Question

[L.M. Phan]

Talk about a festival you've joined recently

Answer 1

[Quỳnh]

I think the main festival in my country is Christmas, which is in late December. The main day that is celebrated in the UK is Christmas Day, on 25th December, though we also have the day off the following day, on Boxing Day, when many people visit friends and extended family.

I spent last Christmas with my family, and will also spend this one there too. We all get together at my parents’ house, because it is large enough to host everyone. On Christmas morning, we start preparing the meal, as it takes a long time to cook! We put the turkey or goose in the oven, and then some of us go to church for a Christmas mass. The rest of us stay behind to carry on cooking. At around midday, we gather round the Christmas tree, which is decorated with baubles, tinsel, and fairy lights and we open our presents, which are all placed under the tree the night before. After that we have our Christmas dinner, which is always the same meal as it is a traditional feast.

I love nearly everything about Christmas. There is a sense of anticipation and excitement in the period leading up to Christmas, and then during the festival itself families and friends spend time together and most people have time off work. One thing I don’t like about Christmas is that it is very commercialised and it can be stressful getting ready for it!

This festival is important for many people, even for non-Christians. Many non-Christian people in the UK enjoy the festive season without attaching any religious significance to it. It is our only national holiday involving resting, feasting and the giving of gifts, and I think such times nurture our souls.

Answer 2

[Huyền Trang]

The Mid-Autumn festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar with full moon at night. The Mid-Autumn festival is named "Tết Trung Thu" in Vietnamese. I've joined in it every year. I love lions dance Dances are performed by both non-professional children's groups and trained professional groups. Lion dance groups perform on the streets, going to houses asking for permission to perform for them.