 What is festival? What makes something festival?

 Have you ever been to a festival? What type of festival was it?


Types of festivals:
Religious Festivals:
Celebrations associated with religious beliefs and observances. Examples include Christmas, Diwali, Eid,
Hanukkah, and Easter.
Cultural Festivals:
Events that celebrate the heritage, customs, and traditions of a particular group or community. Examples include
Chinese New Year, Oktoberfest, and Carnaval.
Seasonal Festivals:
Celebrations marking the changing of seasons, often tied to agricultural or natural cycles. Examples include the
Spring Festival (celebrating the arrival of spring) and Midsummer festivals.
National Holidays:
Festivals that commemorate significant events in a nation's history or honor its identity. Examples include
Independence Day, Bastille Day, and Canada Day.
Music and Arts Festivals:
Events celebrating music, arts, and culture. Examples include Coachella, Glastonbury Festival, and Sundance Film
Festival.
Film Festivals:
Celebrations dedicated to showcasing and promoting films. Examples include Cannes Film Festival, Toronto
International Film Festival (TIFF), and Sundance Film Festival.
Food Festivals:
Events centered around the appreciation of food and culinary traditions. Examples include Oktoberfest, Taste of
Chicago, and La Tomatina.
Sporting Events and Festivals:
Celebrations revolving around sports competitions. Examples include the Olympics, FIFA World Cup, and Super
Bowl.
Folk and Traditional Festivals:
Events that showcase traditional practices, folk music, dance, and art. Examples include the Holi Festival in India
and the Inti Raymi festival in Peru.
Commemorative Festivals:
Events that mark specific milestones or anniversaries. Examples include New Year's Eve celebrations, Memorial
Day, and Victory Day.
Religious Processions and Pilgrimages:
Events involving processions or journeys to religious sites. Examples include the Kumbh Mela in India and the Hajj
pilgrimage in Islam.
Harvest Festivals:
Celebrations related to the gathering of crops and agricultural abundance. Examples include Thanksgiving, Pongal,
and Chuseok.
Environmental and Green Festivals:
Events focused on environmental issues and sustainability. Examples include Earth Day celebrations and Arbor
Day.
 The Edinburgh Festival

 What type of festival is it? A better name for ‘The Edinburgh Festival’ is ‘The Edinburgh Festivals’ as
the name refers to much more than a single event. In the summer months, Edinburgh is the host of many
festivals. The main two are the Edinburgh International Festival, three weeks of music, theatre and dance,
and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival which plays host to thousands of performances from all over the world.
There’s also a film festival, a science festival, an art festival, the Festival of Spirituality and Peace, a book
festival, a Mela, which is an intercultural festival, and many, many, more!
 When did it start? The Festival began in 1947, with the aim of providing 'a platform for the flowering
of the human spirit'.
 Where does it take place? In the city of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland.
 How many people go to the Festival? Because there are so many events and so many festivals within
‘The Edinburgh Festival’ it’s impossible to know how many people attend. Last year, over 250,000
spectators watched the final firework display.
 How much does a ticket cost? Ticket prices depend on which of the many hundreds of events you
choose to see. You can also see lots of events for free as they take place in the streets and in public places.

Task 1 – What are the ingredients of a good festival? What do you think are the ingredients of a
good festival? Discuss the possible ingredients below and add more of your own.

• Music • Food and Drinks • Theatre • Costumes • Art • Dance • Camping • Friends

Useful Phrases
I have been to a festival called … in the past year.
I can tell you about my favourite festival type. It is ... because …
I think that music is an essential ingredient for a good festival because music …

Task - Plan a festival You are going to plan a festival for your town or city.
• What type of festival is it?
• Where does it take place?
• How long does it last?
Who is your target people?
• How many people can go to the festival?
• How much does a ticket cost?
• Does some of the money go to charity?
• What is special about your festival? Why would people come?
• Think of a name for your festival and be prepared to tell your class about it.

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/teaching-resources/teaching-secondary/lesson-plans/intermediate-b1/
summer-festivals-britain
https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/Summer%20festivals%20in%20Britain%20Fact
%20Files.pdf
 What is festival? What makes something festival?
 Have you ever been to a festival? What type of festival was it?

National sovereignty and children's day.

National: Independence Day in the United States, Bastille Day in France, Chinese New Year in
China.

Seasonal: Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Halloween in autumn.

Food: Thanksgiving feast, Sushi in Japan, Pasta in Italy.

Film and Art: Cannes Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Renaissance art in Italy.

Folk and Traditional: Native American powwows, Japanese tea ceremonies, Irish folk music.

Harvest Festivals: Thanksgiving in the United States, Pongal in South India, Oktoberfest in
Germany.
What are the ingredients of a good festival? What do you think are the ingredients of a good festival?
Discuss the possible ingredients below and add more of your own.

• Music • Food and Drinks • Theatre • Costumes • Art • Dance • Camping • Friends

Useful Phrases
I went to a festival called … in the past year.
I can tell you about my favourite festival type. It is ... because …
I think that music is an essential ingredient for a good festival because music …

Task - Plan a festival You are going to plan a festival for your town or city.
• What type of festival is it?
• Where does it take place?
• How long does it last?
Who is your target people?
• How many people can go to the festival?
• How much does a ticket cost?
• Does some of the money go to charity?
• What is special about your festival? Why would people come?
• Think of a name for your festival and be prepared to tell your class about it.