文档介绍：Chinese traditional festival originated from the wishes of safety and longevity, however western ones are associated with religion, mostly Christian.
The major activity in Chinese festivals is eating, however, the playing in western festivals.
Most of Chinese festival is aimed at the inheritance(继承) of Chinese traditional merits(功德), while western festival is aimed at the entertainment.
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The Interesting Traditions of April Fool’s Day
The Interesting Traditions of April Fools Day
Text Learning
After-reading exercises
The first of April is a special day, on which practical jokes may be played without punishment.
The origin of the custom is uncertain, but it seems to e about in France as a result of the change of the calendar in 1582.
The Interesting Traditions of April Fool’s Day
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2 In 16th-century France, the start of the new year was observed on April 1. It was celebrated in much the same way as it is today with parties and dancing into the late hours of the night. Then in 1582, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for the Christian world, and the new year fell on January 1. There were some people, however, who hadn’t heard of or didn’t believe the change in the date, so they continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April 1. Others played tricks on them and called them "April Fools". They sent them on a "fool’s errand" or tried to make them believe that something false was true.
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The Interesting Traditions of April Fool’s Day
3 In France today, children fool their friends by taping a paper fish to their friends' backs. When the "young fool" discovers this trick, the children yell "April Fish!" Today Americans play small tricks on friends and strangers alike on the same day. mon trick is pointing down to a friend's shoe and saying, "Your shoelace is untied!" School children might tell a classmate that school has been canceled. Whatever the trick, if the innocent victim falls for the joke, others would yell, "April Fool!"
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The Interesting Tra