Celebration of Four Major Festivals

Amy:      Hey, Kelly what are you doing?
　

Kelly:     We are carving a Jack-o-Lantern. Look, doesn’t it look good?
　

Judy:     On, my lovely little Jacky.
　

Sharon: What did you call that disgusting thing Jacky?
　

Judy:     Yeah, don’t you know the pumpkin with a carved face called “Jack-o-
               lantern”? It’s populated around the world at the Halloweens time.
　

Sharon: A “Jack-o-lantern”? Yeah, I’ve heard that before, but, could you tell me
               more information about it? I’m quite interested in it.
　

Kelly:     Sure, why not? First, I want to introduce a person called Jack. He is a
               stingy person that he tricked many ghosts.
　

Sharon: How did he trick ghosts? He tricked the ghost to pay for the drinks by
               the coin which as transformed by the ghost.
　

Kelly:     And Jack put the coin into his pocket with a cross nearby. Hence the
              ghost can turned back to its original form.
　

Judy:     He threatened the ghost that it will let him survive for one year so he
              will let the ghost go. And the ghost did it.
　

Amy:     Oh! What a silly ghost. I also hate that kind of person like Jack.
　

Kelly:     That’s no big deal. What’s worse. Jack tricked the ghost to climb up the
               tree to pick a piece of fruit. When the ghost did it, Jack drew a cross on
　　        the bark so that the ghost couldn’t get down to the earth.
　

Amy:      He must threaten the ghost to let him survive, right?
　

Kelly:     You got it. He threatened the ghost to let him survive another ten years.
　

Sharon: So what happened to Jack after he died?
　

Kelly:      He was sent to the dark night and given a coil light. The stingy Jack
               could only patrolled on the earth with the coil light. He put it into a
               turnip. Now people continue this “Jack-o-lantern” festival with the
               pumpkin. It often acts as the mantle of light with carved face.
　

Sharon: Wow, what an interesting story. I really dig in your Jack-o-lantern. It’s
               quite beautiful.
　

Kelly and Judy: Thanks for your appreciation.
　

Sharon: I see so that’s the story of “Jack-o-Lantern”. But I still like the
               Christmas trees most! They are so beautiful with shinning light bulbs!
　

Amy:      Yeah! And I enjoy very much the time when I decorate the tree with my
               family. 
　

Judy:     Christmas tree? What’s that?
　

Sharon: No way! Are you kidding?
　

Amy:      You don’t know what’s Christmas tree?
　

Sharon: Let me tell you about that. In the past, Christmas was a pagan feast in
               the Mid-winter. People celebrated the harvest, fertility, birth and death.
               Then in the 900s, a king moved it to December 25th and devoted it to
               Jesus Christ who is the baby in the manger. The name “Christmas”
               comes from the legend of Jesus’ birth.
　

Amy:      That’s right. And decorating Christmas trees is one of the most popular
               Christmas celebrations. Christmas trees came from German in the first
               half of 1800s. It can be a fresh, green and fragrant spruce or pine with
               good shapes and thick branches.

Kelly:     Then put some decoration such as light bulbs, colored ribbon or small
               toys on the tree and some presents under it. Just make the Christmas
               tree as beautiful as you can!
　

Sharon: There are other characteristic of Christmas in the past such as the cross
               and the tiny candles. The cross is a special mark carved on the barn
               doors to repel evil spirits. The oldest people made tiny candles by the
               fat of small animals. The way the candles burn can predict what will
               happen next year.
　

Judy:      Really? That sounds so incredible!
　

Sharon: And if your candles went out, you’ll die. (She makes faces.)
　

Kelly:      Don’t trust her! It’s just a legend! When we heard this the first time, we
               were cheated too.
　

Amy:      It will be fun if you join us to decorate the Christmas tree! (She turns
               and says it to Judy.) We can decorate the tree together this year!
　

Sharon: One more thing to remind you is that my birthday is on Christmas Eve.
               We can have Christmas dinner together! You will not forget the most
               delicious roasted chicken my mom makes. And don’t forget to bring
               presents.
　

Judy:     Maybe a Christmas tree is the best choice to be your birthday present!
               Ha, ha—
　

Amy:     So I love winter because there are many holidays that we can celebrate
              on December.
　

Judy:     In addition to Halloween and Christmas, what else do you like best?
　

Amy:     Well, it’s hard to say. Christmas is a very big event all over the world; it is
              always celebrated with songs and presents. What do you think, Judy?.
　

Judy:     I don’t know. Our family doesn’t celebrate it.
　

Sharon: It’s incredible. When Christmas comes, your family doesn’t do anything!
　

Judy:     Well, I’ve heard that Jews celebrate Christmas differently. They light
              candles and have potato pancakes for reunion dinner. After eating,
              they will play gambling.
　

Kelly:     It’s another celebrating and it sounds fun.
　

Amy:      Yeah! But it is not for Christmas. It’s for Hanukkah!
　

Kelly:     Hanukkah? What’s that? I haven’t heard of it before!
　

Judy:     This holiday is not so global. It’s for Jews. Hanukkah is often known as
               the festival of lights. That’s why candles are lighted during the festival.
　

Amy:      Oh! Does it mean something?
　

Judy:     It means gratitude for ancestor’s victor in ancient wars.
　

Sharon: And what about gambling?
　

Judy:      It’s done with a four-sided spinning top. Winning or losing the game
               depends on what side of the spinning top falls on.
　

Sharon: We love to celebrate Hanukkah someday. How can we take part in?
　

Judy:     Sorry, I have no idea. I read it from magazines.
　

Amy:      Then how about Thanksgiving Day? What is that?
　

Sharon: Oh, that’s also a wonderful holiday.
　

Kelly:      Americans celebrate Thanksgiving actually. During the day, all the
               family members get together to celebrate with quite a plentiful dinner.
               The dinner will be a turkey, pumpkin pies, some corns, and marmalade
               made of cranberries.
　

Sharon: Wow! That really sounds impressive! But why?
　

Amy:      Let me tell you this. All of this is to thank for the Indians who taught the
               ancestors of the Americans to grow, hunt, and fish when they first
               migrated to the new continent. Without their help, the early settlers
               would not have abundant harvest and survive from the severe winter.
　

Judy:     That’s interesting. Thanksgiving reveals the spirit of America. It’s a
               historical event, isn’t it.
　

Sharon: I guess we have full conversation on the four festivals. It’s time to write
               our report!
　

Kelly:      I am going to the library. Bye!
　

Amy:      I shall write it in computer center.
　

Judy:      I have a date with my boyfriend at the internet café. See you around!
　

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By 陳璽律, 陳又滋, 黃佳慧, 黃馨儀