Mardi Gras (intermediate level) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Copyright 2010. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be photocopied by members of ESL-Library.com, in accordance with membership terms and conditions. Contact [email protected] for complete details. 1 ESL Lesson Plans - Holidays (Intermediate) - Mardi Gras MARDI GRAS 1. Like many other holidays and festivals observed globally today, Mardi Gras has its roots in Christianity. The French term Mardi Gras translates to Fat Tuesday, and refers specifically to the last day before Lent. Lent is a period prior to Easter when Christians traditionally fasted. Giving up a particular food or vice, such as smoking or eating sweets, is more typical today. 2. The length of Mardi Gras celebrations varies depending on where the celebrations are held. While some parties last a day or two, others run for 46 exciting days. Traditionally the observance began on Epiphany, also known as Twelfth Night, and ended just before Lent. In the Christian tradition, Epiphany is the twelfth day after Christmas when the kings arrived at Jesus' birthplace. Fat Tuesday is also called Pancake Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday. The following day, known by Christians as Ash Wednesday, is the first day of Lent. 3. The term Lent actually translates from Old English to mean the season of spring. Having a festival just before spring is typical of many religions and cultures. If you've ever been to a Mardi Gras celebration, it may surprise you that such a party could have a religious background. Festivals and carnivals that take place before springtime are filled with extravagance and mystery. In fact it is believed that these circus-type festivals existed before Christians adopted them, and that they were toned down to fit the faith. Over time, the festivals grew wilder again and eventually the religious aspect lost its significance. 4. One common element of carnival celebrations worldwide is the parade. These massive spectacles have been popular in the United States since the 1700s when French explorers brought their traditions with them from Paris. To this day, the Mardi Gras parades in America are organized by private clubs called Krewes. These secret societies hide behind masks as they parade down the streets of cities including New Orleans, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama. The more exclusive Krewes are made up of relatives from previous generations and often have high membership fees. The fees are used to pay for the decorative floats. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Copyright 2010. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be photocopied by members of ESL-Library.com, in accordance with membership terms and conditions. Contact [email protected] for complete details. 2 ESL Lesson Plans - Holidays (Intermediate) - Mardi Gras NEW YEAR’S AROUND THE WORLD - continued 5. In New Orleans there are three special colors associated with Mardi Gras and each color has a symbolic meaning. Green symbolizes faith, purple symbolizes justice, and gold symbolizes power. Costumes, decorations, and beaded necklaces of these three colors are prevalent throughout Mardi Gras. Besides the beads, other special souvenirs such as coins and hand-decorated coconuts are thrown out to the parade watchers from the partiers on the floats. Items that are tossed into the crowds are called "throws". 6. In Rio de Janeiro and other parts of Brazil, this Lenten celebration is known as Carnival. Often dubbed "The greatest party on Earth," Carnival in Rio features a two-day samba school parade. Thousands of travelers from around the world visit Rio for this spectacle, including celebrities who celebrate from VIP balconies along the parade route. The singers and dancers in the parade wear feathers as a symbol of Brazil's ability to overcome troubled times. Judges are placed at various points along the route to determine which school deserves the highest marks. 7. Festivals like Mardi Gras are not necessarily tied to spring. Canadians celebrate Carnival at an annual winter festival in Quebec City that coincides with Mardi Gras. Winter Carnival in Quebec is the largest of its kind in the world with close to one million attendees each year. Rather than feathers and beads and coconuts, it features an ice castle and a winter amusement park for the whole family. Activities include sleigh racing, ice sculpting, and dog sledding. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Copyright 2010. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be photocopied by members of ESL-Library.com, in accordance with membership terms and conditions. Contact [email protected] for complete details. 3 ESL Lesson Plans - Holidays (Intermediate) - Mardi Gras READING COMPREHENSION A. Practice asking and answering the following questions with your partner. Then write the answers in the spaces below. 1. What language does the term Mardi Gras come from? ___________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Why is Ash Wednesday mentioned in the reading? ______________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Who brought the Mardi Gras celebration to America? ____________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. What are the private Mardi Gras clubs in New Orleans called? _____________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. What do the purple beads symbolize? _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. What is the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro often called? _____________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. Where do celebrities typically go to watch the samba parades? _____________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. What do the feathered costumes symbolize? ____________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. Where is the world's most famous winter Carnival? ______________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ 10. What types of things do people do at this winter Carnival? _______________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Copyright 2010. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be photocopied by members of ESL-Library.com, in accordance with membership terms and conditions. Contact [email protected] for complete details. 4 ESL Lesson Plans - Holidays (Intermediate) - Mardi Gras VOCABULARY REVIEW A. Match the words on the left with the correct meaning on the right. ____1. roots a) fairness ____2. fasted b) very noticeable or common ____3. vice c) strong belief in something ____4. extravagance d) origin; place where something or someone began ____5. toned down e) threw casually ____6. significance f) viewing and seating area from above ____7. exclusive g) a place to enjoy rides, games, and other fun activities ____8. floats h) stopped eating for a period of time ____9. faith i) only available for a select person, group or time period ____10. justice j) an unhealthy habit or tendency ____11. prevalent k) decorated vehicles that parade participants ride on ____12. tossed l) made something less noticeable or bright ____13. dubbed m) a quality of excess; more than necessary ____14. balcony n) nicknamed ____15. amusement park o) importance B. Choose the word(s) with the closest meaning to the underlined word in the following sentences. 1. Beaded necklaces are prevalent on the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras. a. decorative b. found frequently c. a shade of purple 2. The samba dancers had faith that their school would win the contest. a. a wish b. a suspicion c. a strong belief 3. The vice Kyle chose to give up during Lent was eating potato chips in front of the TV. a. food b. bad habit c. treat ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Copyright 2010. This eBook is produced and distributed by Red River Press Inc. All rights reserved. The contents within this e-book/document may only be photocopied by members of ESL-Library.com, in accordance with membership terms and conditions. Contact [email protected] for