Festivals .....
The
story of... Festivals
Festivals are celebrated across the world. Some festivals, like Eid or Christmas, mark
important religious events. Others, like the Chinese New Year, mark the passing
of time. Festivals are often a time of joy. People might put up lights, dance,
or give each other present.
Diwali
The Hindu festival of Diwali takes place every fall
in the north of the world and every spring in the south. It celebrates the
victory of light over darkness and good over evil. People light up their homes
and public places and set off fireworks.
Christmas
Every year at Christmas, Christians celebrate the
birth of Jesus Christ. Some go to church and sing carols or special songs about
the event. Most people give presents to each other and have a large meal with
special food. Many people spend Christmas with friends and family.
Eid
Muslims celebrate the Eid al-Fitr holiday at the end
of Ramadan. During Ramadan, they fast, or go without food during the day. At
Eid, Muslims give money to charity, pray together, visit friends and family,
and enjoy a feast.
Passover
Jewish people celebrate Passover to remember the
escape of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. The festival lasts for seven or eight
days and is marked with the special Seder, or meal, which includes matzo—a
flat, or unleavened, bread that hasn’t been given time to rise. ** Passover is
one of the most important Jewish festivals, and is more than 3,000 years old.
Day of the Dead In Mexico,
People celebrate the Day of the Dead for three days
at the start of November. This ancient festival is held to remember friends and
family who have died. People build shrines to the dead and bring gifts of food
and drink to their graves. The “Elegant Skull” is a symbol of the Day of the
Dead.
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