Interchange Fifth Edition: Unit 8 - Experience and Celebrations

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering holidays, festivals, cultural items, and relevant grammar concepts from the lecture.

April Fool's Day

An annual celebration on April 1, commemorated by practical jokes and hoaxes.

Carnival

An annual festival, typically during the week before Lent in Roman Catholic countries, involving processions, music, dancing, and the use of masquerade.

International Children's Day

A day recognized to celebrate children, celebrated on various dates in different countries, such as the 2nd Sunday in June in the United States.

Chinese New Year

A festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar, usually referred to as the Spring Festival in mainland China.

The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos)

A Mexican holiday occurring on November 2nd where family and friends gather to pray for and remember those who have died, viewed as a day of celebration rather than sadness.

Labor Day (United States)

A public holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September that honors the American labor movement and the contributions of workers.

International Workers' Day

Also known as Labor Day, this holiday occurs every year on May 1st.

Saint Patrick's Day

A cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

Thanksgiving Day

A national holiday celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and the fourth Thursday of November in the United States to give thanks for the harvest.

Valentine's Day

Celebrated annually on February 14, it is recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love.

Halloween

Observed on 31 October, it begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints, martyrs, and all the faithful departed.

Get-together

An informal gathering where people assemble socially or to cooperate.

Samba

A Brazilian music genre and dance style with its roots in Africa.

Sari (saree or shari)

A women's garment from the Indian subcontinent, commonly used by women in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Lunar Cycle

A cycle of moon phases (from New Moon to Waning Crescent) lasting approximately $29.53$ days.

National

Relating to or characteristic of a nation; common to a whole nation.

Traditional

Existing in or as part of a tradition; long-established.

Reserve

To book accommodations or a place, or to buy a ticket in advance.

Dress up

To put on clothes that are more formal than usual, or to put on clothes to look like someone else for fun.

Strike

To hit forcibly and deliberately with one's hand, a weapon, or another implement.

Occur

To happen or take place.

Relative Pronoun: Who

A pronoun that relates to people acting as the subject of a clause.

Relative Pronoun: Whom

A pronoun that relates to people acting as the object of a clause.

Relative Pronoun: Which

A pronoun that relates to animals and objects.

Relative Pronoun: When

A pronoun used to refer to time.

Relative Pronoun: Where

A pronoun used to refer to places.

Relative Pronoun: Whose

A pronoun used to refer to possession.

Defining Relative Clause

A clause that contains essential information necessary to distinguish a person or thing, used without commas.

Non-defining Relative Clause

A clause placed between commas that provides extra, non-essential information about a person or thing.

Time Clause

A type of adverb clause beginning with words such as before, after, when, as soon as, until, or while.