Unit 7. Celebrations

Unit 7

Reading
Before Reading

1. Vietnamese National Day
2. King Hung`s Death Anniversary
3. Mid-Autumn Festival
4. Vietnamese New Year`s Day
5. Vietnamese Teachers` Day
c. January 1st on the lunar calendar
e. March 10th on the lunar calendar
a. August 15th on the lunar calendar
d. September 2nd
b. November 20th
Match the appropriate celebrations with the suitable day
1.d
2.e
3. a
4. c
5. b


VOCALBULARY
to fast (v) / fɑ:st /: to practice abstinence as a religious exercise or duty ( nhịn ăn )
procession (n) / prə`se∫n / : a train of persons advancing in order (đòan diễu hành )
to mourn (v) / mɔ:n /: to express or to feel grief or sorrow (than khóc)
to deem (v) / di:m /: to think ; to judge( cho rằng, nghĩ rằng )
candied (a) / `kændid /: preserved in or with sugar; incrusted with a candylike substance; as, candied fruits (mứt)
ornamental (a) / ,ɔ:nə`mentl /: beautifying ( để trang trí )
ancestor(n) / `ænsistə / : one from whom a person is descended, an earlier type ( ông bà tổ tiên )
unicorn (n) / `ju:nikɔ:n /: a fabulous animal with one horn ( con kì lân )
repentance (n) / ri`pentəns /: regret( ăn năn, hối lỗi )
bud (n) / bʌd / : a branch of a flower ( nụ hoa )






New Year’s Celebrations Around the World and in Viet Nam
In Europe and the United States, New year’s Day is observed on the 1st of January, which was named for Janus- the Roman god of door and of beginnings. If the Gregorian calendar had not been introduced in 1582, Westerners would instead have had their New Year’s celebrations on March 25th, a tradition that had previously lasted for centuries. On their New Year’s Eve, bells are rung, horns blown, wishes exchanged, and resolutions mad at midnight.
In the middle East, the Shiite have Muharram through the first ten days of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic canlendar. During in celebration, processions from different villages gather and people mourn by beating their chests. Similarly, the Jewish Rosh Hashanah, which takes place in the month of Tishri (September or October on the Gregorian calendar), is a very solemn holiday set aside for fasting and repentance.
In Viet Nam, Tet Nguyen Dan takes place in the first month of the Lunar calendar- from late January to early February. As preparations, people are busy buying things preparing traditional foods, and cleaning the house. “Must-have” items deemed to be bought or prepared are cakes made from sticky rice, dried watermelon seeds, fruits (fresh and candied), tea, alcoholic and soft drinks, ornamental plants, and flowers.
On New Year’s Eve, people make offerings to their ancestors, go to church or pagoda, or go out to pick buds or young leaves. For the New Year’s first three days, Vietnamese visit family members, neighbors, teacher, friends, and graves of ancestors. Only best wishes and positive comments are expectedly exchanged, for people believe that they would be haunted by bad luck for the rest of the year if these first days were not filled with joy or good news. Children receive their li xi or tien mung tuoi- “lucky money” normally in red envelopes. Across the country, festivals, games, and various forms of entertainment are held and traditional specialties such as wrestling, buffalo fighting, or dragon or unicorn dancing may take place in different regions.
a) Fill the table with the information from the text
Culture
What?
When?
Activities
New Year’s Celebrations Around the World
Western
(European & American)
New Year
Ringing bells, blowing horns & exchanging wishes
Muharram
1st month of Islamic calendar
Beating chests
Jewish
Fasting and repenting
Tet Nguyen Dan
1st of January
and making resolution
Middle East
Processions from different villages gather
Rosh Hashanah
September or October on the Gregorian calendar
Vietnam
From late January to early February
Making offerrings to their ancestors, going to church or pagoda or going out to pick buds or young leaves
Visiting family members, neighbors, friends and graves of ancestors
Exchanging wishes and positive comments
Holding traditional specialties such as wrestling, buffalo fighting or dragon or unicorn dancing
How long has January 1st been New Year’s Day?
What is the origin of January?
Do Shiite people calebrate their New Year in January?
What month on the Gregorian calendar does Tishri normally fall on?

b) Answer the following questions.
For 425 years.
It was named for Janus- the Roman god of doors and of beginnings.
No, they don’t.
September or October on the Gregorian calendar.

5. Who may get li xi or tien mung tuoi? What is it?
Children get lixi/ tien mung tuoi which is “lucky money” normally in red envelopes.
6. It can be inferred from the text that the following may be among foods and drinks typically served during Tet.
Glutinious rice cakes
Candied ginger
Coke
Beer
fruits, tea
7. What are Tet Nguyen Dan’s traditional forms of entertainment mentioned in the text?
Dragon/unicorn dancing
Wrestling
Buffalo fighting

8. What is the key difference between Shiite and Jewish New Year observances and those of other countries described in the text ?
Shiite and Jewish New Year observances: is a solemn holiday set aside for fasting and repentance.
Those of other countries: is a joyful holiday with wishes exchanged .
9. People often make New Year’s resolutions, promising to improve themselves in one way or another. Do you? If yes, how successful have you been carrying them out?
Yes, I do. I’ve been studying harder, obey my parents and respect to the old to make my parents pleased and happy.