Songkran in Thailand’s most famous festival. An important event on the Buddhist 
calendar, this water festival marks the beginning of the traditional Thai New Year. Water is an 
important element of Songkran, especially in more recent times when the throwing of water has 
become a huge part of the annual celebrations. If you’re visiting Thailand during this period, don’t 
be surprised if you get splashed. Crowds of people roam around throwing buckets of water, using 
water pistols and just generally soaking anyone in the vicinity. Appreciation of family is another 
important aspect of the festival, with many Thai people making their way to their hometowns to 
spend time with older relatives. Buddhists also visit temples throughout Songkran where water is 
poured on Buddha images and on the hands of Buddhist monks as a mark of respect.
Without a doubt, Songkran is a hugely important festival to the Thai people but it’s also very 
popular with visitors and many tourists specifically arrange their holidays around this unique event. Anyone and 
everyone can and will get involved in the celebrations. If you’re out and about during Songkran, you’re almost 
guaranteed to end up soaked but you’ll have lots of fun in the process!
T F
61.Songkran is considered the festival of the traditional Thai New Year.  
62.Water has been used during the festival recently but not in the past.  
63.People have many ways to make each other wet with water.  
64.Songkran is also an occasion for people to go back to the hometown to spend  
time with their relatives.
65.It is certainly not a religious festival.  
66.Everyone visits temples to pour water on Buddha images to show their respect.  
67.The Thai do not let foreigners participate in the festival.  
68.Songkran is actually a very important festival in Thailand.  
69.Nearly everyone gets wet after taking part in the festival.  
70.The festival only has the religious meaning but it is not enjoyable.  

Songkran in Thailand’s most famous festival. An important event on the Buddhist 
calendar, this water festival marks the beginning of the traditional Thai New Year. Water is an 
important element of Songkran, especially in more recent times when the throwing of water has 
become a huge part of the annual celebrations. If you’re visiting Thailand during this period, don’t 
be surprised if you get splashed. Crowds of people roam around throwing buckets of water, using 
water pistols and just generally soaking anyone in the vicinity. Appreciation of family is another 
important aspect of the festival, with many Thai people making their way to their hometowns to 
spend time with older relatives. Buddhists also visit temples throughout Songkran where water is 
poured on Buddha images and on the hands of Buddhist monks as a mark of respect.
Without a doubt, Songkran is a hugely important festival to the Thai people but it’s also very 
popular with visitors and many tourists specifically arrange their holidays around this unique event. Anyone and 
everyone can and will get involved in the celebrations. If you’re out and about during Songkran, you’re almost 
guaranteed to end up soaked but you’ll have lots of fun in the process!
T F
61.Songkran is considered the festival of the traditional Thai New Year.  
62.Water has been used during the festival recently but not in the past.  
63.People have many ways to make each other wet with water.  
64.Songkran is also an occasion for people to go back to the hometown to spend  
time with their relatives.
65.It is certainly not a religious festival.  
66.Everyone visits temples to pour water on Buddha images to show their respect.  
67.The Thai do not let foreigners participate in the festival.  
68.Songkran is actually a very important festival in Thailand.  
69.Nearly everyone gets wet after taking part in the festival.  
70.The festival only has the religious meaning but it is not enjoyable.  

Chol Chnam Thmay Festival

          This holiday is the New Year festival in ancient calendar of Khmer people. Held in mid-April, the festival occurs in 3 days (4 days for the leap year). People prepare new clothes, food and drinks for whole festival days. They also repair, clean and decorate their house. Everyone is excited to care for holiday.

          At night of New Year's Eve, every family prepares a lavish meal, burns incense and candles to welcome the new god, farewell the old god. On the altar, they present 5 flower branches, 5 candles, 5 incense, 5 cereal seeds and fruit crops. They pray for health and luck in the New Year.

          On the first New Year - Chol Sangkran Chmay, major activities are bathing, dressing nice, bringing sacrifice gifts to the temple in good time which has been selected.
          On Wonbof day - the second day, they make rice offerings and cover the sand mountain. People cook rice and bring it to the temple in the morning and the afternoon.

          On Lom Sak day - the third day, they do Buddha bathing and monk-bathing ceremony. In the morning. people bring breakfast to monks and listen to the sermon. At noon, they burn the lamps, offer sacrifice gifts and bring fragrant water to bathe Buddha statues. After the ceremony at the temple, the monks go to the grave to pray for the souls of those who died.

1.What is the festival?

_________________________________________________________________

2. When is it held? And how long does it last?

_________________________________________________________________

3.What do people prepare to celebrate the festival?

_________________________________________________________________

4.How do Khmer people prepare the altar at night of New Year's Eve?

_________________________________________________________________

5.What do people do on the first New Year Day?

_________________________________________________________________

6.When do people cook rice and bring it to the temple?

_________________________________________________________________

7.When do they do Buddha bathing and monk-bathing ceremony?

_________________________________________________________________

8.What do the monks do after doing Buddha bathing and monk-bathing ceremony?

_________________________________________________________________

IX. Read then answer the questions.

Many countries all over the world celebrate the New Year holiday. In China, it is a very happy time. Chinese people think it is the most important time of the year. There are parades in the streets, and families gather for big dinners. At these dinners, children get lucky money in red envelopes as their good grade and achievements during the last year. Before the New Year, the Chinese people always clean their houses to clean out bad luck. Everything must be fresh and clean as they think that they will have a happy new year. People also make sure that they have paid all their bills. It is important to start a New Year without owning anyone’s money. Different from Chinese, in Thailand, people hold Water Festival. The festival takes place everywhere in the country but especially popular in the north. Water Festival takes place in the middle of April every year. It is a part of the Thai New Year. People throw buckets of water on each other. There are even parades where people throw water. It is especially important to throw water on older people. It shows respect to them.

56. What happen in the streets in China on New Year holiday?

57. Why do Chinese people clean their houses before the New Year?

58. What do they try to avoid when they start the New Year?

59. When is the Water Festival held in Thailand?

60. Why is it important to throw water on older people?

Exercise 4: Make questions for the underlined parts.

1. Tomorrow land is an electronic dance music festival.

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2. The Songkran Festival is usually celebrated between 13 and 16 April.

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3. Vietnamese people go to pagodas at Tet to pray for a year of good luck and happiness.

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4. Diwali is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and latns across the world.

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5. The Vietnamese celebrate Tet with family gatherings, traditional foods, and lion dances.

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6. The festival site is three miles from the nearest town of Shepton Mallet.

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7. During Tet, children and the elderly receive lucky money put in red envelopes.

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8. It cost about £400 to go to Glastonbury Festival last year.

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9. Many people went to Han River to witness the Danang International Fireworks Festival.

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10. Jean visits Dalat every two years to attend the Dalat Flower Festival.

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Read the passage about Lunar New Year (Tet) in Viet Nam, then answer the questions.

            Lunar New Year is one of the festivals celebrated in some Asian countries. It is the greatest Vietnamese festival. It is called Tet in Viet Nam. It usually takes place between the end of January and the beginning of February.

            Celebrations begin with the family reunion dinner which is held on the New Year’s Eve. Every member of the family is eager to attend this family feast (bữa tiệc). The feast usually consists of Banh Chung or Banh Tet, spring rolls, chicken and some other special food.

            The children usually wear new clothes and go with their parents to visit their grandparents and relatives. The children say “Happy New Year” to all the people they visit and are often given lucky money in red envelopes. They are very happy.

1. When does the Lunar New Year take place?

………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. When do the Vietnamese hold their family reunion dinner?

………………………………………………………………………………………..

3. What do the Vietnamese children usually do at Tet?

………………………………………………………………………………………..

4. What are the children given at Tet?

………………………………………………………………………………………..

5. How do the children feel?

………………………………………………………………………………………..

Read the following passage, and then tick the correct answers: true (T), or false (F).

Songkran is Thailand's most famous festival. An Important event on the Buddhist calendar, this water festival marks the beginning of the traditional Thai New Year. Water is an important element of Songkran, especially in more recent times when the throwing of water has become a huge part of the annual celebrations. If you're visiting Thailand during this period, don't be surprised if you get splashed. Crowds of people roam around throwing buckets of water, using water pistols and just generally soaking anyone in the vicinity. Appreciation of family is another important aspect of the festival, with many Thai people making their way to their hometowns to spend time with older relatives. Buddhists also visit temples throughout Songkran where water is poured on Buddha images and on the hands of Buddhist monks as a mark of respect. Without a doubt, Songkran is a hugely important festival to the Thai people but it's also very popular with visitors and many tourists specifically arrange their holidays around rhis unique event. Anyone and everyone can and will get involved in the celebrations. If you're out and about during Songkran, you're almost guaranteed to end up soaked but you'll have lost of fun in the process!

38. Songkran is considered the festival of the traditional Thai New Year.

39. Water has been used during the festival recently but not in the past.

40. People have many ways to makes each other wet with water.

41. Songkran is also an occasion for people to go to back to the hometown to spend time with their relatives.

42. It is certainly not a religious festival.

43. Everyone visits temples to pour water on Buddha images to show their respect.

44. The Thai do not let foreigners participate in the festival.

45. Songkran is actually a very important festival in Thailand.

46. Nearly everyone gets wet after talking part in the festival.

47. The festival only has the religious meaning but it is not enjoyable.

Read the following passage and answer the questions:

Tet holiday is celebrated on the first day of the Lunar New Year in Viet Nam. Some weeks before the New Year, the Vietnamese clean their houses and paint the walls. New clothes are bought for the occasion. One or two days before the festival, people make Banh chung , which is the traditional cake, and kinds of jam. On the New Year's Eve, the whole family gets together for the reunion dinner. On New Year morning, all the members of the family pay their respects to the elders by beautiful words. In return, they receive lucky money wrapped in red tiny envelopes. Then people go to visit the neighbors, friends and relatives.

When is Tet holiday celebrated in Viet Nam?

........................................................................................................

Read the following passage and answer the questions

Tet holiday is celebrated on the first day of the Lunar New Year in Viet Nam. Some weeks before the New Year, the Vietnamese clean their houses and paint the walls. New clothes are bought for the occasion. One or two days before the festival, people make Banh Chung, which is the traditional cake, and kinds of jam. On the new Year’s Eve, the whole family get together for a reunion dinner. Every member of the family should be present during the dinner in which many different kinds of dishes are served. On the New Year morning, the young members of the family pay their respects to the elders. And the children receive lucky money wrapped in red tiny envelops. Then people go to visit their neighbors, friends and relatives.

Is Tet holiday celebrated on the second day of the Lunar New Year?

……………………………………………………………………….…………