IELTS Speaking
IELTS Speaking Part 2 and 3 : Traditional Celebration

IELTS Speaking Part 2 and 3 : Traditional Celebration

IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Traditional Celebration

Describe a traditional celebration (a festival or ceremony) in your country that you enjoy

You should say:

  • What it is
  • What you do to celebrate it
  • Who you celebrate it with
  • And explain why you enjoy it

The holiday is the Dragon Boat Festival, typically occurring in June. Last year, it was on June 22nd, and next year, it’s scheduled for the 10th of June. The date varies based on the lunar calendar.

The essence of the Dragon Boat Festival revolves around an ancient Chinese scholar who chose to end his life for various reasons. His body fell into the river, leading people to race to find his remains and toss rice dumplings into the water to prevent fish from consuming them. This story forms the festival’s origin.

Over time, the festival evolved into a family-oriented holiday. It spans three days, allowing people to take a break from work or school.

In my family, we gather near the river to watch the Dragon Boat Race, and I celebrate it with my parents. I find enjoyment in this holiday because it offers a much-needed break. Typically, we have major exams at the end of July, so these three days of relaxation help rejuvenate my mind. It’s also a precious time to reconnect with my family as our schedules are usually hectic.

I fondly recall my younger years when my grandmother and I would craft rice dumplings together. This tradition has persisted and continues to be a source of joy, especially during the thrilling Dragon Boat races.


IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Traditional Celebration

Is it important for children to learn about traditional festivals at school?

Yes, it’s crucial, especially in school, because each family might have a different perspective on the festival. This diversity of viewpoints isn’t ideal for a society as vast as China’s. Therefore, it becomes the responsibility of the school to educate students about the festival: why we celebrate it and what factors should be considered. As they grow older, they’ll need this knowledge. It’s important that they understand its significance.

Additionally, schools typically have a more formal setup, which ensures that the festival is not underappreciated. As I mentioned earlier, during family gatherings, people might have varying perspectives on certain festivals. For example, in the US, we have Thanksgiving. For someone who has recently immigrated from the US, they might not fully grasp the importance of Thanksgiving. However, if it’s taught in school, students will receive detailed information about why it’s significant for Americans to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Do children like to learn about traditional festivals?

Well, I can’t confidently say that children would be eager to learn about traditional festivals. Some festivals are inherently fun, like the 4th of July, which kids enjoy. I

When it comes to traditional festivals and their customs, they might appear boring to children, but the actual events could be interesting for them. I can’t definitively say that it’s something children would willingly embrace; rather, it might be something they are required to learn.

Why do people hold events to celebrate?

What we can focus on is the business aspect. Take the 4th of July, for example. It’s quite common for people to have barbecues, alcoholic beverages, and fireworks at home. However, if you’re looking to make money, you can organize an event where people don’t need to prepare these things, especially fireworks. You can profit by inviting them to a central celebration location.

This can drive traffic to your event, and you can offer a variety of alcoholic beverages that people would purchase from you. By adding a small profit margin for yourself, the accumulation can turn into a profitable venture. So, this is more of a business idea for why people celebrate in larger centers or hold events instead of celebrating at home.

Are traditional festivals disappearing?

Yes, there are indeed festivals, especially those with religious origins compared to political ones, that are starting to fade away. For instance, consider the Lenten festival in the US. As more people are not identifying as Catholic or Christian, the significance of Lent is diminishing. It’s becoming more of an official holiday, and from what I know, some people don’t even observe it anymore. They continue to work as usual. This is quite different from around 50 years ago when my grandmother told me that during that time, people strictly adhered to certain dietary restrictions as part of the celebration, which was a very devout practice in the past.

Similarly, there are political holidays from the past that have lost their prominence as the political atmosphere has changed. For example, confederate holidays. Some people have shifted away from that part of history, they tend to ignore or not engage with it as intensely as before.

Is music important in traditional festivals?

Oh yes, one of the most important factors in traditional festivals in different countries is the type of music being played. You can actually offend a certain culture if you play the wrong kind of music during their festival. Different kinds of festivals have different musical traditions.

For festive ones, the music tends to be lively and loud. However, there are some festivals that are observed with holiness or solemnity, and during these, people tend to refrain from playing music. So, it’s an important factor to consider and be respectful of the cultural significance of music during these festivals.

Do you think good food and drinks are important for celebrations?

I could say that this trifecta consists of music, food, beverages, and location. These elements are crucial for any celebration.

When it comes to food and drinks, they are always associated with festivals. The last thing you want to do at a festival is to bring the wrong type of food, as it can upset people. For instance, I remember in Germany they have a festival called Oktoberfest, which is mostly about beer. The last thing you’d want to bring to Oktoberfest are foods that aren’t associated with it. I recall that red cabbage and potatoes are okay, but the rest might not be suitable. Oktoberfest typically pairs beer with meat, as they complement each other. So, you need to be careful and make sure you have the best sausages.

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Please visit the website Educatorian to find suggested answers for IELTS speaking questions. Additionally, I recommend checking out Ian’s personal website for further information.
请访问Educatorian网站,找到雅思口语问题的建议答案。此外,我建议查看伊恩的个人网站以了解更多信息。