Phrases for explaining festivals and celebrations challenge
Use as many of the phrases on the next page as you can to describe (local/ regional/ national/ international) festivals and celebrations, starting with any you like.
Ask about any phrases that you couldn’t use, are not sure you used correctly, etc, working as a class to make suitable sentences about festivals and celebrations each time.
Brainstorming stage
Without looking below, write as many suitable phrases as you can in each space below.
Phrases for explaining names (including translating names)
Phrases for comparing festivals and celebrations
Phrases for talking about the history of festivals and celebrations
Phrases for talking about how common things are
Phrases for talking about parts of the festival or celebration
Other useful phrases for describing festivals and celebrations
Compare below. Many others are possible, so check if you wrote something different.
Phrases for explaining names (including translating names)
(which is) (also) (officially/ unofficially) known as/ called/ nicknamed…
The direct (= literal) translation of… is…/ Translated word for word … would be…
The normal (= usual) translation for … is…
… can (also) be translated as…
Although there’s no obvious translation, … could be explained as…
People say… when they are talking about…
… is often explained as…
… means (something like)…
…’s name comes from…
Phrases for comparing festivals and celebrations
Similar to in…, people…
… has something/ quite a lot/ a lot in common with… but…
… is (a bit/ something) like (the British/ American/ Chinese/ Korean/…)… (but…)
… is similar to… in (name of country) (because…) (but…)
… also exists in China/ Korea/ most Asian countries/… (but…)
… only exists in … (and a couple of other places) and is…
… is a kind of/ sort of…
… is (closely/ partly/ seemingly) based on…
… is a variation on/ a version of…
Phrases for talking about the history of festivals and celebrations
Traditionally,…
Nowadays,/ These days,/ In the modern day…,…
According to the legend/ to myth/ to locals/ to…,…/ … is said to/ thought to…
…’s origins lie in…/ It is based on…/ It originates…
… started/ became popular/ spread to…/ … when…
… is changing/ has changed/ is likely to change
… has become (more/ less/ more and more/ less and less) popular/ famous/…
Phrases for talking about how common things are
It (mainly) consists of…
The most common… is…
It’s available…
Phrases for talking about parts of the festival or celebration
It begins/ ends with…
It progresses from… to…
Before/ After it takes place…
Other useful phrases for describing festivals and celebrations
It takes place…
… take part/ participant.
In order to celebrate this (properly)/ In order to, people…/ you need to…
It’s a time when…
People are (not) supposed to/ allowed to…