READING 2

Before reading
Before reading the following passage, look up the meaning of the following words
which are related to the text.

to celebrate: publicly acknowledge (a significant or happy day or event) with a social gathering
or enjoyable activity.

Celebration: the action of marking one's pleasure at an important event or occasion by

engaging in enjoyable, typically social, activity.
the birth of his son was a cause for celebration

candles and torches: a cylinder or block of wax or tallow with a central wick that is lit to produce
light as it burns.

Noisemaker: a device for making a loud noise, as at a party or sporting event.

All around us, Berliners were letting off fireworks, firecrackers, noisemakers and rockets, and none
too cautiously.

to blow out the candles: an act of blowing on an instrumento r candles

to gather around: reunirse alrededor, located or situated on every side.

birthday cake gift: an item of soft, sweet food made from a mixture of flour, shortening, eggs,
sugar, and other ingredients, baked and often decorated.

gift wrap: decorative paper for wrapping presents.

goodie bags: bolsas de regalos, a container made of flexible material with an opening at the top,
used for carrying things.

Guest: a person who is invited to visit the home of or take part in a function organized by
another.

Invitation: a written or verbal request inviting someone to go somewhere or to do something.

Wish: a desire or hope for something to happen.
tape dispenser: dispensador de cinta
Fortune Telling Cake: Pastel de adivinación.
Candy: caramelo
delicacies: the quality of being delicate, in particular.
Cookie: galleta

party favors: Recuerdos de fiesta

CREDITS III
cupcake: magdalena

to throw a party: dar una fiesta

sweets: dulces
balloon: globos
birth date: Fecha de nacimiento
jubilee: aniversario
entertain: entretener
wrapping paper: papel de regalo
frostin: helado

CREDITS III
 Birthday Celebrations from Around the World: Customs and Traditions

How Birthdays Came About

Thousands of years ago birthdays were
considered a time when the bad spirits as opposed to
the good spirits were able to harm you as this day
changed a person's life. It was believed that the only
way to keep the bad spirits at bay was to have your
friends and family around you so that their good wishes and
present giving would keep them at bay.

Also noisemakers are thought to be used at parties as

a way of scaring away the evil spirits.
The custom of lighting candles originated with people
believing that the gods lived in the sky and by lighting candles and torches they
were sending a signal or prayer to the gods so they could be answered. When
you blow out the candles and make a wish this is another way of sending a
signal and a message.
This is how the way we celebrate our birthday came about. But different
cultures celebrate in different ways.

Cómo llegaron los cumpleaños

Hace miles de años, los cumpleaños se consideraban un momento en que

los malos espíritus, en lugar de los buenos espíritus, podían dañarte a ti ya
que este día cambiaba la vida de una persona. Se creía que la única forma
de mantener a raya a los malos espíritus era tener a tus amigos y familiares a
tu alrededor para que sus buenos deseos y sus presentes dones los
mantuvieran a raya.

También se cree que los noisemakers se usan en fiestas como una forma de
ahuyentar a los espíritus malignos.

La costumbre de encender velas se originó con personas que creían que los
dioses vivían en el cielo y al encender velas y antorchas enviaban una señal
o una oración a los dioses para que pudieran responderlos. Cuando apagas
las velas y pides un deseo, esta es otra forma de enviar una señal y un
mensaje.

Así es como se celebra nuestro cumpleaños. Pero diferentes culturas

celebran de diferentes maneras.

Birthday Celebrations from Europe

CREDITS III
 In some parts of Europe they have a birthday tree planted when the new
child is born. This was done as they believed that if the tree grew to be healthy
and strong, the child would also.
The tradition of birthday parties began in Europe centuries ago. It was
feared that evil spirits searched out people on their birthdays. To protect the
birthday person from harm, friends and family would gather around them and
bring good thoughts and wishes. Giving gifts brought even more good cheer to
ward off the evil spirits.
At first, only kings and royalty were recognized as important enough to
have a birthday celebration.

Celebraciones de cumpleaños de Europa

En algunas partes de Europa tienen un árbol de cumpleaños plantado

cuando nace el nuevo niño. Esto se hizo ya que creían que si el árbol crecía
sano y fuerte, el niño también lo haría.

La tradición de las fiestas de cumpleaños comenzó hace siglos en Europa.

Se temía que los espíritus malignos buscaran en las personas en sus
cumpleaños. Para proteger a la persona del cumpleaños de cualquier daño,
los amigos y la familia se reunían a su alrededor y traían buenos
pensamientos y deseos. Dar regalos trajo aún más alegría para alejar a los
espíritus malignos.

Al principio, solo los reyes y la realeza eran reconocidos como lo

suficientemente importantes para celebrar un cumpleaños.

Birthday Celebrations from England

In England there are cakes known as Fortune Telling Cakes which are
made for the birthday.
Certain symbolic objects are mixed into the birthday cake as it is being
prepared.
If your piece of cake has a coin in it, then you will be rich.
Also, when its your birthday your friends give you the "bumps", they lift
you in the air by your hands and feet and raise you up and down to the floor,
one for each year then one for luck, two for luck and three for the old man's
coconut!
Sending birthday cards is a custom that began in England about 100
years ago. Today, millions of cards are sent around the world each year to wish
family and friends a happy birthday.
Being given the key to the house is still considered an important sign of
coming of age in England. This takes place when someone turns the age of
twenty-one. The young man who was given the key to the house is said to be
given permission to come and go as he pleases and to stay out as late he liked.

CREDITS III
 Celebraciones de cumpleaños de Inglaterra

En Inglaterra hay pasteles conocidos como Fortune Telling Cakes que se

hacen para el cumpleaños.

Ciertos objetos simbólicos se mezclan en el pastel de cumpleaños mientras

se prepara.

Si tu pedazo de pastel tiene una moneda, entonces serás rico.

Además, cuando es tu cumpleaños, tus amigos te dan los "baches", te

levantan en el aire con las manos y los pies y te elevan y bajan al piso, uno
para cada año, luego uno para la suerte, dos para la suerte y tres. para el
coco del viejo!

El envío de tarjetas de cumpleaños es una costumbre que comenzó en

Inglaterra hace unos 100 años. Hoy en día, millones de tarjetas se envían a
todo el mundo cada año para desearles un feliz cumpleaños a familiares y
amigos.

Recibir la llave de la casa todavía se considera un signo importante de la

mayoría de edad en Inglaterra. Esto ocurre cuando alguien cumple los
veintiún años. Se dice que el joven que recibió la llave de la casa recibió
permiso para ir y venir como le plazca y quedarse fuera lo más tarde que
quisiera.

Birthday Celebrations from Africa

In Africa people celebrate with joy the birth of a new baby.
The Pygmies would sing a birth-song to the child. In Kenya the
mother takes the baby strapped to her back into the thorn enclosure
where the cattle is kept. There, her husband and the village elders wait
to give the child his or her name.
In West Africa after the baby is eight days old the mother takes
the baby for his/her first walk in the big, wide world, and friends and
family are invited to meet the new baby.
In various African nations they hold initiation ceremonies for groups of
children instead of birthdays. When children reach a certain designated age,
they learn the laws, beliefs, customs, songs and dances of their tribes.
Some African tribes consider that children from nine to twelve are ready
to be initiated into the grown up world. They may have to carry out several tests.
Celebraciones de cumpleaños de África

En África la gente celebra con alegría el nacimiento de un nuevo bebé.

CREDITS III
 Los pigmeos cantarían una canción de nacimiento al niño. En Kenia, la
madre lleva al bebé amarrado a su espalda en el recinto donde se guarda el
ganado. Allí, su esposo y los ancianos del pueblo esperan para dar su
nombre al niño.

En África occidental, después de que el bebé cumple ocho días, la madre lo

lleva a su primer paseo por el mundo grande y ancho, y se invita a amigos y
familiares a conocer al nuevo bebé.

En varias naciones africanas celebran ceremonias de iniciación para grupos

de niños en lugar de cumpleaños. Cuando los niños alcanzan cierta edad
designada, aprenden las leyes, creencias, costumbres, canciones y bailes de
sus tribus.

Algunas tribus africanas consideran que los niños de nueve a doce años
están listos para iniciarse en el mundo adulto. Es posible que tengan que
realizar varias pruebas.

Birthday Celebrations from Korea

In Korea, on the 100th day after a child's birth, a small feast is usually
held to celebrate the child having survived this period. If the child has been
unwell or is sick at this time, the family passes the day without
acknowledgement nor party for to do so is considered bad luck for the infant.
At this time the Samshin Halmoni is honored
with offerings of rice and soup for having cared for the
infant and mother, for helping them to live through a
difficult period. The family, relatives, and friends then
celebrate with rice cakes, wine, and other delicacies
such as red and black bean cakes sweetened with
sugar or honey.
To prevent disaster and to bring the child luck and happiness, red bean
cakes are placed at the four compass points within the house. They also
believed if the steamed rice cakes are shared with 100 people the child will
have a long life. Therefore, rice cakes are usually sent to as many people as
possible to help share the happiness of the occasion. Those receiving rice
cakes do not return the serving vessels empty, but with skeins of thread
expressing the hope of longevity, and of rice and money symbolizing future
wealth.
One of the most important birthdays in Korea is a child's first birthday.
The children are dressed in special clothes and are taken in front of a large
gathering of friends and family members. The celebration includes a big feast
and the guests leave money for the new one-year old child. The child's future is
told by the items the birthday child picks up.
Celebraciones de cumpleaños de Corea

CREDITS III
 En Corea, en el día 100 después del nacimiento de un niño, generalmente se
celebra una pequeña fiesta para celebrar que el niño ha sobrevivido este
período. Si el niño no se encuentra bien o está enfermo en este momento, la
familia pasa el día sin reconocimiento ni fiesta, ya que se considera mala
suerte para el bebé.

En este momento, Samshin Halmoni es honrado con ofrendas de arroz y

sopa por haber cuidado al bebé y la madre, por ayudarlos a vivir un período
difícil. La familia, los parientes y los amigos celebran con pasteles de arroz,
vino y otras delicias como los pasteles de frijoles rojos y negros endulzados
con azúcar o miel.

Para evitar desastres y para traer al niño suerte y felicidad, los pasteles de
frijoles rojos se colocan en los cuatro puntos cardinales de la casa. También
creyeron que si los pasteles de arroz al vapor se comparten con 100
personas, el niño tendrá una larga vida. Por lo tanto, los pasteles de arroz
generalmente se envían a tantas personas como sea posible para ayudar a
compartir la felicidad de la ocasión. Aquellos que reciben pasteles de arroz
no devuelven los recipientes de servicio vacíos, sino con madejas de hilo que
expresan la esperanza de la longevidad, y del arroz y el dinero que
simbolizan la riqueza futura.

Uno de los cumpleaños más importantes en Corea es el primer cumpleaños

de un niño. Los niños se visten con ropas especiales y se llevan frente a una
gran reunión de amigos y familiares. La celebración incluye una gran fiesta y
los invitados dejan dinero para el nuevo niño de un año. El futuro del niño es
contado por los artículos que recoge el cumpleaños.

Birthday Celebrations from Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, people do not observe birthdays due to spiritual beliefs.
Religious holidays and weddings, however, are occasions for great celebration.
Celebraciones de cumpleaños de Arabia Saudita
En Arabia Saudita, las personas no observan cumpleaños debido a creencias
espirituales. Las fiestas religiosas y las bodas, sin embargo, son ocasiones
para una gran celebración.

Vocabulary
Complete the sentences with the appropriate words from the text
1. Also noisemaker are thought to be used at parties as a way of scaring away the
evil spirits.
2. In some parts of Europe they have a birthday tree planted when the new child is
born

CREDITS III
 3. In England there are cakes known as Fortune Telling Cakes which are made for
the birthday.
4. In Kenya the mother takes the baby strapped to her back into the thorn enclosure
where the cattle is kept.
5. In Korea, on the 100th day after a child's birth, a small feast is usually held to
celebrate the child having survived this period.
6. In Korea the child's future is told by the items the birthday child picks up.
7. In Saudi Arabia, people do not observe birthdays due to spiritual beliefs.

Comprehension

Read each statement and write “true” or “false”. For the false statements identify
the wrong specific information and make the correction.
1. The custom of lighting candles originated with people believing that people’s
souls lived in the sky. FALSE
2. In some parts of Africa they have a birthday tree planted when the new child is
born. FALSE
3. At first, only kings and royalty were recognized as important enough to have a
birthday celebration. TRUE
4. In England there are cakes known as Surprise Making Cakes which are made for
the birthday. FALSE
5. Sending birthday cards is a custom that began in England about 100 years ago.
TRUE
6. In Kenya the mother takes the baby strapped to her back into the thorn enclosure
where the cattle is kept. TRUE
7. In Africa people celebrate with sadness the birth of a new baby. FALSE
8. In Korea, on the 100th day after a child's birth, a small feast is usually held to
celebrate the child having survived this period. TRUE
9. One of the most important birthdays in Korea is a child's fifth birthday. FALSE
10. Saudi Arabia, people do not observe birthdays due to their poverty. FALSO

CREDITS III
CREDITS III