，奏响乐曲，因为他们一位这样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，亡灵节是在11月初。
On this important feast day, people eat food in the shape of skulls and cakes with “bones” on them.
在这个重要的节日里，人们会吃制成颅骨形状的食物，和装点有“骨头”的蛋糕。
They offer food, flowers and gifts to the dead.
他们向亡者祭献食物、鲜花和礼品。
The Western holiday Halloween also had its origin in old beliefs about the return of the spirits of dead people.
西方的万圣节也源自人们古老的信念，以为亡者的灵魂会返回人间。
It is now a children's festival, when they can dress up and go to their neighbours' homes to ask for sweets.
万圣节如今成了孩子们的节目，这天他们可以乔装打扮上邻居家要糖吃。
If the neighbours do not give any sweets, the children might play a trick on them.
如果邻居什么糖也不给，那么孩子们就可以捉弄他们了。
Festivals to Honour People
纪念名人的节目
Festivals can also be held to honour famous people.
也有纪念名人的节目。
The Dragon Boat Festival in China honours the famous ancient poet, Qu Yuan.
中国的端午节（龙舟节），是纪念古代著名诗人屈原的。
In the USA, Columbus Day is in memory of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World.
美国的哥伦布日是纪念克里托斯·哥伦布发现“新大陆”的日子。
