节日和庆典

　　[第1～2段译文]

　　自古以来，世界各地就有各种各样的节日和庆典。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获。有时，在猎人捕获猎物后，也举行庆祝活动。在那个时代，特别是在寒冷的冬月，如果食物难以找到，人们就会挨饿。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或事件的。

　　亡灵节

　　有些节日，是为了纪念死者，或者使祖先得到满足，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。在日本的盂兰盆节，人们要扫墓、烧香，以缅怀祖先。他们还点起灯笼，奏响乐曲，因为他们认为这样做可以把祖先引回到世上。在墨西哥，人们在11月初过亡灵节。在这个重要的节庆日子里，人们会吃制成颅骨形状的食物和装点有"骨头"的蛋糕。他们向亡者祭献食物、鲜花和礼品。西方节日万圣节前夕也源自人们古老的信念，认为亡者的灵魂会返回人间。如今(万圣节前夕)成了孩子们的节日，这一天他们可以乔装打扮去邻居家要糖果吃。如果邻居什么糖果也不给，那么孩子们就可能捉弄他们。

　　Festivals to Honour People

　　Festivals can also be held to honour famous people.The Dragon Boat Festival in China honours the famous ancient poet\s\up1(24(24)， Qu Yuan.In the USA, Columbus Day is in memory of the arrival\s\up1(25(25) of Christopher Columbus in the New World.India has a national festival on October 2 to honour Mohandas Gandhi, the leader who helped gain India's independence\s\up1(26(26) from Britain\s\up1(27(27).

　　Harvest Festivals

　　Harvest and Thanksgiving festivals can be very happy events.People are grateful because their food is gathered\s\up1(28(28) for the winter and the agricultural\s\up1(29(29) work is over.In European countries, people will usually decorate churches and town halls with\s\up1(30(30) flowers and fruit, and will get together\s\up1(31(31) to have meals.Some people might win awards\s\up1(32(32) for their farm produce\s\up1(33(33)， like the biggest watermelon or the most handsome rooster\s\up1(34(34).China and Japan have mid­autumn festivals, when people admire\s\up1(35(35) the moon\s\up1(36(36) and in China, enjoy mooncakes.

　　\s\up1(24(24)poet/'pəʊIt/n.诗人

　　\s\up1(25(25)arrival/ə'raIvl/n.到来；到达；到达者

　　\s\up1(26(26)gain India's independence 赢得印度的独立

gain/ɡeIn/vt.获得；得到