学二姐，每日一篇新概念 II册第96课 ，边学边实践-11月24日

96 The dead return
A Festival for the Dead is held once a year in Japan. This festival is a cheerful occasion, for on this day, the dead are said to return to their homes and they are welcomed by the living. As they are expected to be hungry after their long journey, food is laid out for them. Specially-made lanterns are hung outside each house to help the dead to find their way. All night long, people dance and sing. In the early morning, the food that had been laid out for the dead is thrown into a river or into the sea as it is considered unlucky for anyone living to eat it. In towns that are near the sea, the tiny lanterns which had been hung in the streets the night before are placed into the water when the festival is over. Thousands of lanterns slowly drift out to sea guiding the dead on their return journey to the other world. This is a moving spectacle, for crowds of people stand on the shore watching the lanterns drifting away until they can be seen no more.

96. There is a Festival for the Dead in Japan. On this day, the Dead are said to return to have a family reunion. Everybody is cheerful and the Dead will be welcomed by food laid out for them. On each house door, specially-made lantern will be hung out to help the dead find out their homes. On the early morning next day, people will throw all the food which laid out for the dead into the river. In seaside towns, the lanterns are placed into the water when the festival is over. This is a moving spectacle, as lots of people stand on the shore watching thousands of lanterns slowly drifting away to sea until they can be seen no more.


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96 days has passed and this is the last lesson. I want to say thank you to many persons in here. Thank you for your support, friendship and all the help!