1、 Two important festivals in China1. Festival: Chinese New Year Festival Location: China, Everywhere Chinese New Year is not celebrated on the same day each year, as is the celebration that is based on the Gregorian calendar. The Chinese calendar the entire lunar cycle of 60 years. The calendar also
2、divides the year into 24 solar terms, which relate to nature and are important to people close to the land. An animal represents each of the twelve-year cycles, together that make up the Chinese zodiac. So what is the origin of Chinese New Year? Born out of legend, the first celebration is said to h
3、ave been a triumphant victory of a Chinese village over a monster. For two years in a row the monster had wreaked havoc anddestruction on the village, but on the third year the villagers fought back with noisemakers, like drums and firecrackers, and by hanging red paper banners around the village. T
4、he color red is protection against evil, and that, combined with the noise scared the monster away. The villagers then celebrated for several days. 均添上音标和发音效果Notes: 1 celebrate: 庆祝，庆贺。2 Gregorian calendar：阳历3 Chinese zodiac: 中国十二宫图，十二生肖4 Origin: 起源，来源5 a triumphant victory：胜利的庆祝6 monster：怪物，妖怪7 havo
5、c and destruction：破坏，浩劫8 firecrackers：爆竹，鞭炮2. Festival: Mid Autumn Festival - Moon FestivalFestival Location: China, Everywhere some countries call it Harvest Festival; there is a Harvest moon. Others note the autumnal equinox as a sign of the changing seasons. Here in China, they call it the Mid-Au
6、tumn festival, celebrated during the full moon that falls between the mid-September and mid-October. On this night of the full moon, tradition says that you sit outdoors with your family throughout the night, admiring the moon, talking, and eating special sweet cakes called Moon Cakes. Though not a
7、major festival, it is noteworthy to foreign visitors for two reasons.There are a number of famous places for Mid-Autumn moon viewing, including one in Hangzhou, on West Lake. This is one of those places reputed to offer the finest viewing circumstances; it is called Three Pools Mirroring the Moon, a
8、 classical Chinese descriptive name. It consists of a string of three small towers set into the shallow lake, each of which has five holes that release shafts of light from candles lit on thisevening. You would get rowed out on a small flat craft, and sit with your lover quietly watching the moon ri
9、se. Ah, how romantic, how lovely. A thousand years ago, if you were a noble person, rich, you might be allowed to join the small band of boats gathered on the waters, and it would indeed have been magical. But that was then, and this is now. Notes: 1 equinox: 昼夜平分点，春分或秋分2 Admire: 欣赏3 Noteworthy：值得注目
10、的，显著的4 Reputed：有 名气的5 the finest viewing circumstances：最好的观赏点6 romantic：浪漫的7 a noble person：贵族8 magical：不可思议的B. Some proverbs about animals.1. How can you catch tiger cubs without entering the tigers lair? 不入虎穴，焉得虎子？2. Every dog has his day. 人人都有得意的时候。3. Barking dogs do not bite. 会叫的狗不咬人。4. Love me,
11、 love my dog. 爱屋及乌。5. Kill two birds with one stone. 一箭双雕。C. Feedback: 翻译下列谚语。1. Tall trees catch much wind. 1. 树大招风。2. Walls have ears.2. 隔墙有耳。3. In the end things will mend.3. 船到桥头自然直. 4. A long talk proves a mans heart.4. 日久见人心. 5. Take things as they come.5. 既来之，则安之。Easter 复活节Happy Easter Welcom
12、e to a Holiday Celebration Easter is the time of springtime festivals, a time to welcome back the Tulips, the Crocuses and the Daffodils. Its a time of new suits, new dresses and patent leather shoes. And a time of chocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks, and colored eggs! Now here for your entertainm
13、ent are some fun Holiday things for you and your family. Weve got Easter stories, animations to watch, and pictures to color! So bring your kids and tell your friends. And please stop by again. Dont forget to sign our Guestbook before you leave 复活节是最古老最有意义的基督教节日之一。它庆祝的是基督的复活，世界各地的基督徒每年都要举行庆祝。复活节还象征重
14、生和希望。时间是春分月圆后的第一个星期日。复活节是基督教纪念耶稣复活的节日。传说耶稣被钉死在十字架上，死后第三天复活升天。每年在教堂庆祝的复活节指的是春分月圆后的第一个星期日，如果月圆那天刚好是星期天，复活节则推迟一星期。因而复活节可能在月日至月日之间的任何一天。 典型的复活节礼物跟春天和再生有关系：鸡蛋、小鸡、小兔子、鲜花，特别是百合花是这一季节的象征。复活节前夕，孩子们为朋友和家人给鸡蛋着色打扮一番。这些蛋有的煮得很老，有的只是空空的蛋壳。复活节那天早上，孩子们会发现床前的复活节篮子里装满了巧克力彩蛋、复活节小兔子、有绒毛的小鸡及娃娃玩具等。据说复活节兔子会将彩蛋藏在室内或是草地里让孩子们
15、去寻找。一年一度的美国白宫滚彩蛋活动经常被电视台实况转播。一个瑞士家庭的复活节彩蛋作品在多数西方国家里，复活节一般要举行盛大的宗教游行。游行者身穿长袍，手持十字架，赤足前进。他们打扮成基督教历史人物，唱着颂歌欢庆耶稣复活。如今节日游行已失去往日浓厚的宗教色彩。节日游行洋溢着喜庆的气氛，具有浓烈的民间特色和地方特色。在美国，游行队伍中即有身穿牛仔服踩高跷的小丑，也有活泼可爱的卡通人物米老鼠。在英国，游行多以介绍当地的历史和风土人情为主，游行者化装成为苏格兰风笛乐队以及皇宫卫士，吸引了众多的游客。复活节的到来还使人们纷纷换上新衣。过去基督教教徒会在节前去教堂行洗礼，然后穿上自己的新袍，庆祝基督的新
16、生。穿戴一新的习俗保留至今，因为人们认为节日里不穿新衣是要倒运的。复活节期间，人们还喜欢彻底打扫自己的住处，表示新生活从此开始。复活节焰火德国政府规定复活节休息两天。在节日里，家人团聚，品尝各种传统食品，亲戚朋友见面要互相祝贺。 象征生命的蛋、火、水、兔等成了复活节的吉祥物。鸡蛋和兔子在西方是新的生命和兴旺发达的象征。鸡蛋的本色象征太阳，把鸡蛋染成红色则象征生活幸福。在复活节中，父母要特地为孩子们准备制成鸡蛋、兔子形状的巧克力糖。亲友间要互赠彩蛋。在莱茵河中游和黑森东部的一些城镇，至今保留着“彩蛋树” 这一古老习俗。人们把成百的蛋壳涂上彩画，串成蛋链，在复活节这天挂在松树上，制成彩蛋树，大人孩
17、子围着彩蛋树唱歌、跳舞、庆祝复活节。而阿尔卑斯山的姑娘们则通过赠送红鸡蛋来表达自己的爱情。在复活节这天，姑娘如果向某一小伙子赠送三个红鸡蛋，表示姑娘向小伙子求爱。 关于兔子成为复活节的吉祥物，是有一段传说的。绘有耶稣头像的传统东正教复活节彩蛋在古代耶稣复活之日，正值斯堪的纳维亚地区居民庆祝大地回春的“ 春太阳节”，作为草原、森林动物中多产动物之一的兔子，它象征了春天的复苏和新生命的诞生，同时它又是爱神阿弗洛狄特的宠物，也是日尔曼土地女神霍尔塔的持烛引路者。因此，现在兔子作为给孩子们送复活节鸡蛋的使者，深受孩子的宠爱。在复活节这一天孩子定会收到兔形礼物。 火不仅给人类带来了光明，也使大地获得了新
18、生。作为耶稣再生的象征，复活节的许多活动都与火相关。复活节这一天，人们在教堂前点烛以示圣化，并将圣烛迎进千家万户。这一天，孩子们最快乐的事是把圣火送到各家。他们在教堂前用圣火点燃树枝，然后奔跑着送到各家各户，其间充满着欢快的节日气氛。在德国的巴伐利亚地区，每年的复活节居民们都要举行火炬赛跑，以庆祝耶稣的再生。而北莱茵上威斯特法伦州的吕克台复活节滚火轮更是远近闻名。六个巨型大木轮被火点燃滚下山谷，就像六个火球从天而降，漆黑的山谷被大火轮照得通明，它与五彩缤纷的焰火交相辉映，再次显示了火给人类带来了新生。 作为德国惟一的少数民族索布族人则是用百骑大合唱的形式来庆祝耶酥的复活。一个个身穿黑色上衣、头
19、戴黑色礼帽的索布族人，骑在用彩带、鲜花和白色贝壳装饰的骏马上，浩浩荡荡地行进在林间小路上。他们边走边用粗犷雄厚的嗓音高唱赞歌，场面十分壮观。复活节与食物希腊科孚岛西端的一个渔村，当地人正在烤全羊过复活节。烤全羊是当地人在复活节的传统活动。售货员给顾客包装巧克力蛋。食用鸡蛋或巧克力蛋是西方过复活节的风俗。在欧洲，因为有四旬期(复活节前 40 天) 的守斋的缘故，在每次复活节用餐前，都先予以祝圣；因此第七世纪时，就有祝圣羔羊的记载出现了，之后又多了油脂和火腿的祝圣。其实四旬节守斋是禁止吃蛋类的。到了十二世纪，才开始有鸡蛋的祝圣；因此在复活节时，天主教徒会把蛋涂成红色，请神父祝圣，自己也用作礼物送给
20、朋友，这是为什么现在复活节都要送彩蛋的最早起源。 除了鸡蛋外，还有其它食品，如奶油、乳酪、面包等的祝圣。在礼仪改革前的圣教典礼中，仍保留了羔羊、蛋、面包的祝圣经文。 在欧洲许多国家，复活主日的主餐均食羔羊肉，因为在祝圣羔羊时，可让人纪念摩西借着羔羊的血，领导以色列人出埃及，而这羔羊(后来称为逾越节的羔羊) 是耶稣的预表：祂是上帝的圣洁羔羊，藉祂在十字架上所留的血，使人类得以洗净罪，脱离魔鬼的奴役。 智利复活节岛上的巨型石像蛋也象征春天及新生命的开始。到了基督徒的时代，更赋予了一层宗教意义：象征耶稣复活走出石墓。 而面包则使基督徒们想到耶稣是永生的活粮。在欧洲许多国家中，复活节通常会另外烤制特别
21、的复活节面包，面包上画有基督耶稣的字样、十字架，或羔羊的图案等，以纪念基督。复活节岛与复活节 在烟波浩渺的南太平洋上，有一个面积仅为 165 平方公里的小岛复活节岛，它以神秘的巨石人像和奇异的风情吸引着无数游人。复活节岛是智利的一个小岛，距智利本土 3600 多公里。据说，年荷兰探险家雅可布洛吉文（Jabbo Roggeween）在南太平洋上航行探险，突然发现一片陆地。他以为自己发现了新大陆，赶紧登陆，结果上岸后才知道是个海岛。正巧这天是复活节（年月） ，于是就将这个无名小岛命名为复活节岛。年，智利政府派人接管该岛，说来也巧，这天又正好是复活节。The Story of EasterEaste
22、r is a time of springtime festivals. In Christian countries Easter is celebrated as the religious holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the son of God. But the celebrations of Easter have many customs and legends that are pagan in origin and have nothing to do with Christianity Sch
23、olars, accepting the derivation proposed by the 8th-century English scholar St. Bede, believe the name Easter is thought to come from the Scandinavian “Ostra“ and the Teutonic “Ostern“ or “Eastre,“ both Goddesses of mythology signifying spring and fertility whose festival was celebrated on the day o
24、f the vernal equinox Traditions associated with the festival survive in the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, andin colored easter eggs, originally painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring, and used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as giftsThe Christian celebration o
25、f Easter embodies a number of converging traditions with emphasis on the relation of Easter to the Jewish festival of Passover, or Pesach, from which is derived Pasch, another name used by Europeans for Easter. Passover is an important feast inthe Jewish calendar which is celebrated for 8 days and c
26、ommemorates the flight and freedom of the Israelites from slavery in EgyptThe early Christians, many of whom were of Jewish origin, were brought up in the Hebrew tradition and regarded Easter as a new feature of the Passover festival, a commemoration of the advent of the Messiah as foretold by the p
27、rophets. (For more information please visit our Passover celebration - Passover on the Net)Easter is observed by the churches of the West on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or following the spring equinox (March 2I). So Easter became a “movable“ feast which can occur as early
28、 as March 22 or as late as April 25Christian churches in the East which were closer to the birthplace of the new religion and in which old traditions were strong, observe Easter according to the date of the Passover festivalEaster is at the end of the Lenten season, which covers a forty-six-day peri
29、od that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter. The Lenten season itself comprises forty days, asthe six Sundays in Lent are not actually a part of Lent. Sundays are considered a commemoration of Easter Sunday and have always been excluded from the Lenten fast. The Lenten season is a period of
30、 penitence in preparation for the highest festival of the church year, EasterHoly Week, the last week of Lent, begins its with the observance of Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday takes its name from Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem where the crowds laid palms at his feet. Holy Thursday commemorates the L
31、ast Supper, which was held the eveningbefore the Crucifixion. Friday in Holy Week is the anniversary of the Crufixion, the day that Christ was crucified and died on the crossHoly week and the Lenten season end with Easter Sunday, the day of resurrection of JesusChristEaster Eggs Of all the symbols a
32、ssociated with Easter the egg, the symbol of fertility and new life, is the most identifiable. The customs and traditions of using eggs have been associated with Easter for centuriesOriginally Easter eggs were painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring and were used in Easter-egg
33、 rolling contests or given as gifts. After they were colored and etched with various designs the eggs were exchanged by lovers and romantic admirers, much the same as valentines. In medieval time eggs were traditionally given at Easter to the servants. In Germany eggs were given to children along wi
34、th other Easter giftsDifferent cultures have developed their own ways of decorating Easter eggs. Crimson eggs,to honor the blood of Christ, are exchanged in Greece. In parts of Germany and Austria green eggs are used on Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday). Slavic peoples decorate their eggs in special p
35、atterns of gold and silverAustrian artists design patterns by fastening ferns and tiny plants around the eggs, which are then boiled. The plants are then removed revealing a striking white pattern. The Poles and Ukrainians decorate eggs with simple designs and colors. A number of eggs are made in th
36、e distinctive manner called pysanki (to design, to write)Pysanki eggs are a masterpiece of skill and workmanship. Melted beeswax is applied to thefresh white egg. It is then dipped in successive baths of dye. After each dip wax is paintedover the area where the preceding color is to remain. Eventual
37、ly a complex pattern of lines and colors emerges into a work of artIn Germany and other countries eggs used for cooking where not broken, but the contents were removed by piercing the end of each egg with a needle and blowing the contents intoa bowl. The hollow eggs were dyed and hung from shrubs an
38、d trees during the Easter Week. The Armenians would decorate hollow eggs with pictures of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and other religious designsEaster Egg GamesEggs play an important part in Easter sports. The Romans celebrated the Easter season by running races on an oval track and giving eggs as pri
39、zes. Two traditional Easter egg gamesare the Easter Egg Hunt and the Easter Egg RollOn Easter morning the children of the house join in a search to locate the eggs that the Easter Bunny had hidden while they where asleep. The searching might continue though out the house with the older children help
40、ing the youngest. Sometimes prizes of candy are awaiting the child finding the most eggsEaster egg hunts can are also part of a communitys celebration of holiday. The eggs are hidden in public places and the children of the community are invited to find the eggsThe rules of an Easter Egg Roll are to
41、 see who can roll an egg the greatest distance or can make the roll without breaking it, usually down a grassy hillside or slopeMaybe the most famous egg rolling takes place on the White House Lawn. Hundreds of children come with baskets filled with brightly decorated eggs and roll them down the fam
42、ous lawn, hoping the President of the United States is watching the fun. The Easter Bunny “Here comes Peter Cottontailhoppin down the bunny trail Hippity hoppity Easters on its way!“The Easter bunny has its origin in pre-Christian fertility lore. The Hare and the Rabbit werethe most fertile animals
43、known and they served as symbols of the new life during the Spring season. The bunny as an Easter symbol seems to have its origins in Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings in the 1500s. The first edible Easter bunnies were made in Germany during the early 1800s. And were made of p
44、astry and sugar The Easter bunny was introduced to American folklore by the German settlers who arrived in the Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700s. The arrival of the “Oschter Haws“ wasconsidered “childhoods greatest pleasure“ next to a visit from Christ-Kindel on Christmas Eve. The children
45、 believed that if they were good the “Oschter Haws“ would lay a nest of colored eggs. The children would build their nest in a secluded place in the home, the barn or the garden. Boys would use their caps and girls their bonnets to make the nests . The use of elaborate Easter baskets would come late
46、r as the tradition of the Easter bunny spread through out the country.“Oh! here comes Peter Cottontail, Hoppin down the bunny trail, Hippity hoppityHappy Easter day“ 耶稣之死 犹大出卖耶稣耶稣的十二个门徒中，有一个加略人犹大；他去见祭司长，说：“如果我把耶稣交给你们，你们愿意给我什么？”他们就拿了三十块银钱给他。从那时候起，犹大找机会要出卖耶稣。和门徒同进逾越节晚餐无酵节的第一天，门徒依照耶稣的吩咐，去安排逾越节的晚餐。傍晚，耶稣
47、跟十三个门徒坐席。在用饭的时候，耶稣说：“我告诉你们，你们当中有一个人要出卖我。”门徒都非常的忧愁，一个一个地问他：“主啊，不是我吧？”耶稣回答：“ 跟我在一起在碟子里蘸饼吃的那个人要出卖我。正如经上所记的：人子要受害，可是那出卖人子的人有祸了！他没有出生倒好！”连出卖耶稣的犹大也心虚地开口问： “老师，不是我吧？”耶稣说：“你自己说了。”最后的晚餐他们吃饭的时候，耶稣拿起了饼来，先献上感恩的祷告，然后掰开，分给门徒，说：“你们拿来吃；这是我的身体。”接着，他有拿起了杯，向上帝感谢后，递给门徒，说：“ 你们都喝吧！这是我的血，是印证上帝跟人立约的血，为了使许多人的罪得到赦免而流的。我告诉你们，
48、我绝不再喝这酒，直到我跟你们在我父亲的国度里喝新酒的那一天。”他们唱了一首诗后，就出来往橄榄山去。预言彼得不认他耶稣对他们说：“你们都要离弃我，因为经上说：上帝要击杀牧人，羊群就分散了。但是我复活以后，要比你们先到加利利去。”彼得说：“即使别人都离弃你，我绝不离弃你！”耶稣对彼得说：“ 我实在告诉你，今夜鸡叫两次以前，你会三次不认我。”彼得用更坚决的口气说： “即使我必须跟你同死，我也不会不认你！” 其他门徒也都这么说。在客西马尼园的祷告耶稣和门徒来到一处叫客西马尼的地方，他对门徒说：“你们在这里做，我去那边祷告。 ”于是他带着彼得、雅各、约翰一起去。耶稣开始忧愁难过，对他们说：“我的心非常忧
49、伤，几乎要死。 ”耶稣稍微往前走，俯伏在地上，祈求上帝说，若是可以，不要是他经历这个痛苦。他祷告说：“我的父亲哪，若是可以，求你不要让我喝这苦杯吧！可是，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。”第二次耶稣再去祷告：“父亲哪，若是这苦杯不能离开我，一定要我喝下，就愿你的旨意成全吧！ ”耶稣第三次的祷告，所说的跟先前的一样。然后他回到门徒那里，说：“你们还在睡觉、还在休息么？看哪，人子被卖在罪人手中的时候到了。起来，我们走吧！看哪，那出卖我的人来了！”耶稣被捕耶稣还在说话的时候，十二门徒之一的犹大来了。有一大群人带着刀棒跟他一起来；他们是祭司长和民间的长老派来的。那出卖耶稣的人先给他们一个暗号，说：“我去吻谁，那人就是你们所要的人，你们就抓他。”犹大一到，立刻走到耶稣跟前，说：“老师，你好。”然后吻了他。于是那些人上前抓竹耶稣，把他绑起来。彼得拔出刀来，向大祭司的奴 仆砍去，把他的一只耳朵削掉。耶稣对彼得说：“ 把刀收起来，因为凡是动刀的，必在刀下丧命。难道你不知道我可以向我父亲求援，而他会立刻调来十二营多的天使么？”这时候，所有的门徒都因害怕而离弃耶稣逃跑了。在议会受审那些抓了耶稣的人把耶稣带到大祭司该亚法的官邸去。彼得远远的跟着耶稣，跟进了院子里，跟警卫坐在一起。祭司长
