Workshop. Festivals and celebrations

Speaking : On festivals and celebrations

ç·         What is the most important festival or celebration in your town or country?

·         Are there any festivals at this time of year? (How do people usually celebrate it?)

·         How do people usually mark the New Year? (Do you usually do those things?)

·         When did you last meet up with your extended family? (Was there any special reason for this meeting? What did you all do?)

• Do you think festivals and celebrations are becoming more Americanised in your country? (Can you give some examples? How do you feel about that?)

• Are any old traditions related to particular times of year in your country disappearing? (Why do you think that is? Should anything be done about it?)

• Are there any examples in your country of special days which were originally made up by the marketing departments of companies, e.g. Grandparents Day? What do you think about that?

• Do you think any other festivals or celebrations in your country are over-commercialised or have lost their original meaning?

• What local festival in your area or country would be most interesting for a foreign guest, do you think?

• What do you think about people who aren’t Christian but celebrate Christmas anyway?

• Do people nowadays tend to appreciate what public holidays are meant to celebrate, or do they just treat them like any other day off?

• How can the government or festival organisers make them more relevant to and popular with young people?