Unit five Tradition and Festivals

Text A Public Festivals in China
　　China is a country with 56 nationalities and a rich cultural heritage. Of all the public festivals, perhaps the following are the most popular ones in China.National Day (October 1st) is the most important public festival in China as the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic.
　　On this day every town and village in the country are permeated with a jubilant atmosphere. In large cities people throng the streets, squares and parks in their holiday best. Main streets and public buildings are decorated with flags and flowers. In the evening these places are a blaze of light. Fireworks shooting, singing and dancing, various assemblies and exhibitions keep the whole nation busy for bays.
　　The festivals next in importance after National Day are two New Years; one according to the Gregorian solar calendar, and the other according to the traditional lunar calendar. The former was officially established in 1911, but it has been to this day the New Year in an administrative sense only. Whereas the traditional New Year has remained the virtual festival of New Year emotionally and culturally, though it was renamed “the Spring Festival” long ago.
The solar New Year is quite eclipsed by the traditional New Year both in importance and festivity. On this one-day national holiday there is little of what you would call rousing celebrations. It is an occasion for presenting new stage, screen or TV shows, and a convenient day for holding a wedding. Otherwise it is just an ordinary holiday. For