Vu Lan Festival

            Vu Lan Festival takes place on 15^th day of the seventh lunar month. It is also called “Xa toi vong nhan” festival (16)__ _______ this is the day for the death’s souls. Many people believe that on that day, (17)__ _______ the gate of the hell opens, souls of the dead can come back to their home (18)_ _______ gather with their family. (19)___ ______, Vietnamese people consider that it is also the occasion for family gatherings as well as expressing love (20)_____ _____ gratitude to ancestors and parents. (21)_________, Vu Lan Festival is known as Mother’s Day in Vietnam.

(22)____ _____, in the morning of that day, a lavish tray with various delicious dishes set on the altar, and the householder will burn incense and invite ancestor to come back home and celebrate the festival with family. (23)___ _______ at night the Vietnamese hold a ceremony of releasing lighted lanterns on the river, (24)__ ________ Vietnamese people believe by doing that, their wishes for parents will come true.

Pagodas are crowded during the festival say (25)___ ______ Buddhist gather for the monk’s lecture. Each Buddhist has a flower (usually rose) in front of their chest: red flower (26)___ ______ their parents are living and white flower (27)____ _________ their parents are dead

Vu Lan Festival

            Vu Lan Festival takes place on 15^th day of the seventh lunar month. It is also called “Xa toi vong nhan” festival (16)_________ this is the day for the death’s souls. Many people believe that on that day, (17)_________ the gate of the hell opens, souls of the dead can come back to their home (18)________ gather with their family. (19)_________, Vietnamese people consider that it is also the occasion for family gatherings as well as expressing love (20)__________ gratitude to ancestors and parents. (21)_________, Vu Lan Festival is known as Mother’s Day in Vietnam.

(22)_________, in the morning of that day, a lavish tray with various delicious dishes set on the altar, and the householder will burn incense and invite ancestor to come back home and celebrate the festival with family. (23)__________ at night the Vietnamese hold a ceremony of releasing lighted lanterns on the river, (24)__________ Vietnamese people believe by doing that, their wishes for parents will come true.

Pagodas are crowded during the festival say (25)_________ Buddhist gather for the monk’s lecture. Each Buddhist has a flower (usually rose) in front of their chest: red flower (26)_________ their parents are living and white flower (27)______________ their parents are dead.

8. The date for the Vu Lan Festival is the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. (place)

     The Vu Lan Festival ………………………………………………………

9. While we were going home, we had an accident. (way)

     We …………………………………………………………………………

10. I can’t wait to see the elephant race festival in Dak Lak. (forward)

     I am            …………………………………………………………………………

IV.    Make questions for the underlined parts.

1.     La Tomatina Festival is held in Spain.

2.     Lan went online for more information about Diwali festival.

3.     The Lantern Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month.

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

5. The Lim festival takes place every year.

6. The three official festival days are held in a joyful and exciting way.

7. The parade coursed around the town square. 

8. Thousands of fans travel to Belgium to attend Tomorrowland.

9. Tet is usually celebrated between late January or early February.

10. The Rio Music Festival is celebrated with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.

I. Complete the sentences, using the correct form of the words in brackets.

1. If I were you, I would take part in that game.

· You should

2. The date for the Vu Lan festival is the 15th day of the seven Lunar month.

=> The Vu Lan festival takes

3. Although the weather was bad, we went out.

=> The weather was bad; however,

4. Playing beach games is very interesting.

=>It's

II. Rearrange the words/phrases given to make complete sentences.

1. or/ you/ Would/ urban/ like/ to/ mountainous/ live/ in/ in/ the/ the/ areas/ areas?

2. I/out/friends/fancy/with/weekend./at/hanging/my/the

   Tran Temple Festival, one of the largest annual spring festivals in Vietnam, is held on the 14th night and 15th day of the first lunar month at the national historical complex of the Tran Kings’ shrines and tombs in Tien Due Commune, Hung Ha District, Nam Dinh City. It usually begins with an incense-offering rite at the kings’ tombs and a ritual for the opening of the gates of Den Thanh (Thanh Temple), Den Mau (Mother Temple) and the Tran Kings’ shrines. They are followed by a ‘water procession’, in which people will carry nine ornate palanquins with memorial plaques of the Kings of the Tran Dynasty and members of their royal families. A series of folk games are also organized during the festival, such as a rice-cooking challenge, clay firecrackers, chung cake wrapping and tug of war, alongside traditional performances and sport games including lion dances, dragon dances, cheo and chau van singing, human chess, wrestling and martial arts.

     The Tran Temple Festival was recognized as a national intangible heritage in 2014. The historical complex of the Tran Kings’ shrines and tombs received special national relic status last year.

     - ornate (adj): được sơn son thiếp vàng

     - palanquin (n): kiệu rước (lễ hội)

1. How often is the Tran Temple Festival held?

     a. every month         b. every year         c. every two years         d. twice a year

2. The Tran Temple Festival usually begins with ………………..

     a. formal ceremonies                                        b. a water procession

     c. prayers of thanks                                          d. incense offerings to the gods

3. The word ‘they’ in the passage refers to ………………..

     a. temples                  b. offerings                   c. shrines                     d. rituals

4. What does ‘plaque’ mean?

     a. a large picture printed on paper

     b. a wide piece of cloth with a message on it

     c. a small piece of paper with information on it

     d. a flat piece of metal, wood or stone with writing on it

5. Which of the followings is not organized in the festival?

     a. rice cooking          b. tug of war           c. boat race           d. human chess

6. Based on the information in the text, which statement is false?

     a. The Tran Temple Festival aims to honour the Tran Dynasty.

     b. The seal opening ceremony takes place on the 14th night.

     c. The main rituals are preceded by a water procession.

     d. Traditional cheo and chau van singing is performed in the festival.

7. Which of the followings is not mentioned in the text?

     a. The Tran Dynasty is the most brilliant reign in Vietnamese history.

     b. Tran Temple Festival was recognized as a national intangible heritage.

     c. Nine ornate palanquins are carried in the water procession.

     d. There are plenty of activities to keep festival goers entertained.

Tran Temple Festival, one of the largest annual spring festivals in Vietnam, is held on the 14th night and 15th day of the first lunar month at the national historical complex of the Tran Kings’ shrines and tombs in Tien Duc Commune, Hung Ha District, Nam Dinh City. It usually begins with an incense-offering rite at the kings’ tombs and a ritual for the opening of the gates of Den Thanh (Thanh Temple), Den Mau (Mother Temple) and the Tran Kings’ shrines. They are followed by a ‘water procession’, in which people will carry nine ornate palanquins with memorial plaques of the Kings of the Tran Dynasty and members of their royal families. A series of folk games are also organized during the festival, such as a rice-cooking challenge, clay firecrackers, chung cake wrapping and tug of war, alongside traditional performances and sport games including lion dances, dragon dances, cheo and chau van singing, human chess, wrestling and martial arts.

      The Tran Temple Festival was recognized as a national intangible heritage in 2014. The historical complex of the Tran Kings’ shrines and tombs received special national relic status last year.

      - ornate (adj): được sơn son thiếp vàng          - palanquin (n): kiệu rước (lễ hội)

1.   How often is the Tran Temple Festival held?

      a. every month            b. every year               c. every two years      d. twice a year

2.   The Tran Temple Festival usually begins with ________.

      a. formal ceremonies                                      b. a water procession

      c. prayers of thanks                                         d. incense offerings to the gods

3.   The word ‘they’ in the passage refers to ________.

      a. temples                    b. offerings                  c. shrines      d. rituals

4.   What does ‘plaque’ mean?         

      a. a large picture printed on paper

      b.a wide piece of cloth with a message on it

      c.a small piece of paper with information on it

      d.a flat piece of metal, wood or stone with writing on it

5.   Which of the followings is not organized in the festival?

      a. rice cooking            b. tug of war                c. boat race      d. human chess

5.   Based on the information in the text, which statement is false?

      a.The Tran Temple Festival aims to honour the Tran Dynasty.

      b.The seal opening ceremony takes place on the 14th night.

      c.The main rituals are preceded by a water procession.

      d.Traditional cheo and chau van singing is performed in the festival.

7,   Which of the followings is not mentioned in the text?

      a.The Tran Dynasty is the most brilliant reign in Vietnamese history.

      b.Tran Temple Festival was recognized as a national intangible heritage.

      c. Nine ornate palanquins are carried in the water procession.

            d.There are plenty of activities to keep festival goers entertained.