PART 2 & 3

Topic 33- Describe a national festival in your country

Topic 33: Describe a national festival in your country

BAND 8.0+

PART 2

Alice (English US)

George (English US)

You should say:

when it takes place

why it takes place

What the people do during this festival

and explain why this festival is important to you.

ANSWER

Vietnam is a multicultural country with 54 minority groups. So it is not surprising that Vietnam has numerous festivals throughout the year, representing the diverse ethnic groups. However, after reviewing this topic, Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) comes to mind right now.

The reason why I want to mention Lunnar New Year is because it is a widely celebrated public festival in Vietnam.

It usually occurs at the end of January and lasts for three days. It is also an occasion for family reunions. They set aside the trouble of the past year and hoped for a better and happier upcoming year.

Before Tet holidays, from 5 to 7 days, people do house cleaning, decorate their houses with parallel sentences and peach or apricot blossoms, and make appetizing traditional foods such as Vietnamese square cake, dried candied fruit, braised pork, and eggs to worship the ancestors.

On the Tet holiday, we usually have family reunions to catch up with each other.

For adults, we will visit our friends and relatives’ houses, enjoy a feast, play cards, and exchange lucky money.

For children, I think they look forward to the Tet holiday the most because they can receive lucky money from adults as a way to give them the best wishes for the new year.

In addition, we will also visit pagodas and pray for a good year of work, good health, success, prosperity, and happiness.

The Tet holiday is a distinct festival in Vietnam. Whenever this holiday comes, I feel a strong sense of belonging and community because it reminds me of how diverse our culture can be with different rituals and foods.

I believe like any other Vietnamese people, all people love Tet because it is considered a time of renewal, and it’s an opportunity for Vietnamese people to pay homage to their ancestors and have family get-togethers to tighten the bonds with other members.

Last but not least, it’s also a great chance to let off steam for everyone after a long year at work.

 PART 3

Alice (English US)

George (English US)

  1. Tell me about the most important festival in your country.

Well, there are a variety of important festivals in Vietnam.

But I believe that the Tet holiday, officially called Lunar New Year, is undoubtedly the biggest festival of the year for family reunions and traditional ritual practice.

Typically, public holidays will be granted for seven days.

During that time, several special customs are conducted, including cleaning and decorating the houses, buying salt at the beginning of the year, giving lucky money to children and elders, having family parties or New Year’s greetings, and visiting pagodas.

  1. What special foods and activities are connected with this festival?

I reckon that Tet is the best time to try traditional Vietnamese food. Banh Chung, Banh Tet, and caramelized pork and eggs are the main dishes. Besides, there are a huge number of activities we can do in the new year, like watching Tet’s TV series like Tao Quan—the Kitchen Gods—and watching fireworks displays.

Family members usually gather together at the main house, or they will go around and visit their relatives and friends.

We also give and receive lucky money and visit pagodas and temples to wish for luck and happiness in the new year.

  1. What do you most enjoy about it?

What I enjoy the most about the Tet holiday is the family reunion.

I think that Tet is the time for family. Despite how far they live, Vietnamese people always try their best to return home for a family reunion.

Family members usually gather together at the main house, or they will go around and visit their relatives and friends.

People often organize the Tet banquet during these reunions, and of course, there will be a lot of drinking and eating. Which has a lot of fun and a cozy feeling.

  1. Do you think festivals are important for a country? [Why?]

I don’t just think, but I actually believe the festivals are absolutely important for any country, as they help bring all kinds of different people together so that they can learn about each other and appreciate them.

They spread brotherhood, faith, love, a sense of respect, and duty among the people without destroying others emotions and beliefs.

  1. Do you like western festivals?

Honestly, I only know a little about western festivals, but I guess the ones I find most interesting would be Christmas and New Years.

Christmas is a time of giving and sharing; it is by far my favorite time of the year. Christmas is about the love, peace, and joy that make this season so special.

I really enjoy listening to Christmas songs as they help me get away from stress, encourage a feeling of closeness, and lead to feelings of joy no matter how bad things in life may be, especially fairy lights and pretty decorations. New lights and fresh decorations mixed with old ones give a feeling of warmth and happiness.

So for me, it’s the Christmas season because it’s the most wonderful time of the year!

  1. Do you think this festival will still be as important in the future?

definitely. Even nowadays, some people believe that Tet has lost its original spirit, and people often forget the true meaning of the Lunar New Year because of modern, fast-paced life. However, I still think that it’s a national tradition passed on for centuries that should be kept for future generations.

  1. What days are important in your country?

Apart from the Tet holiday, as I just mentioned, in Vietnam, we have several important days like Hung Kings Commemorations, International Women’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Vietnamese Women’s Day, and Vietnamese Teacher’s Day. But more importantly, we have a national day to mark the country’s declaration of independence in 1945.

  1. What do you do during the Tet holiday?

My family and I usually gather together at our house, enjoy special food, and then go around and visit their relatives and friends.

Lastly, we will also visit pagodas and pray for a good year of work.

  1. What do you think about the impact of Western cultures on Vietnamese traditional culture?

Well, it’s true that some Western festivals have been accepted by the Vietnamese, but as the Western culture is emerging into the culture, there’s also a very strong influence of the Vietnamese on the Western. With economic globalization, we can certainly feel multicultural.

I think there’s a lot of impact because we can feel there is a stronger holiday atmosphere in the air than the traditional Vietnamese festival.

  1. Do you think that there should be more holidays in your country?

Of course, I wholeheartedly support the idea of adding another public holiday in Vietnam. People are now living a fast-paced and increasingly stressful life. More national off-work holidays would be much needed, so they have more chances to let off steam and can work more effectively.

  1. What do other people in your country usually do on public holidays?

Well, some prefer spending that precious time with their families or friends, maybe cooking at home or visiting amusement parks, while others like to go on a vacation with their loved ones or on their own.

  1. Why is it important to have national celebrations? Do you think public holidays are important?

From my point of view, national festivals help us conserve our cultures, roots, origins, and values. People preserve the country’s heritage when they realize that it is valuable.

National festivals bring people together all over the country to observe a common historical or cultural day.

  1. How is the way your national celebrations are celebrated now different from the way they were celebrated in the past?

Well, there are lots of changes in the trends for celebrating festivals.

Nowadays, festivals tend to be very big, even if they start small. They usually grow into events for thousands of people, whereas in the past, festivals were generally more local affairs held in the community, so they were much smaller.

Secondly, in the past, people used to celebrate the holidays with their relatives or family members. But currently, the celebrations have involved family members as well as friends.

Lastly, now people tend to travel during national celebrations instead of staying at home.

  1. Are there any celebrations from other countries that you celebrate in your country? What holiday or festival has become more popular in Vietnam recently?

Oh, yes, absolutely. Obviously, western holidays and cultural events such as Christmas and Valentine’s Day are becoming increasingly popular in Vietnam. Although they are not our culture, they are celebrated on a large scale.

During Christmas days, people exchange gifts, decorate Christmas trees, attend church, share meals with family and friends, and, of course, wait for Santa Claus to arrive.

On Valentine’s Day, couples give and exchange gifts and flowers.

  1. What are the benefits of having events that many people around the world are celebrating on the same day?

I think that there are a lot of positive aspects involved in these global events.

It reminds us of the fact that we are all humans, and we have the same values no matter who we are or where we come from. We are all sharing this world together and creating a strong bond among us.

  1. Do you think any new national celebrations will come into being in the future?

Oh, yes, definitely. I’ve seen so many celebrations that have been added to our daily lives through history, and I believe that the future is no exception. I guess that many new festivals will be added in the future.

  1. Can you elaborate on it?

Oh yes, Beginning in the late 19th century, for most countries, Labor Day is considered International Workers’ Day, which occurs on May 1. And it is still celebrated in many countries now.

 VOCAB

  1. A multicultural country
  • Nghĩa: một quốc gia đa văn hóa
  • Phiên âm: /ə ˌmʌltiˈkʌltʃərəl ˈkʌntri/
  • Canada is known for being a multicultural country with a rich diversity of cultures and traditions.
  1. A minority group
  • Nghĩa: dân tộc thiểu số
  • Phiên âm: /məˈnɒrəti ɡruːp/
  • Ví dụ: The Hmong people are a minority group that resides in several countries across Southeast Asia.
  1. A family reunion
  • Nghĩa: đoàn tụ gia đình
  • Phiên âm: /ˈfæməli riˈjuːnjən/
  • During the holidays, many families plan a family reunion to spend time together.
  1. Set aside -v
  • Nghĩa: để dành, để riêng, để qua 1 bên
  • Phiên âm: /sɛt əˈsaɪd/
  • It’s important to set aside some time each day for self-care and relaxation.
  1. Parallel sentences
  • Nghĩa: câu  đối (đỏ) song song
  • Phiên âm: /ˈpærəlɛl ˈsɛntənsɪz/
  • The author used parallel sentences to create a rhythmic and balanced effect in the poem.
  1. Apricot blossoms
  • Nghĩa: hoa mai
  • Phiên âm: /ˈeɪprɪkɒt ˈblɒsəmz/
  • Ví dụ: In Vietnam, apricot blossoms are a popular symbol of the Lunar New Year.
  1. Peach blossoms
  • Nghĩa: hoa đào
  • Phiên âm: /piːʧ ˈblɒsəmz/
  • In Chinese culture, peach blossoms symbolize longevity and romance.
  1. Braised pork and eggs
  • Nghĩa: thịt kho tàu
  • Phiên âm: /breɪzd pɔːk ænd ɛɡz/
  • Ví dụ: Braised pork and eggs is a traditional Vietnamese dish often served during special occasions.
  1. To worship the ancestors
  • Nghĩa: thờ cúng tổ tiên
  • Phiên âm: /tuː ˈwɜːʃɪp ðiː ˈænsɪstərz/
  • During the Qingming Festival, Chinese families visit ancestral graves to worship their ancestors.
  1. Catch up with
  • Nghĩa: bắt kịp, bắt đầu trò chuyện
  • Phiên âm: /kætʃ ʌp wɪð/
  • I need to catch up with my friend to see what’s been happening in their life.
  1. Play cards
  • Nghĩa: chơi bài
  • Phiên âm: /pleɪ kɑːdz/
  • During the holiday gathering, the family decided to play cards for entertainment.
  1. Lucky money
  • Nghĩa: tiền lì xì
  • Phiên âm: /ˈlʌki ˈmʌni/
  • During Tet, children receive lucky money in red envelopes as a symbol of good luck and blessings.
  1. Prosperity -n
  • Nghĩa: sự thịnh vượng
  • Phiên âm: /prɒˈspɛrɪti/
  • The economic reforms brought prosperity to the country, improving the standard of living for its citizens.
  1. A strong sense of belonging
  • Nghĩa: sự tự hào về một nơi, cảm giác thân thuộc
  • Phiên âm: /ə strɒŋ sɛns ɒv bɪˈlɒŋɪŋ/
  • The community activities foster a strong sense of belonging among its members.
  1. Ritual-n
  • Nghĩa: nghi lễ
  • Phiên âm: /ˈrɪtʃuəlz/
  • The wedding ceremony included traditional rituals such as exchanging vows and rings.
  1. Pay homage to
  • Nghĩa: tôn kính, tưởng nhớ
  • Phiên âm: /peɪ ˈhɒmɪdʒ tuː/
  • People visit the memorial site to pay homage to the fallen soldiers.
  1. Tighten the bonds.
  • Nghĩa: củng cố mối quan hệ
  • Phiên âm: /ˈtaɪtən ðə bɒndz/
  • The team-building activities helped tighten the bonds among the employees.
  1. Fireworks displays
  • Nghĩa: màn pháo hoa
  • Phiên âm: /ˈfaɪəwɜːks dɪsˈpleɪz/
  • The city organized spectacular fireworks displays to celebrate the New Year.
  1. A sense of brotherhood
  • Nghĩa: tình anh em
  • Phiên âm: /ˈbrʌðəhʊd/
  • The members of the sports team developed a strong sense of brotherhood through their shared experiences.
  1. Modern, fast-paced life
  • Nghĩa: cuộc sống hiện đại nhanh nhẹn
  • Phiên âm: /ˈmɒdən fɑːst-peɪst laɪf/
  • Many people struggle to find a balance in their modern, fast-paced lives.
  1. Wholeheartedly -adv
  • Nghĩa: từ tận tâm, hết lòng
  • Phiên âm: /ˌhəʊlˈhɑːtɪdli/
  • She wholeheartedly supported her friend’s decision and stood by her side.
  1. On a large scale
  • Nghĩa: trên quy mô lớn
  • Phiên âm: /ɒn ə lɑːdʒ skeɪl/
  • The charity event was organized on a large scale to raise funds for the homeless.

 

Học thêm các bài IELTS Speaking mới nhất 👇👇👇

TOPIC 32- Describe a good law in your country.

Topic 34 – Talk about an object that reflects your traditions

 

Composed by Ms.Ngọc IELTS