Book review 2-2 Seasons and Celebrations

There are many celebrations in Japan. For instead, new year, coming of age day, constitution day, and children’s day.
Of course, U.S, and Canada also has many celebrations. Some of these are well known for Japanese. For instead, there are St. Valentine’s Day, Hallowe’en, and Christmas. And, there are also very important events for western country although it is unfamiliar to Japanese. These are Easter, the forth of July, and Thanks giving day and so on.

Easter is a Christian holiday on a Sunday in March or April to celebrate Jesus Christ’s return to life after his death. There is a legend in Christians that Jesus was executed by Romans in Jerusalem on Friday, and two days later he resurrected. Eggs are an important part of Easter because it means spring and new life. One Easter tradition is “egg-rolling”. People decorate eggs with different colors.
On Easter Sunday, people give chocolate Easter eggs as presents. These eggs have bees started in Europe in the 19th century and came to Britain in the 1870s. Many people go to church on Easter day. There are lots of flowers in the churches and people sing special Easter songs.

And next, do you know the Independence Day? It is not a movie! This is very very important day for American.
U.S was once a colony of England and people in the colonies had to pay taxes to England. So, they gradually became to think that American colonies want to be free from England and want their government to be in America.
And on 4 July 1776, Thomas Jefferson and his friends wrote the Declaration of independence in Philadelphia. The British and Americans fought each other until 1781 in the American war of Independence. Americans fought for independence, equality, and freedom.
In 1783, both sides agreed with the independence of America, and so the United States of America was born.
On Independence Day, there are special church events at this time, but most of the celebrations are out side because it is summer! Many families barbecue, eat, and play games in their gardens or in a park. In many towns, there are grand parades through the streets with loud music and bright colors.
Independence Day usually ends with lots of fireworks. It is like one big party.

And finally, it is thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a holiday in the U.S. and Canada when families have a large meal together to celebrate and be thankful for food, health, families etc… It is celebrated in November in U.S. and in October in Canada. This event has been started hundreds of years ago.
In September 1620, English group called the Pilgrim Fathers has arrived in North America. They went away from England because of religion, and they wanted land for their families.
First, they thought that they are first person who got to America, but it was not. The first people were Indian. Sometimes the Pilgrims fought with the Indians but they also learned many things from them. The Indians showed them how to live in new land, and haw to grow and cook new kinds of fruit and vegetables.
The first winter was difficult for Pilgrims to get over. Many of them died because it was very cold and they had few foods. In the spring they started to grow food, helped by some friendly Indians, and the autumn, they celebrated for their first harvest.
The Pilgrims wanted to give thanks, not only for the harvest, but also for their new home, new life, and new friends. So, they invited Indians for party to say thanks for teaching and helping to grow some foods.
Most American and Canadian families still have a Thanksgiving Day dinner with their family. They have turkey and autumn vegetables, and pumpkin pie.

And, about St. Valentine’s Day, this event is very popular in Japan, too. However, in western country, man and woman send a gift or greeting card each other. It is not a chocolate. And also, man presents a red rose bouquet for woman.
In Japan, we, especially woman send a chocolate to man. It is not a tradition. One chocolate company used this event to boost their company sales.

This book was very interesting because some western popular event that is unfamiliar to Japanese was written in simple words. And it has many good pictures. I think that to know about the culture of foreign country is to know their history.

Good book! ( 745 words )