Module 4 Carnival Reading and Writing

Notting Hill Carnival

Notting Hill carnival is celebrated at the last weekend in August every year in Notting Hill，a district of London. It lasts for two days. Sunday is Children’s Day. The main Parade is held on Monday. The origin of the carnival isn’t very old. After the Second World War a lot of people from Jamaica and other countries in the Caribbean,which used to be British colonies,came to London looking for work.But there wasn’t a carnival in London, the only festival was Christmas.In Jamaica carnival is the most important festival.Jamaicans living here really felt the need for a carnival.So in the 1960s they had the first one.It was very small at first,but it grew,and now there are more than a million people.

Notting Hill Carnival has always been known for its rich caribbean style.

Guess the Chinese festivals according to their origins. According to the Chinese legend,Hou Yi saved the people by shooting down 9 of the suns and was given an immortal pill,while his wife took it and flew to the moon.So he missed his wife and made her favorite cakes . Mid-autumn Day

It’s believed that the cruel year beast would come out to eat people on the eve of lunar new year.so people put up couplet and set off firecrackers to scare it away . Spring Festival The festival is celebrated in honor of a respected chinese poet Qu Yuan who committed suicide by drowning himself in water. Dragon Boat Festival

Work in groups to discuss the customs and atmosphere of following festivals. lantern （灯笼） couplet（对联） firecracker（鞭炮）

Festival Names 春节 Spring Festival 中秋节 Mid-autumn Day 元宵节 Lantern Festival 清明节 Tomb-sweeping Day 七夕节 Chinese Valentine’s Day 端午节 Dragon Boat Festival 腊八节 Laba Festival 重阳节 Double Ninth Festival 泼水节 Water Sprinking 火把节 Torch Festival

Writing Writing: introduce a chinese festival Aspects Related words Name Time fall lunar calendar last origin/ meaning date back to in honor of Customs (food music cotume) lantern couplet firecracker dress up dragon boat race atmosphere exciting noisy attractive warm harmonious busy amusing

Read your writing to your partner Read your writing to your partner. Check and rewrite your writing according to the following. 1.Are you clear about the five aspects about the festival? 2. Are there any good connecting words or phrases? 3.Are there any good phrases or sentences? 4.Are there any spelling or grammar mistakes?

Traditional Chinese festivals are part of our culture Traditional Chinese festivals are part of our culture.so we should respect them and protect them.

Homework 1 Perfect your writing according to the five aspects. It’s better if you add some pictures. 2 Surf the Internet to find more information about the origins and meanings of Chinese festivals .

Thanks for your attention.