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Describing a festival
Before you read
4 Look at the words in italics in these extracts from
1 Work in pairs. You have one minute. How many festivals can you name from other countries, that you don't have in your country?
Reading 2 Read this text about a Mexican festival. Is it from: a an advertisement? e a holiday brochure?
the texto a ... the souls of the dead are believed to return to the earth. b It is thought thatthis tradition originated ... These two structures are different ways of saying: People believe or People think that ... 1 Find one more example of each structure in the texto a _ b _
b a guidebook?
Fhe Day of the Deaa he Day ofthe Dead is Mexico's best-known festival. It takes place on 2nd November. On this day the souls of the dead are believed to return to the earth. The festival is celebrated everywhere in Mexico.
T
Before the festival, families decorate their homes with flowers. The night before the festival, they visit cemeteries to sit with their dead friends and relatives by candlelight. On the day itself, they visit the cemetery again, and take presents, such as flowers. It is a celebration of the life of the dead persono The souls of dead children are called angelitos, because they are assumed to become angels. The festivities in the Pátzcuaro region are the most famous, especially those on the Isla Janitzio in the Lago de Pátzcuaro. There are traditional dances, and there is a parade of decorated canoes late in the evening. It is thought that this tradition originated with the Purépecha Indians. It involves the story of the royal Purépechan Iovers, Mintzita and Itzihuapa, whose love was destroyed by the Spanish conquistador, Nuno de Guzmán. It is said that the souIs of the lovers come to the cemetery ofthe isIand's church on this night. If you want to visit Pátzcuaro at this time, you will need to book your hotel in advance. Also, bring a warm sweater, as it can get quite cold in this mountainous area in November.
Vocabulary 5 Complete the definitions
(1-5)
with the words in
the box.
atmosphere • parade • festivities • celebrate • tradition 1 You to show you're happy on a special day. 2 A is a group of people walking in a line. 3 are happy events. 4 is the mood of a place. 5 A is an old way of doing things.
Speaking 6 Work in pairs. Discuss whether you would like to visit the Day of the Dead festival. Tell your partner about another festival that you have seen, taken part in, or heard about.
Writing 7 Think of a festival from your own town or country. Write a guidebook entry for it.
Gef real Work as a class. Start a 'world festivals calendar'. Collect information about interesting festivals in different parts of the world and put them on the wall.
3 Read the text again. Decide if these statements are true (T) or false (F). 1 The Day of the Dead is the most famous festival in Mexico. 2 The atmosphere is cheerful, and one of celebration. 3 The souls of dead children are also celebrated on 2nd November. 4 The festival was introduced by the Spanish conquistadores.
T/F T/F T/F T/F Tourism and Catering
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