Festivals of the Dead
Some festivals are held to honour the dead or to satisfy the ancestors, who might return either
to help or to do harm. For the Japanese festival Obon, people should go to clean graves and light
incense in memory of their ancestors. They also light lamps and play music because they think that
this will lead the ancestors back to earth. In Mexico, people celebrate the Day of the Dead in
early November. On this important feast day, people eat food in the shape of skulls and cakes15
with “bones" on them. They offer food, flowers and gifts to the
dead. The Western holiday Halloween also had its origin in old beliefs about the return of the
spirits of dead people. It is now a children's festival, when they can dress up and go to their
neighbours' homes to ask for sweets. If the neighbours do not give any sweets, the children
might play a trick on them.
Festivals to Honour People
Festivals can also be held to honour famous people. The Dragon Boat Festival in China honours the
famous ancient poet. Qu Yuan. In the USA, Columbus Day is in memory of the arrival of
Christopher25Columbus in the New World. India has a national festival on October 2
to honour Mohandas Gandhi, the leader who helped gain India's independence from Britain. Harvest
Festivals
Harvest and Thanksgiving festivals can be very happy events. People are grateful because their
food is gathered for the winter and the agricultural work is over. In European countries, people
will usually decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit, and will get together to
have
meals. Some people might win awards for their famm produce, like the biggest watermelon or the
most handsome rooster. China and Japan have mid-autumn festivals, when people admire the moon and
in China. enjoy mooncakes.
Spring Festivals
The most energetic and important festivals are the ones that look forward to the end of winter and
to the coming of spring. At the Spring Festival in China, people eat dumplings, fish and meat and
may give children lucky money in red paper. There are dragon dances and carnivals, and families
celebrate the Lunar NewYear together. Some Western countries have very exciting carivals, which
take place forty days before Easter, usually in February. These carnivals might include parades.
dancing in the streets day and night, loud music and colourful clothing of all kinds. Easter is an
important religious and social festival for Christians around the world. It celebrates the
retur
of Jesus from the dead and the coming of spring and new life. Japan's Cherry Blossom Festival
happens
a little later. The
country, covered with cherry tree flowers, looks as though it
is covered with pink snow.
People love to get together to eat, drink and have fun with each other. Festivals let us enjoy
life, be proud of our customs and forget our work for a little while.